The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-10-18

| After the battle the captain weni
over the field and assisted in caring fol
the wounded and gave directions fol
the burial of the slain. One young
man, an associate in school, lifelong
| friend, was shot through the body-mor
| tally wounded. His sufferings were In
| tense. He knew he had to die. His
captain and comrades knew he must
soon pass away. He beckoned the cap
tain TO come close to him. The officer
soreiy afflicted at the loss of his friend
| aud in great agony over his sufferings
knelt by his side. took his hand and lis
| tened to the messages he wanted sen,
| TO the dear ones 1t home.
''Dc you think am going to die, cap
tain? Don't be afraid to tell me-"
IL am afraid you are, old friend"
81 know l must die. l wish l might
die now. this instant. Only God and
| myself know how l am suffering. Come
| closer: let me whisper to you. Captain
in Gods name, help me out Of the
| world-free me from this torture. Dc
not be shocked; it would be no crime
1t is the last favor have to ask; it is
the greatest favor l ever asked Of any.
one. If you love me-and l know you
do-help me out of the world. Do II
, now: do it any way. This pain is un-
bearable; it will make only a few
hours difference. Help me, captain.
Oh. help me-
Il can't do it. my dear boy: l can't
do it. ! know it would be mercy;
know it would be kindness; know IL
would not be a sin, but how can do
it" The captain gently pressed the
poor boys hand. said gOod-by. and
started away. The young fellows
groans drew him back. Again he
knelt at the sufferers side. With his
eyes and his lips he begged again and
again for help" Once more the Off
GER started away. Again he looked
back at his comrade. Then. as il he
had nerved himself for action, he
reached into pocket, took from it q
box and from that morphine enough
to produce the final sleep. His courage
was weakening. He stood looking at
the soldier, offered a silent prayer. and
then sprang to his side, gave him the
medicine and drink from his can
teen.
Thank you. captain, thank you; God
bless you-GOd bless you. A thousand
times thank you. have not been a
very bad boy, have II" The captain
could not answer. But I wish you
would pray for me-pray just a little
God knows l am not afraid to die:
that's what l want most to do, but
pray for me. please, captain" The Off
Ger was not Il praying man, but there,
On that battlefield, surrounded by dead
and dying, he prayed for his comrade
and asked the Almighty to forgive him
if he had done wrong in fastening the
soldiers approach to the pearly gates
and golden streets at the end Of the
last march.
1t was not long until the pain ceased;
it was not long until there was another
soldier to bury-anOther recruit for
heaven.
In telling the story the captain said:
Il have never felt that I did wrong.
There are people. possibly. who would
call it murder; it was mercy. Strange
as it may seem. good came to me from
the scenes witnessed that evening, for
the part l took in the quiet tragedy.
How? I'll tell you. Not a morning or
an evening. sick or well, has come and
gone since that sorrOwful event on the
field of Williamsburg. nearly thirty
four years ago. without seeing me on
my knees in prayer. Don't smile when
I tell you that nothing but extreme
sickness or death will interfere with
that custom"
Isn't there n sermon in that remark
1t is Il sorrowful story, this Of the
dying soldier. but it is one phase of
army life in those years from 1861 to
1865. Will the reader be shocked
when 1 say that there were hundreds
of instances where poor fellows begged
for such help and We're helped. in both
the Union and Confederate armies?
Many pleaded in vain. 1t required
more courage to extend such help than
it did to charge double-shotted cannon.
WAS il murder:'
Certainly not.
At the battle of Gravelly Run. a few
days before Appomattox. our brigade
received hard treatment ut the hands
Of McGowen's division. The lines of
battle were close together. Both sides
fought desperately. A number of Con
federates charged around on the right
Of one of our regiments. Some of them
were wounded. some of them made
their escape by lodging behind trees
and pushing back To their line. but one,
I giant in size and a Caesar in bravery.
lie equal of any man ever saw, thrust
1t officers and men with his bayonet
after he was ordered to surrender;
dubbed his muSket and hit two or
three of the boys who were loading and
iring 1T the enemy in front. and then
made a bold dash at Lieutenant Kelly.
who warded off the blow with his
sword and called for assistance in Sc
.uring the Confederate. At that mo-
nent Lieut.. Frank \. Waller. seeing
he danger of the officer and the daunt-
esS courage of the assailant. struck
him 4 blow and felled him to the
ground. He recovered almost instant
Y, seized his gun and made lunge at
Waller, barely missing him. and then
"a thered himself as if for another
blow. when Waller seized a sergeant's
nusket and called to him TO surrender.
NO. Never he defiantly replied. and
made a fourth rush at Waller. A ques-
ion had to be settled; the Confederate
;oldier or the Union officer had to suf-