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

dians would have spared none that fell
into their hands, and often, like the rebel
| bushwhackers, did kill the prisoners they
| took, when their white officers were not
present to prevent it. They were almost
as cruel and relentless as the wild Indians
on the frontier.
Among the severely wounded rebels 1
noticed pale-faced boy of about 20, who
was evidently nearing the end. An elder
~ man knelt by him whom the young man
called Uncle" and between gasps he was
giving to the uncle some verbal messages
to deliver to the home folks, whom he
would never see again in life.
AS he seemed to realize that his remain
ing moments were few, he asked his uncle
to pray for him; and as the old man
poured forth a homely but fervent appeal
for mercy and forgiveness for the soul
that was about to ascend to its Maker. the
lips OF the youth moved as il repeating
the words OF the uncle; but before the end
OF the prayer the expression of suffering
on the boys face relaxed into a peaceful
calmness-the spirit had passed out.
AS the old uncle pronounced his
Amen one of our soldiers who was stand
ing by uttered solemnly the words "Mus-
tered out-mustered in" And then added
with what seemed an assumed air of leyity
as he turned away, "I'll bet four dolla r.
and half that rebel slipped into
Heaven" as though he was surprised to
think that one of them might possibly get
there; but there was a sympathetic tea
in his eye that gave the lie to his donbt-
ing expression.
Among the other rebel wounded some
were praying, some were debating last
messages to loved ones at home. while
others who were too far gone to more
than groan were being prayed for bv com.
rades who knelt beside them.
As l walked away from this sad scene
to hide the tears l could not keep back.
the words of song that was often sung
by the soldiers, called "The Soldier of the
Legion" came freshly to mind,
"a soldier of the Legion
Lay dying in Algiers;
| 1nere was want of wOman's nursing
There was dearth of wOman's tears.
But comrade knelt beside him,
While his life blood ebbed away,
And bent with plying glances
To hear what he might say.
"The dying soldier faltered
| AS his comrade took his hand.
Saying, Alas / never more shall see
My own dear, native land
Bear message and n token
To some distant friends of mine:
For ! was born in Bingen-
Calm Bingen on the Rhine"
AN IRIsHMAN's LOVE.
Going back into the operating room al
the hospital. / found the Surgeons wer,
now busy amputating limbs for the rabe
wounded One Capt. Maloy, of the 27tI
Tex, ine-loOking young Irishman, was
on the table to have his leg taken off. III,
begged the doctors TO spare the limb ane
let him die a whole man." for he soi,
he knew he would die any way: bur the.
| insisted that taking the leg off might say,
, his life. and off it came.
This rebel, Capt. Maloy. seemed to TAX.
. his misfortune hard, and after he was car
ried from the table and laid on the floor
| walked over and stood by him. lie hat
drawn a tintype from his breast pocket
and was contemplating it earnestly. Will,
. his eyes filled with tears. Noticing IN,
sympathetic looks he reached the pictu,.
: to me, saying impulsively,
Look at her. Amt she a beauty? TIL,
. blamedest best girl in Texas! But She,
: lost to me now. And that Bass
my Colonel, | mean-is the cause of II
- him! You see. he and / were boil
courtin' her, an there was no show 70,
him while | was on the string, so l thinl
he concluded to-day in the fight that now
was good time to get rid Of me and SC
he left US in the -cOrnfield when he re
treated with the rest Of the regiment, with
out sayin' word about retreatin' at all
: KNOWN, as he must, that We would bs
, killed or captured. Well, he's succeeded
. only too we'll In putin me out Of hiI
way; for even II should live to get well