The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-05-29


stepped ashore, IF ask the meaning of
these wreaths. AS this is Memorial day,
suppose your action is inspired by some
sad memory of the civil war;"
"4es," he replied solemnly. "The
strange act which you saw me perform
memorlalizes what was to me one of the
saddest incidents of the civil war. | was
decorating the grave of John Douglas,
private in Il Pennsylvania regiment of
volunteers, Il brave man and the truest
friend l ever had"
His grave" l exclaimed. y see no
grave-only water"
And only water covers my hero. His
grave is there somewhere in the river"
What you say" | remarked, "excites
my curiosity. | served in the campaigns
along this river, and | shall be deeply in
terested if you will tell me the story"
This he did rs we sat side by side on the
bank of the river.
The Pennsylvania regiment to which
belonged" said he, formed part of the
force with which General Sherman at
tempted to attack Nicksburg by way of
the Iazoo river. We assembled the river
on transports OH Dec. %, 1862, and began
operations on the following day. Be
tween us and Nicksburg lay Il swampy
>.
After several skirmishes it was found
impossible to force a passage through the
swamps, which were passable only by
narrow causeways, commanded by Con-
federate batteries, and the attempt was
abandoned after few days.
''ln the last of these skirmishes | was
severely wounded and was left unnoticed
by my comrades in dense canebrake
upon their return to the Yazoo after the
attempt had failed. l lay for some time
in semiconscious condition, securely
screened from the eyes of my enemies, as
l had been, unfortunately, from those of
my friends My condition was truly de-
plorable, for l was not only seriously
wounded and weak from the loss of
blood, but the causeway was now patrol
led by Confederate soldiers and even
were it otherwise the Federal troops had
probably by that time re-embarked on
the transport, and should l reach the
YaZoo 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 Il position where | was in dan
ger of being captured, | moved aimlessly
through the dense tlicket in Il direction
which led me away from the causeway
A slight frost had rendered the swampy
soil more firm, and the chief difficulty en-
countered was in making my way
through the cane and bushes and inter
lacing vines.
After slowly cropping about in this
manner for three or four hours saw ris-
ing ground in front of me and an open
ing in the thick growth of trees crowning
it which thought indicated near APP
proach to the abode of man. Ii my con-
lecture were correct, temporary relief was
at hand, for even enemies would not re-
fuse to aid one in my pitiable condition.
Upon reaching the opening in the woods
] saw a neat, whitewashed cottage, sur
rounded by an orchard, Il short distance
in front of me, while in rear of the house
down the opposite slope to Il bayou where
the oasis abruptly ended.
Completely exhausted and feeling that
even death would be a relief. | painfully
made my way to the gate leading through
the orchard to the cottage. Upon reach
ing it | saw in the path before me a tall,
beautiful girl, and then l remember moth
ing more When / recovered conscious
ness, l found myself lying in bed in a
tastefully furnished room. The conclu-
sion was forced upon me that had fall
en- into kind hands, and then, just as
recalled the vision of beautiful being in
white, the girl herself stood before me.
How can | describe her beauty-her
perfection of form? l thought of Muril-
los masterpiece. The Immaculate Con-
ception,' but here was a beauty tran.
scending the painters inspiration, and
the music of her voice was like the trill
of song bird, softened by the coo of a
dove