The National tribune., 1898-10-27

| how it makes me shudder to recall the scenes
which my Imagination conjured mp during
those dark hours Morning at last came,
and / was aroused from the horrible night
mare which had paralyzed my senses through
the night by the roar of cannon and the
screaming of shell through the forest
But there | was, helpless as an infant,
equally unable to advance or retreat, with
out friend or foe to modest or console me, and
nothing even to amuse me but my own
| thoughts. I'M
SICK REBEL. 49,
The cannonading was only the result of a
reconnaissance, and in few hours ceased al
together. But not 50 my fever and chills;
they were my constant companions for two
days and two nights i'll succession. At the
end of that time / was an object of pity
With no medicine, no food, and consequently
little strength, was nearly in state of
starvation. My pies and cakes were spoiled
in the basket, in consequence of the drench-
ing they had received in crossing the river,
and now l had no means of procuring
more. But something must be done;
could not bear the thought of thus starving
to death in that inglorous mapper better
die upon the scaffold at Richmond or be slot
by the rebel pickets; anything but this. So
/ thought and said, as | rallied all my re-
naming strength to arrange my toilet pre-
paratory to emerging from my concealment
in the swamp
1t was about o'clock in the morning of
the third day after crossing the river when L
started, as / thought, towards the eneniy's
lines, and a more broken-hearted, forlorn-
looking Bridget never left 'ould Ire
land ~ than appeared TO be that morning
travelled from that time until 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, and was then deeper in the
swamp than when l started. My head OF
brain was completely turned. / knew not
which way to 90, nor did l know east from
west or north from south.
1t was a dark day in every sense of the
word, and / had neither sun nor compass to
guide me. At 5 O'Clock the glorious boom
ing of cannon reverberatel through the
dense wilderness, and TO me- at that hour,
it was the sweetest and most soul-insp,ring
music that ever greeted my ear. / now
turned my face in the direction Of the scene
OF action, and was not long in extricating
myself from the desert which had 50 long en-
veloped me-
Soon after emerging from the swamp saw,
In the distance, small white house, and
thither bent my weary footsteps. / found
it deserted, with the exception of a sick
rebel soldier, who lay upon a straw-tick on
the floor in a helpless condition.
/ went to him, and assuming the Irish
brOgue, / inquired how ne came to be left
alone, and if | could render him any assist
ance. He could Only speak in low whisper
and with much difficulty said he had been
Ill with typhoid fever q few weeks before,
and had not fully recovered when Gen.
Stoneman attacked the rebels in the vicinity
OF Cold Harbor, and he was ordered to join
his company. He participated in sharp
skirmish, in which the rebels were obliged
to retreat; but he fell oat by the way, and
fearing TO fall into the hands of the Yankees,
he had crawled along as best he could, some
times on his hands and knees, until he
reached the house in which found him.
He had not eaten anything since leaving
camp, and he was truly in a starving condi-
ton. did not dare say TO him ditto -
with regard TO poor g Budgets y case-but
thought so, and realized it most painfully.
He also told me that the family who had oc-
cnpied the hoasc mad abandoned it since he
game there, and that they had left some
-four and cornmcal, but had not lime 10 cook
anything for him. This was good news for
me, and, exhausted rs / was, / soon kindled
a fire, and in less than ID minutes a large
hoe-cake was before ii III process of baking,
and saucepan of water heating, for there
was no kettle to be found.
After searching about the premises, l
found some tea packed away in a small
basket, with some earthenware, which the
family had forgotten to take with them. My
cake being cooked and tea made, / fed the
poor famshed rebel as tenderly as if he had
been my brother and he seemed as grateful
for my kindness, and thanked me with as
much politeness as if had been Mrs. JEFF
Davis.
The next important item was TO attend to
the cravings Of my own appetite, which l
did without much ceremony.
AN INTERESTING PATIENT.
After making my toilet and adjusting my
wig. in the most approved Irish style, APP
preached the sick man, and for the first time
noticed his features and general appearance.
He was man about 80 years OF age, was
tall, and had slight figure, regular features