Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-04-03
THE BATTLE-FlELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in a
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.

The death of the venerable and be-
loved Mrs. James w. Harris, of Column
bus, Miss, recalled an amusing yet
pathetic hospital experience often re-
lated by that lady. The women of Co
lumbus, when the necessity arose. or
ganized a Soldiers Relief Association
of which Mrs. Harris was president
This association charged itself with the
duty of ministering to the wants of
Confederate soldiers as far as lay In Its
power, and of nursing the sick and
wounded. Medicine by reason of the
BLOCKADE, was hard to get and exor-
bitantly high, and quinlne had been de-
clared contraband of war. In every
Storeroom there had been religlously
EhOarded small stores of tea, coffee and
sugar, against that possible evil day
when some member of the family
might be taken sick. but when the sick
and wounded soldiers began to come in
these precious stores were distributed
among them. Daily the ladies went to
hhe hospital with hampers of delicately
prepared food, with which the men
were nourished under the direction of
Ahe surgeon in charge. One day Mrs.
Harris, making her usual rounds, leav-
Ping cheer and comfort in her wake,
stopped to chat with one Of her boys"
who was then convalescent Just as she
burned to leave her eyes fell upon the
occupant Of a bed which had been
empty the previous evening.
when did he come in, and who is
hep she asked.
boys took prisoner. He was brought in
with lot Of our men last night. He
mas typhoid fever, they say, and Is
pretty bad off, believe"
For moment wave Of repulsion, of
hate almost swept over her, but she
was Of an exceedingly gentle, sympa
fhetic nature and she had three young
sons In the army-what If they too,
should fall into a like plight? She
stepped to his bedside and beheld
Song, lean, gawky youth of not more
fhan 10, burning with fever and tossing
IN delirum. Mother, mother, where
are youT' was his incessant and piteous
cry. Her eyes filled with tears at the
sight of the young fellow who but
few moments ago had been the "ene-
any, but was now become one of her
boys" to be tenderly nursed. She
sought the surgeon, a good man, but
harassed from overwork and made
Quate means for the perfect discharge
of the work he had undertaken.
Doctor. what IL the matter with No
272"
mo. q has typhoid fever, madame"
he replied at is almost a hopeless
case"
''Is there nothing to be done for him.
thenY'
VERY little, | fear. BY the help of
stimulants and nourishing food we
might pull him through, but as you are
aware we have none to spare. Our own
men will soon be without" and he
sighed deeply. But it will be only one
Yankee the less" struggling his shout
ders.
Doctor Pm going to take that poor
boy in my own special charge. and as
long as there Is any food or medicine
left he shall have his share of 1t. And
know you well enough, doctor. TO feel
sure that you will expend Oh that
Yankee boy Of mine as much care and
skill as if he were one OF my own
double-dyed rebel sons"
The next day, and the next, and for
many more long, weary days after Mrs.
Harris and the doctor tended and
Dursed the prisoner boy from Maine.
But he grew steadily worse. His con
slant cry had been for his mother, but
AIRS. Harris was his mother, and rs
long as she was near him he was quiet
The days heightened into weeks, and
at last the fever burned itself out, but
1t seemed also to have consumed the
vitality of its victim. Mrs Harris
hardly needed to ask the doctor his
opinion Of his patient-death was writ
ten large on that wan face.
'Is there any chance for him." she
asked huskily.
None whatever, in my opinion, mad
ame"
She stopped and kissed the sick mans
brow, then, sad and fearful, left him
TO try to lose herself in round of du-
ties.
The next day upon her return to the
hospital she was>astonished to hear
that her patient was still alive. She
FASTENED to him and found him con-
sciOus.
''My son." she said, bending over
him, lis there anything more can do
for your Is there anything at all you
fancy?'
He was too weak 10 speak aloud, but
she fancied she caught his family whis-
pered answer-"Pumpkin pie"
Thinking she must be mistaken, she
repeated her question.
Pumpkin pie" was the feeble reply.
She was Mortified. my dear child, il
will kill you. Isn't there something else
4.