The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-06-02

the fields Of Chickamauga, where in the
September days before be lay a wounded
soldier with fainting breath until the roar
of the cannon died through the tangled
forest and the rounded moon with kindly
radiance lighted the spots where hOnored
dead were piled: then along over the
scopes by the Cloud Springs; where For
rests Confederate troopers rode rough
shod over the hundreds of wounded men
who lay about the fields near the blessed
waters: now along the base of Snonsrass
Hill and over the Dyar Field. where the
blue and gray mingled that Sunday after
noon like colored pebbles on the bea oh
until. far past the midnight hour, they
passed the Widow Glenn house, and then
his heart went back to his tent mate and
comrade. Sandy Thompson. who. while
fighting in the front line down there in
the field, was struck i'm the neck with a
round muSket ball. 1t only went in a
short ways. but it hurt: and he ran back
to the rear behind the hill, where he found
the good old gray Surgeon working on
crowd Of wounded ones. He knew Sandy
before the war: the bullet was taken out
at once Sandy took it i'm his hand a
moment, then rammed it down his own
musket and started back for his company,
saying: I'll send that back 70 the John
ny Reb who plugged it into me-" And
that night when the Surgeon was still
working with the wounded at Crawfish
Springs. he found Sandy stretched upon
his breast. Now Sandy was out there in
the woods sleeping; his once good. bright
mnsket is down there on the hillside with
heaps of other rusty. broken guns.
Leaf had not seen the place since that
day until now. and twas midnight. Far
away To the north he could see the sigma
light as it waved upon Lookout Point: il
seemed To call him back-anotlter light,
charming magnet. held him prisoner.
The ripping waters of trawfish
Springs echoed through the woods. and
quiet shadows of the trees invited a rest.
The jaded mules were picketcd ont TO
! feed. a fire made and a soldiers midnight
feast. coffee and crackers prepared. Then,
while the women slept. Leaf did his las
nights duty about the camp. The rush
ing stream of pure water came ont from
the rocky bluff in an unbroken sheet be-
meath the great undershot wheel that i'm
peaceful days did grinding grists of corn.
The old wheel was turning that other dav
when Sheridan's Division camped. clok-
ing with dust, up the Pond Spring Road
| The march had been long: days and
nights of unbroken tramp along between
| rows of burning fences under hot suns. AT
midday the canteens were empty. and
when those boys came in sight of glo-
rious Crawfish Springs, they broke ranks
| like lot Of sheep and went tearing down
the banks. where they lay, painting, with
their faces in the water.
| The enemy were then in the woods be.
yond; Davis and Johnson were at them
farther to the left Old Pap Thomas's boys
were joining in the tumult. How many
| times the story has been told; but now il
came to the soldier as never before: he
again was in the ranks and again went
through it all. He threw himself on the
grassy bank and again dashed his face in
| the cooling waters. to hold back the tears
that filled his eyes. The old mll-whee
ratified on as he looked. each paddle blade
was part OF the company roll, on which he
| read the names. as one by one they came
out of the water and each told story
KILLED at Stone River" "klled at Chick
amauga," "died Of wounds" And so they
ran. until. in order. his own name came
next. Then as he looked the blade
dropped off the spokes Of the wheel, and
noiselessly foated down the stream and
like shadow moved along in the current
Springing to his feet he follOwed-tot
late, too late. It had disappeared in tn.
tangled windings Of the stream and the
old wheel was out of gear, with a paddle
blade gone. 1t hesitated at every turn
but still went round, while all nature wa.
resting and daylight came again.
Then the journey was resumed; or
through the forest and over hill and dale
until night again was coming on. Far ut
a cove they found the home, a modes
cottage trellised round with vines upor
the hillside, nestled in the pines, with
whitened fence. and in the yard swing
with beaten pathway leading to thu
spring; with porch and loom, and seats
about the door, and papered walls and
pine board floor, and thousands OF orheI
things to complete mountain home. AND
here we found him long years after the