The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-04-18

saIu, 'nere, take JnIs man TO the rear,
then stumbled and fell. Getting up
again, with the exclamation, Con
found it, I've got it myself, he limped
of.
"One of the men wrapped the first
aid bandage around my hips and then
began the march to the rear. Stretchers
there was none, and / was carried by
the knees and under the arms to the
field hospital I shall never forget the
sights I saw-men lying in all positions
as they had fallen. Poor Kelly lay with
his head in a ditch. his eyes staring up
into the cloudless sky. Staggering boys
in blue passed with bandages around
their heads or their arms in sings. Ifelt
a sudden Tightening of the heartstrings
as I bitterly thought: so this is wal
and the path to gloryl For this the girls
kissed us goodby with tears of pride in
their eyesl'
81 felt no special pain. The only trou-
ole was my throat would fill with blood.
"'For IL hours l lay in the grass be-
fore a surgeon attended me. They were
very busy, stripped to the waist or with
their sleeves rolled up and smeared with
blood. l seemed to be paralyzed per-
fectly conscious, able to hear and see,
though l could not speak
"All around me lay the wounded,
some of whom awaited the end with
calm, firm faces Their worst pain was
over, and in a short time inevitable
death would place them beyond all pain.
"One I remember distinctly. He was
only a lad of not more than II, with
curly brown hair and big blue eyes. l
imagined that he had been rosy checked
and full Of life, but now the pallor of
approaching death overspread his fea-
lures, which wore the strained appear
ance you so often see on the face Of a
wounded soldier who suffers and will
not cry out.
ga hospital steward came by and
stopped to give him a drink. He asked
if there was any hope. The doctor
shook his head, and, passing his hand
gently oven the boys brow, asked if
there was anything he wanted, and the
poor fellow whispered, Write
"As near as | can remember he said
Z" Darling Mother have done my
best and have laid down my life for the
old flag. l had hoped to come back to
you with the straps you were so sure l
would win, but it can't be. Some had
to go, and it has fallen to my lot. Don't
grieve over me, mother. dear. Tell ia
ther how l loved him. Kiss Rose and
little Tom for me. Oh, mother, mother,
| love you sol That was all, captain.
His pain was over, and another moth
err heart was doomed to breaking.
ga short time after this came uncon-
seriousness. l awoke under the surgeons
probe, Then followed the weeks of
burning fever when it seemed to me
that the S~paniards were crushing my
bones.
81 saw them numbering ONE and
children. Sister was among the victims,
and | could see her with outstretched
arms begging me to come to her, yet l
could not. Then the devils stood around
and tainted me, twisting my bonds
tighter and heaping fire ON my head.
when / awoke. mother was sitting
by the bed. Sister Jennie was there
too. Was l dreaming?
81 tried to take mothers hand, but
was so weak-could barely move. She
saw the movement, and in a moment
was on her knees, her arms around my
neck and crying and talking as only a
mother can. No, | was not dreaming
1t was mother. and | was-well, l was
too tired to try and think where l was.
But here she comesl No, mammyl /
don't feel the least bit chilly. The cap
tain and l have been gassing away here
for an hour. But l was wondering
where you were. Cincinnati En-
quirer.