Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
A Pathetic Letter.
Atlanta. Ca. March ., 1862.

1
Ny Dear Mrs. Tanner:
| I havo concluded to write you few
| lines to offer you some consolation IN
your distress. Your SOM has just
breathed his last at about o'clock this
afternoon Sunday and while you will
grove over your loss, it is his eternal
gain. / have thought 1t would lessen
your grief to learn some Of the particu-
lars OF his death.
To-day two weeks ago the sick soldiers
landed here from Nashville. There was
nothing prepared for them. one hospital,
with a few beds, was all that was pro-
vided for them. My husband went 10
see them, and found them sick and lying
on the cold floor. He ordered carriage,
and brought Mr.. Tanner and Mr.. Evans
home with him. He ate supper. and
seemed to enjoy IL; said the battercakes
were what he had longed for; but that
night he complained very much, and mad
a high fever. The next day Or. Powell,
our family physician, and one of the kind
est and best L ever saw, called TO see him.
The Doctor said he was a very sick man.
and so much diseased he did not think
he would recover. The Doctor visited
him regularly twice a day, until to-day,
but he gradually grew worse, and none
OF the remedies used seemed TO do any
good. We nursed him as kindly and at
tentiyely as we could, and as L was
bathing his face one day l said 10 him,
II expect you wish you was at home
for your mother 10 nurse you" He said,
She could not do any better than you.
About three days ago re saw he would
soon die, and L concluded 10 talk to him
on the subject. j asked him II he loved
the Lord He said, Yes. truly and SIN
4 ~ h.. 10
He said, Eyes, regularly, twice a day.
and he also said sometimes when he was
on duty in the cold and rain. in the mid
die OF the night he would pray to God.
and he would feel so happy no could
scarcely keep from shouting. 7 asked
him II he was willing to die. He said,
YES" But he was very anxious 10 see
his home once more. He often prayed,
and seemed very happy. For Several
days he was deliriOus, but would he ra-
tional at times. Whenever this was the
case, he would talk on the subject OF re-
ligion and death.
He all the time seemed so anxious TO
see his mother once more. and a few
hours before he died, when he could
scarcely speak, he said: II am going 10
die. and 1 shall never see my mother
again." and 1t seemed TO distress MIN
him what I must tell his mother for
him. He said: Tell her have just pray
ed for her; have Been praying for her
ever since I left her, and will always
pray for her"
You raised your son piously, and now
you have reaped your reward. He is in
Heaven. free from pain and suffering,
and II will be happy meeting there, for |
he longed to see your face once more. He |
said he had prayed for his brothers and |
sisters and his nieces, and there was one |
name frequently on his lips, and that |
was Nancy" There are great many /
more things / could write you. for he said /
a great deal. but write hurriedly. 1 en- /
deavored TO do all in my power for him. /
and / did II freely and cheerfully, not /
wishing reward In this world, for when |
he prayed God TO "bless the lady" l fels |
repaid for all / had done. and in that |