Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-21
NEXT TO HIS HEART.
A New Version Of an Old War Story
By a Veteran.
A Mans Account Of the First Meeting Of a
Woman's Club.

| A great many people," remarked
| the veteran, as he slowly filled his pipe
| do not believe these stories about
soldiers lives bein saved by Bibles
Which they carried in their upper
blouse pockets. But there's nothing
| improbable about EN-.
That reminds you of story" said
| one of the crowd, and all settled back
to hear it.
We'll, yes, it does remind me of a
peculiar circumstance" assented the
veteran.
'lAll right, fire away" said one of his
hearers. Then the veteran settled
back and told the story.
Il was just 10 years old when the
war broke out, and full of enthusiasm
and patriotism. l tried to get in under
the first call, but was turned down be
cause of my age. So l waited, fumin'
an frettin' all the time, an finally
call was made for more, an then
they wasn't SO blamed particular about
age.
Il presented myself at tn recruitin'
rather opposed to my goin', but when
they saw l was determined they said it
was all right. I'll never forget my last
night at home. Mary-thats the girl
that was to marry me when I got back
came over, and we had SORT O. fare
we'll doin's. Father didn't say much,
but he kept up pile O. thinkin', for he
had fought with Scott in Mexico and
knew thing or two about war.
Mother cried a little now an then, but
she was pretty brave. She spent most
of her time fixin' up some little things
for me t take. and Mary an me sat
over in corner and told stories with
our eyes.
Next mornin' l started. When
told tn folks goodbye father he
handed me little package Wrapped up
in bit of oiled silk. My boy,,ssays
he, here's somethin' thatll help pass
away your idle time in camp. Take
good keer of it, for it may be hard to
git another after you get out in tn
field.
Il stuck the package in my blouse
pocket an marched away t tn tune o
'Th Girl i Left Behind mother an
Mary cryin' in each others arms, an
father tryin' hard It. cheer up an look
pleased.
1T was mighty tiresome work in
camp trainn' and drillin' an all that
sort o thing. We wanted t. git right
into tn fghtn' an every time we read
of a scrap down South We sat aroun'
an cussed the war department for not
| calm on us to put down tn Confed-
| eracy. But We was finally ordered to
move to tn front, an we went away,
| cheerin' and feeEn' almighty proud
We'll, We marched an camped. an
skirmished an foraged for several
months, but didn't get into any fair AN
square stand-up fight until we got in
| tn neishborhood o Tupelo. An there
we got III. The Johnnies surprised US
one mornin' before we had eat our flap
jacks, an before we could get our guns
the Johnnies was a-sendin' lead into
us at lively rate. But we rallied
mighty quick an we went after them
Johnnies like Georgia darkey after a
watermelon.
I'VE got our regiment into line an
was ordered t. CHARGE With whoop
we started, the color guard leadin' with
| tn regimental flag, an us fellows
| mighty close behind it, The bullets
was a-fallin' around us like hail. an
| TIL smoke was blindin'. But we kept
a-goin', men fallin' on all sides of me,
an me awonderin when my time was
| comm. l quit wondern' purity soon,
for felt somethin' hit me over the left
| breast like pile driver llittfn' bridge
| timber, an went up into tn air. I
don't remember when 1 hit TIL ground,
for was knocked deader'n a smelt ay
| that lick.
| Il don't remember no more about the
| fight, fur / didn't come to until after
1
| it was over, an then was restin' on a
cot in tn field hospital. I was mighty
weak. but otherwise a-feelin' all right.
When | opened my eyes surgeon was
ieanin' over me.
...Feelin' all right? he asked I told
him ] was. an asked him what the
! matter was. He told Re nothln' but
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