The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15

nearby soldiers, who were picking up the
wounded, see my weakness, put the book
in my pocket, and mounting my mule rode
of into the timber, where could finish
reading it unobserved.
1 can not remember the exact wording
OF this letter, but it was very sad, pathetic
in the extreme, and foreboding. The
writer seemed to have a presentiment that
this would be his last fight. He was not
afraid to die, as he said, in a good cause
his greatest anxiety being, "Who will care
for mother and sister when l am gone )"
and saying that in case of the unfortunate
result to himself, which he anticipated, he
could only commend HIS loved ones "to the
care Of that Greatest Friend of the widow
and orphan, who never fails to heed their
cry of distress" As for himself, il he
was taken away, he would meet his ia te
like soldier, saying with becoming resig-
nation, Thy will be DONE"
This was evidently, although wearing
the uniform of a private soldier a man of
some intelligence, and far above the aver
age OF Southern soldiers in the ranks. He
quoted Scripture to prove that their cause
was right, and must prevail; but those
Southerners were always glib with Scrip
tural quotations to sustain them. Still,
the fact of their always trying to justify
themselves in making war against the
North was strong evidence to me that
they were not SO dead sure that they were
right after all.
The last paragraph of this mans letter
read about like this: 'The Yankees have
opened on US with their big guns. Their
shot and shells are crashing through the
tops of the trees, but doing us little or no
harm, as they pass over our heads. We
are ordered forward to see what they are
doing, l suppOse-and at the next halt /
will try to finish this letter." But he
never finished it.
AS there was no name in the book, con-
cluded to take it to the Texas prisoners
the book and writing, or, by such descrip-
ton as was able to give Of him, could
tell who he was, and would take charge
Of the message and try to send it to that
mother and sister, who would be waiting
and watching with aching hearts for q
word from that loved one who was never
| to come home to them, and the resting
place of whose bones, even, they would
| never know.
BURNING UP THE CAMP.
Just then l noticed dense smoke rising
up on the higher ground where the rebe
camp had been, and | galloped across the
creek and up the hill to the fire. The
rebels had set fire TO some buildings con
tanning stores that they had TO abandon or
retreating. Our soldiers had got there il
| AiIic " save Suite Ol the SIuH. put most oil
| ii burned. A lot of their tents were still
standing. and clothing and other propert,
scattered about showed that they had Iefl
in quite hurry. No pursuit was made be
yond this point, and the enemy was I'm
| disturbed in their retreat TO North Forl
Town, on the Canadian River.
Why was it that military leaders, or
both sides during the war so seldom ayaile,
| themselves or an opportunity to improv,
a victory by following up the defea ted an,
ldisheartened foe in retreat, and inhictin,
further punishment on him? | know tina
it is generally said in such cases that th
yictors were not able TO follow and fight
being too badly punished themselves Blu
it does not seem possible that a victorious
army Is always so badly used up as no
TO be able TO muster still a sufficient fore
of men who are able TO follow and poun,
the demoraliZed foe, harassing rAeir rea
lat least and capturing more prisoners an,
property, il a strenuous effort was mad
to do so. | think this could easily hay
been done at Honey Springs.
In returning TO our camp near the hos
pital l rode through the timber off towar,
what had been the right of our line. Here
also, were plenty of the familiar signs O
the battlefield men, dead mules, dea,
horses scattered clothing, arms and eauip
ments: in several places l saw piles O
rolled blankets 1.-THE way that soldiers rol
and tie them to carry slung around tn
body ON the march,, also haversacks
knapsacks, canteens and clothing, wher
some OF the rebel regiments had lightene,