The National tribune., 1902-01-30

NATIONAL Itt1bONI-
Tho battle of Gettysburg was fought
on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. OL
fhe following Sunday the congregation had
assembled in the church at Walnut Mead
ows. They knew that n terrible battle
had been fought in Pennsylvania. but the
results were not known. The minister
was announcing his text, when Il stranger
entered the church, and, going to the pul,
nit, handed him a telegram. The old
clergyman took it with trembling hafd'
kilograms were SO unusual with hlm that
it portended mOmentous evenf. IL was
from his son, Chaplain Parker Addison.
II road. Great. victory; terrible losses;
wounded need supplies; 10th lost heaf-
lily" :.
In faltering voice the old man read it
aloud and those 10 words carried dlSInay
and anxiety TO nearly every one IN his con
gregation The messenger spoke few
"My friends" she said, "a train viii
start from Boston at ) this afternoon,
CARRYING supplies for the wounded 1t
will pass through Springfield at lo O'Clock
tonight We must send our share to ald
our wounded men. Go home ana hring
the sewing machines to the church; bring
the sheets from your beds, for bandages;
bring your linen for lint; bring your Jei-
lies and preserves, and pack the boxes
here. and have them ready to send on that
train tonight. Go; it is Gods work"
The congregation dispersed. and soon
came back with packages. Willing hands
worked with feveriSh energy, and when
fhe train passed Springfield at 10 O'Clock
that night it bore away two wagon loads
of supplies for the 10th. prepared by the
workers of the little town of Walnut
Meadows.
After the great charge at Gettysburg
was over and the enemy had retreated
across the field, Jacks comrades found
him near the famous stone wall, among
the heaps of dead and wounded: He was
unconscious and bleeding prOfusely from
Il wound in the head. A young Confed-
crate soldier, shot through both legs, with
IL cotton suspender tied around each OF
his wounded limbs, the suspenders twisted
tight with bayonets, had raised Jack S
head and wiped away the blood that
would have suffocated him. The soldier
IN gray was pouring little water from
q wooden canteen over Jacks face, try
ing to revive him. Both wounded men
were taken TO the field hospital and placed
side by side.
When Jack regained consciousness, late
at night, he saw his father sitting by his
side. On the other side, with both legs
in splints and bandages, was the young
Confederate soldier whom Jack had met
in battle They were lying on hay, and
over them was tent made from wagon
cover Jim Wright had stripped wagon
and robbed the .nules Of their forage to
provide for his son. The rain was fall
ing in torrents, and thousands of wound
cd were exposed to il. A fiickering candle
lighted up the rude shelter.
"Oh. Dad said Jack, did we drive
them?' His mind was still in that ter
rible conflict.
'sYes. Jack, yes" said jim; ''they went
back a howlin':" but, seeing the sober
face of the young Confederate. he added,
but no troops could have fought better
than they did; and, Jack, if it hadn't have
been for this Johnny here, you would have
died down by the stone wall"
''Then we are even, Dad; this is the
boy we captured at Trent"
'And we might have killed each other
today, but we didn't" said the Southern
soldier, pressing Jacks hand.
Jim brought the Regimental Surgeon to
attend to Jack, and the Doctor, after
careful examination, said You have had
very close call, Sergeant, but If no in
hamrati0n sets in you will be all right
again by the end of the month"
my head aches fearfully," said Jack.
'Thats a good sign" said the Doctor;
"you may be thankful that you have got
q head to ache; evidently the ball defect
ed from its course, at the very instant
that ii struck you; an eighth of an inch
lower and it would have crushed your
skull from front 10 back"
Jim Wright remained by the two wound
ed boys until morning. He wrote TO Mrs.
Wright, informing her Of their sons
wound, and assuring her Of his probable
recovery.
Jim's duties called him back to the
wagon train; before he left them he made
the best provision possible for both boys.
As they lay side by side on that Fourth
OF July they talked of the great battle
and the many incidents that they had wit
messed.
John Rand, for that was the name of
the young Southern soldier, told Jack that
he had been exchanged and assigned to
the 26th n. c., just in time TO take part
Ia the invasion Of Pennsylvania. His reg
iment. with others, had charged Seminary
Hill on the afternoon of July 2, and had
been almost annihilated. With tears in
his eyes he told how that one company
had gone into the charge with three Off
GERS and 81 men, and only one man had
escaped; all the others had been killed or
wounded.$ In his own company only the
Captain, a Sergeant and half dozen
privates were left; these had participated
in the charge on the Sd, and he feared
that none of them had escaped. Jack
greatly admired the courage and devotion
Of men who, having escaped the pcrils of
the assault on Seminary Hill, were ready
The next day TO take part in a charge that
was virtually Il forlOrn hope.
The Colonel of the 10Th made a visit
smong his wounded, and to Jack he spoke
most kindly, telling him that he had no
iiced his brave conduct in battle, and that
his name would be mentioned in the off
cial report. Jacks face flushed with pleas
ure, only to grow grave again, as he
learned how terribly the regiment had suf-
fered
On July 3 the Army Of the Potomac
moved. following the Confederate army
toward Virginia.
In q few days Jack was ordered to a
hospital in Philadelphia, and John Rand
sent to a hospital for wounded prisoners.
The parting between the two young men
was more like that OF classmates than
that of adyersaIies who had twice met
upon the battlefield. Jacks mother Wis
ited him in Philadelphia, and her pres
cncc and tender care greatly assisted in
his rapid recovery.
One morning the Surgeon of the ward
came to him smiling, bringing n large Of
icial letter. Ii was addressed to Second
Lieut.. John Wright, Co. ii, 18th Mass.
Inf and contained his commission AS
Second Lieutenant. The Colonel had not
forgotten him, and the coveted shoulder
straps were his!
Jacks face fairly shone with pleasure,
and he was eager to return to the regi-
inent rs soon as possible.
Now that have seen you, mother
md am so much better. | must 60 to the
old 10Th with Dad and the boys" he said
and was much disappointed when the Sur