The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-10-20
Nurse and Spy
The Adventures of Woman in Hos
pitfalls, Camps and Battlefelds.
BY S. EMMA E. EDMONDS.

ment were too sore, too hard to be borne
| but as the minutes passed, and the sou
| lifted itself up stronger and more Steadil y
upon the wings of prayer, the counte-
| nance grew calmer, the lips Steadier and
when the eyes opened again there was a
| light in their depths that could have come
only from heaven.
| 81 thank you for your courage he said
more feebly, taking the Chaplain's hand;
| the bitterness is over now, and l feel
willing to die. Tell my mother'-he
paused gave one sob, dry, and full of the
last anguish of earth-'tell her how
| longed TO see her; but If God will permit
me | will be near her. Tell her to comfort
| all who loved me; to say that thought of
them all. Tell my father that am glad
that he gave his consent. Tell my min
lister by word or letter, that | thought of
him, and that | thank him for all his
counsels. Tell him find that Christ will
not desert the passing soul, and that |
wish him TO give my testimony to the
living, that nothing is of real worth but
the religion Of Jesus; and now, will you
pray with me?
with swelling emotion and tender
tones the Chaplain bcsOuGht Gods grace
and presence; then, restraining his sobS,
he bowed down and pressed upon the
beautiful brow, already chilled with the
breath Of the coming angel, twice, thrice,
a fervent kiss. They might have been
as tokens from the father and mother, as
well as for himself
so thought, perhaps, the dying sol
der for d heavenly smile touched his
face with new beauty as he said: Thank
you: won't trouble you any longer. You
are wearied out; 60 to your rest. The
Lord God be with you! was the firm
response. Amen, trembled from the fast
whitening lips.
Another hour passed, still the Chap
lain did not go TO rest, but retired to an
adjoining room; he was about to return to
the bedside of the dying when the Sur
geon met him and whispered softly, He is
gone Christ's soldier had found the
Captain Of his salvation, and received his
reward.
On the 10th of May Headquarters were
established beyond Williamsburg, and
communications were opened between the
forces moving by land and water. The
following dispatch was then sent by Gen.
Mcclellan to Secretary Stanton:
Camp at Ewell'S Farm, Three miles
beyond williamsburg, May 10; a. m.
From the information reaching me from
every source, / regard it as certain that
the enemy will meet us with all his force
on or near the Chickahominy. They can
concentrate many more men than l have,
and are collecting troops from all quarters,
especially well disciplined troops from the
South. Casualties, sickness, earrlsons
and guards have much reduced our mum
berS, and viii continue to DO SO. i shall
fight the rebel army with whatever force
may have, but duty requires me to urge
that every effort be made to reinforce me
without delay with all the disposable
troops in eastern Virginia, and that we
concentrate all our forces as far as pos
sible to fight the great battle now impend-
ing, and to make it decisive.
1T is possible that the enemy may
abandon Richmond without serious
struggle, but do not believe he will and
it would be unwise to count upon any
thing but a stubborn and desperate de-
fense--a life and death contest. / see no
other hope for him than to fight this battle,
and we must win it. i shall fight them,
whatever their force may be: but ask for
every man that the Department can send
me. No troops should now be left un-
employed.