The National tribune., 1898-12-22
CHAPTER XVII.

him to use all his influence with the
Army of the Potomac to insure it's hearty
cooperation with Gen. Pope's army. In
compliance with the Presidents request
Mcclellan sent the following dispatch to
Gen. Porter:
IL ask of you, for my sake, that OF the
country, and the old Army of the Potomac,
that you and all my friends will lend the
fullest and most cordial cooperation to
Gen. Pope in all the operations now going
on. The destineS Of our country, the
honor of our arms, are at stake, and all
depends upon the cheerful cooperation OF
all in the field. This week is the crisis Of
our fate. Say the same thing to my
friends in the Army OF the Potomac, and
that the last request have 10 make OF
them is that, for their c0untry's sake,
they will extend to Gen. Pope the same
support they ever have to- me-
Immediately after this followed the bril-
liant and triumphant victories at South
Mountain and An;ietam, which more than
counterbalanced the disastrous campaign
of Pope and which sent a thrill OF Joy
throughout the North.
But in this as in most other instances
of earthly bliss, the Joy was not unmixed
with sorrow-sorrow for the noble dead
and wounded upon those bloody fields.
At the memorable battle OF Antietan,
there were nearly 200,0G0 men and 500
pieces of artillery engaged during period
Of If hours without cessation; and at its
termination 2 200 OF the enemy's dead lay
upon the field The report of the Federal
General iii command says:
Thirteen guns, 80 ocoiors, UPWARDS OF
Is 900 stand of arms. and more than $500
prisoners were the trophies which attest
the success OF our army in the battles of
South Mountain, Champions Gap, and
Antietam. Not single gun or color was
lost by our army during these battles
A TOUCHING, DEATH SCENE
At the close of the battle i stood by the
side of dying officer Of one of the Massa-
chusetts regiments, who had passed
through the thickest of the fight unhurt.
but Just at the close OF the battle had
been struck by a. random shot, which
wounded him mortally. As he lay there,
conscious of approaching death the mu
sicians of the regiment happened to pass
by. He requested, that they might be
asked to play the s.@sStar Spangled Ban
ner.'
They cheerfully complied with the dy-
ing man s request, and while they played
the grand old tuffe his countenance
beamed with JOY. lie inquired the result
of the battle, and when told that it was "a
victory, he exclaimed:
20, il is glorious to die for ones coun-
try at such time as thiat'
linen IuFniNE te iiic Aisi1f1fdill TIC SIOhS
in the most affecting manner. He said
his trust was in the ,Redeemer; then he
sent loving messages to his mother and.
friends at home. The Chaplain read
some comforting passages OF Scripture
and prayed with him, and soon after the
happy spirit passed away.
Someone very appropriately says:
when such sacrifices are laid upon the
altar OF our country we have surely new
ince ntives to uphold the cause for which
they are made, and, with Gods help, not
to allow the treason which has slain so
many victims, to accomplish its purpose.
And through this bloody baptism shall
not our Nation be purified at length, and
fitted To act a nobler part In the worlds
history?' God grant it.
In passing among the wounded after
they had been carried from the field, my
attention was attracted by the pale, sweet
face of a youthful soldier who was
severely wounded in the neck. The
wound still bied prOfuSely, and the boy
was growing faint from loss OF blood. |
stopped down and asked him il there was
anything he would like to have done for
him.
The soldier turned q pair of beautiful,
clear, intelligent eyes upon me for a. mo-
ment in an earnest gaze, and then, as II
satisfied with the scrutiny, said family:
Yes, yes; there is something to be
done, and that quickly, for am dying"
FEMININE PATRIOT.
Something in the tone and voice made
me look more closely at the face OF the
speaker, and that look satisfied me that
my suspicion was well founded. went
to one of the Surgeons in attendance, and
him to come and see my patient.
He did SO, and, after Il moments examI-
nation of the wound told me that moth
ing could be done whatever to save him.
He then left me, and administered a
little brandy and water to strengthen the
wounded boy, for he evi iently wished TO
tell me something that was on his mind
before he died.
The trembling hand beckoned me closer
and knelt down beside him and bent my
head until it touched the golden locks
on the pale brow before me. ] listened
with breathless attention to catch every
sound which fell from those dying lips,
the substance OF which was as follows:
al can trust you, and will tell you a
secret. / am not what seem, but a
female. | enlisted from the purest mo-
and unsupported. l have neither father,
mother, nor sister. My only brother
was killed to-day. closed his eyes
about an hour before l was wounded.
shall soon be with him. an Christian,
and have maintained the Christian char
h ave performed the duties of a soldier
faithfully, and am willing to die for the
cause of truth and freedom.
"My trust is in Cod and die in peace.
wish you to bury me with your own
hands, that none may know after my
death that ! am other than my appear
ance indicates" Them looking at me
again in that earnest; .Scrutinizing man
ner she said: 81 know / can trust you;
you will do as have requested"
| assured her that She might place inn
plicit confidence in me, and that would
do as she had desired me. Then l sought
out Chaplain whoocame and prayed
with her She was calm and peaceful.
remained with her until she died, which
was about an hour. tt
Then, making a grave for her under the
shadow of a mulberry tree near the bat
tlefield, apart from all others, with the
assistance of two OF the boys who were
detailed to bury the dead | carried her re-
mains to that lonely spot and gave her a
soldiers burial, without coffin or shrOud,
only blanket for a winding sheet.
There she sleeps in that beautiful forest
where the soft southern breeZes sigh
mournfully through the foliage, and the
little birds sing sweetly above her grave.
THE HOSPITALS.
After the battle of Antietam one of the
Gu iplails who was on the field paid a
fitting tribute to the Colonel commanding
the regiment to which he belonged, and
wildly described May scenes that came
under my own observation on that day. |
He said:
"How faithfully many Surgeon Ia
bOredi Our own Assistant Surgeon was a
hero. Regardless of bullets, in the hottest
a. kx<H f~<>- a~uv- L IL a H.