Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-10-24

W iiiidLlSuufG ~SlOl through the StOn-
ach. Such wounds. then, meant death
as certainly as the guillotine The civ
ilized world gratefully touches it's hat
to the great minds of the medical fra
ternity for having so advanced in the
science of medicine and surgery that
wounds of thai charaetet do not, now.
except in extreme eases. mean death.
After the battle the captain went
over the field and assisted in caring for
the wounded and gave directions for
the burial of the slain. One young
man. an associate in school. life long
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 10 him. The officer.
sorely afflicted at the loss of his friend,
and in great agony over his Sufferings.
knelt by his side. took his hand and lis
tened the messages lie wanted sent
TO the dear ones at home.
do ynu think l am going to die, cap
tain? Don't be afraid 10 tell me-
Il am afraid you are, old friend
Il know ] must die. | wish | might
die now. this instant. Only God and
myself know how am suffering. Come
closer; let me W nisper to you. Captain,
in Gods name, hep me out of the
world-free me from ,his torture. DO
not be shocked; it would be no crime.
1t is the last favor | have to ask; it is
the greatest favor | ever asked of any
one. If you love me-and | know you
do-help me out of the world Do ii
now; do it any way. This pain is I'M
bearable; 1t 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. l know it would be mercy;
know 1t would be kindness; l know it
would not be sin, but how can do
it9" 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 conrade. Then. as If he
had nerved himself for action. he
reached into a pocket, took from il a
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
Ia. ell 10 u ~,
medicine and drink from his can
teen.
THANK you, captain, thank you; God
bless you-God bless you. y thousand
times | thank you l have not been a
very bad boy, have ~ The captain
could not answer. But l wish you
would pray for me-pray just little.
God knows / am not afraid to die;
that's what | want most to do, but
pray for me, please, captain" The Off
Ger was not praying man, but there,
on that battlefield, surrounded by dead
and dying, he prayed for his comrade
and asked the Almighty to forgive him
il he had done wrong in Fastening the
soldiers approach to the pearly gates
and golden streets at the end Of the
last march
It 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 | 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 | 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
tell you thar nothing but extreme
sickness or death viii interfere with
that custom"
Isn't there Il sermon in that remark
1t is a sorrowful story, this of the
dying soldier. but il is one phase of
army life in those years from 1861 to
1865. VIII the reader be shocked
when say that there were hundreds
of instances where poor fellows begged
for such help and were helped. In both
ii Union ana Confederate armies?
Many pleaded in vain 1t required
more courage to extend such help than
IT did to charge double-shotted cannon.
WAS II murdcr:t
Certainly not.
At the battlc OF Gravelly Run, a few
days before Apppmattox, our brigade
received hard treatment at 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 oar regiments. Some Of them
were wounded. some Of them made
their escape by lodging behind trees
and pushing back TO their line, but one.
n giant in size and Caesar in bravery.
elc equal Of any mar ever saw. thrust
at officers and men with his bayonet
after he WIS ordered to surrender;
dubbed his musket aud hit two or
three Of the boys who were loading and
firing at tie enemy in front aud thea
made n bold dash az Lieutenant Kelly.
who wa1ded OF the blow with bis