The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
NATION THRILLED BY A W0NAM'S Died.

After the boats pulled ont. I could still
hear grcans and cries for help and I
went where the cries seemed 10 come
from On the guard found about forty
wounded soldiers. besides many dead.
shot from the cornheld. l helped the
wounded IN the cabin and had every
s;ateroom. contrary TO the captains or
ders. filed with wounded and suffering
soldiers. A. early dawn ! discovered the
beat was tied up. aud when went 70
investigate found We were again at the
corrfield. l could hear groans and cries.
and although it had been a beautiful
moonlight night. 1T was raini1g hard in
the morning and the wounded men las
drenched 10 the skin in the rain. They
We're tendsrsy carried by their comrades
/ 20 the boats laid on the hershs IN the
s~atismen's sfateroorus and their wounds
dressed at once The dead were brought
aboard and laid On the floor OF the gentle
+ mems cabin. saw many faces or men
that had talked With on the day OF the
battle.
The second morning after the battle.
about 9 O'clock. the colonel Of the regf-
ment. Col Wheatfey, came into the cabin
and invited me out on the bow to take
Leave and BID farewell to the boys. for.
they were leaving the boats that niorn-
ing 10 80 overland. round about way 20
reach Col. Muiiigan. Ine officers OF the
the boat. Col. Wheatiey stood son one
side of me and Lieut.. Col Dick O,Neil
stood on the other side. Below. on the.
bow of the boat, held by the birdie. was
a beautiful snow white horse about fifteen
hands high. He had on a new side~saedle
! of tan and tan bride that | was told
Lieut.. Col. ONeill went to Boonvilie.
No.. the day before TO purchase. The
troops were stationed in line on the bank
with their caps OFF and held by the right
hand at the side OF the face.
Col. Wheatley, the commander OF the
regiment. then presented to me. In
very sad and impressive speech, the
snow white horse, as mark OF gratitude
of the officers Of the regiment for my
kindness to the sick soldiers during the
voyage OF three week duration, and, as
the colonel said. for my heroic action In
carrying the boys to a place Of safety
during the very heat of the hattie.
I answered the colonePs speech. thank
ing them ali for my beautiful horse. and
answering them / should always con-
slider him a tribute of love from the
Twenty Sixth Indiana. that all I had done
for them on our three weeks trip had
been one of the greatest pleasures of my
life and / had performed only my duty
to my country and the brave boys in
blue. told them would take my beau
tiful horse and return 10 my home in St.
and comfort should follow them. 1 told
them of the wounded companions we had
on board to bring back TO the govern
ment hospital at St. Louis. / promised
to visit them each day and carry them
deicacies from home. for some were part
ing with brothers and other relatives
I babe them farewell. and Col. Wheat
ley gave the order for three cheers. He
gave the order a second time and their
cheers were deafening. 1t seemed as
though IL could be heard blocks away.
A deck hand took charge of my horse
and the officers shook hands with me
and each thanked me- as he babe me
farewell. for my kindness and attention
to the troops both in sickness and IN
battle l went to the lower deck and
mounted my horse. took his bride and
pointed his head toward the departing
troops. When they had reached the top
OF the hill. each company in command
of its officer. they were ordered TO halt
and wave their caps to me and when they
saw me on my horse, their cheers could
be heard far away.
named my horse Dick after Lieut..
Col O'Neill. who died about fifteen years
ago in New Orleans. l brought my horse
TO ST Louis on the Des Moines and found
him very useful in riding 10 and from
the hospitals. where our sick and wound
ed soldiers were sent from some of the
hardest battles.
In the winter of 1872 I lost my horse
with the epizootic. NV labors with the
troops and in the hospitals did not end
with the war. | am enrolled with Gen
Madison Miller Relief Corps No. Sc.
auxiliary to the G.. A. r., and today
whenever | can better the condition of
the old soldiers and their families. 1t Is
my create pleasure TO do so.
MRS. DELINA ROBERTS.
4S6I Chouteau Avenue. ST. Louis, Mo.