The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-06-07
UNMARKED BY A STONE.

u
memorial wreath In each hand, and as
! watched him from my boat he arose
and cast the wreaths one after another
into the river.
"Pal don me, sir" said |, as stepped
ashore, "if | ask the meaning Of these
wreaths. AS this 10 Memorial day,
suppose your action is inspired by
some sad memory OF the civil war"
\ es,' he replied solemnly. 1.-THE
strange act which you saw me perform
memorializes what was to me one Of
tho saddcst incidents OF tho civil war.
| WAS decorating the grave OF John
Douglas, private in Pennsylvania
regiment OF volunteers, u brave man
and the truest friond | ever had"
" His grave" | exclaimed. 81 SEQ
no graye-only water"
And only water covers my horO.
His grave is there somewhere in the
river.
"What you say" remarked, eek
cites my curiosity. | served in the
campaig gns along this river ana | shall
be deeply interested if you will tell me
the story" This he did rs we sat side
by side on the bank OF the river.
The pcnLsylvania regiment to
which belonged" said he, formed
part of the force with which General
Sherman attempted to attack Vlcks-
burg by way Of the YaZOO river. We
asccndcd the river on transports on
December %, 1862, and began opera
tions on the following day. Between
US and Vicksburg lay a swampy region
| intcrsected by numerous bayOus. After
several stirmlshes it was found i'm
possible TO force d passage through
the swamps, which were passable only
by narrow causeways, commanded by
was abandoned after Il fow days.
I" In the last Of the skirmishcs was
severely wounded and was left un-
noticed by my comrades in dense
canebrake upon their return to the
GazOO after the attempt had failed. |
| lay for some time in u sem micOnsciou3
condition, securely screened from the
eyes Of my enemies. as | rad been, un-
fortunately, from those OF my friends.
My condition was truly doplorable, for
WAS not only seriously wounded and
weak from the loss OF blood, but the
causeway was not patr oiled by Con-
fcdcratc soldiers, and even were it
otherwise the Federal troops had pro-
badly BY that time re.elnbarkcd on the
transport, and should reach the
| iszoo it would only be to fall into the
hands OF the enemy.
Without any definite purpose to
guide my steps, but impressed by the
necessity Of leaving u position where |
was in danger OF being captured, [
moved aimlessly through the dense
thlckct IN direction which led me
away from the causcway. a siigLt
frost had rendered the swampy soil
more firm, and the chief difficulty en-.
; couptcred WAS in making my way
through the cane and bushes and in.
, tcrlacing vines.
"After slowly cropping about in this
manner for three or four hours saw
rising ground in front OF ne and an
opening in the thick growth Of trees
crowning it which | thought indicated
Il near approach to the abode OF man.
If my conjecture was correct, tempo
rary relief WAS at hand, for even
enemies would not refuse to aid me in
my pitiable condition. Upon reach
ing the opening in the woods saw Il
neat, whitewashcd cottage, surrounded
by an orchard, short distance in
| front OF me, while in tho rear OF the
house small, we'll cultivated farm ex-
tended down tho opposite slope to IL
bayou where the oasis abruptly ended.
| "COmpletely exhausted and feeling
| that even death would be q relief, |
painfully made my way TO the gate
leading through the orchard to the
cottage. Upon reaching it | SAW in
the path before me TALL beautiful
girl, and then ! remembered nothing
more. When ! recovered conscious
ness, found myself lying in q bed in
a tastefuily furnished room. The CON
clusion was forced upon me that had
fallen into kind hands, and then, Just
as recalled the vision Of Il beautiful
being In white, the girl herself stood
before me.
How can | describe her beauty
her perfection OF form | thought OF
Murillo's masterpiece. Tho Immacu-
late Conception but here was q beauty
transccnding the painters inspiration,
and the music OF her voice was like
the trill OF song bird, softencd by the
coo OF dove.
"She came forward with some de-
gree OF hesitaDcy and apparently maid
cnly reserve, and in {. tone OF sym.
pathy inquired after my condition.
She told me that had been very i'll
and dclirious and had already passed
two nights in tho house. Her father,
she added, WAS ardcntly devoted to the
Southern cause, as she vas herself,
but they were always ready TO respond
to the calls OF humanity and in minis
tering to the sick they made no dis.
tinctiOn between Confederate and
Union soldier.
:" AS you may Judge from my enthu-
siasm, ! fell in love with this fair
angel of the Yazoo, Olympia LIE Moync
! convalcsced rapidly, all too rapidly,
for dreaded the approach OF the time
when ! would be compelled to re Join
my regiment and leave her, perhaps
forever.
| was ooon on q footing OF the most
friendly intimacy with her father,
Francis lie Moyne, who had been at
one time engaged in business in New
Orleans. Why ho and his daughter
Olympia had removed TO that lonely
spot, in region OF swamps and bayous,
J did not inquire, and they volunteer.
ed no explanation. They were people
OF refinement, and whatever their
motive in so secluding themselves |
felt 1t to be one that could cast no dis
credit upon them.
" remained q month in the Le
Moync cottage. OLYMPIA and myself
were together on every possible op-
portunity, and finally she made inc
supremcly happy by confessing that