The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-08-30
AN OLD WAR LETTER.
Recalls the Sad Story Of woundIns Of
Gen. Wallace at Shiloh.

VI all reiics OF TIE CIVIL war lho
ones which most touch me are the
faded yellow letters from soldiers AZ
the front or In hospitals. and those
other letters from home to the sol
diers. showing the marks and ereases
caused by being carried long In pocket
and knapsack. until By some chance
they drifted back home again across
the lines of faction and war. writes
Ada C. sweet, in Chicago Journal
One OF the most pathetic aud yet
nobly strong letters remember TO
have read. is one from Mrs Wallace.
widow OF the gallant Gen. William II
Wallace, who met death at Shiloh,
after helping Prentiss 10 hold the cen
ter all Of that terrible first day. when
the whole union army was crumpled
up and crowded almost into the Ten
nessee river. only escaping by holding
Pittsburg Landing until morning
came. with Buelrs advance on the
field. and the dispirited troops Of the
DAY before ready for a new trial be
Tore the grim gods OF war.
Mrs. Wallace. worried and anxious
At home, had started TO visit her hus-
band in the camp at shiloh. and she
arrived at Pittsburg Landing on the
steamer Minnehaha before daylight
Sunday morning. April s. 1862 The
letter am describing was written by
Mrs Wallace some ten days after
the battle 20 a near relation
She describes her arrival--the visit
was 10 he a complete surprise 10 her
husband-and she remained on board
OF the river steamer after sending
word 10 him that she was there. and
as she waited him. as the sun rose
over the spring landscape. she heard
hring. but thought nothing Of II there.
near the great war camp where thou.
sands OF men were being drilled and
trained IN the uses Of war
Before very long she saw wounded
soldiers being brought on board Of her
steamer. and then came more and
more pale bleeding and panic sirick.
en-. and they all told the same story
Of the early morning attack and the
driving in q the outer lines. and occu.
patton By the enemy. of the outer
camps
Her husband. she was told. was on
/ the field. in the very center Of the rag.
ing battle. vainly she tried to set an
other message TO him He was In the
Hornets Nest" where no one could
penerste Before noon the boat was
crowded with wounded. and Mrs Wal
lace tried to comfort and assuage
their suierings
In the afternoon the MinnehAhA was
used to ferry over Nelson's regiments
the advance OF Buells reeniorcements
At last. when the boat landed on the
PittsbuDg side. message was brought
10 the .snIious woman wallace's di
vision. they told her. had been falling
back. Wallace leading Il. Just having
been nanked by the enemy Just eleai
OF the Hornets Nest. and a. his
command came into the road to The
Landing. the general bad been shot
and had fallen lrom his horse and JEFF
for dead One Of his soldiers. an or
DERBY. "one who loved him had car
ried the body more than a'qnarter oI
a mile. and then 10 avoid death ant
capture. had to lay him down out Of
the way Of tramping feet, and leav,
him.
All night MIRA Wallace nursed the
wounded on the steamer. and at ter
O'Clock Monday morning word came
TO her tina, the general was sui
breathing. and that he was 10 b.
brought 70 her. Her dead was alive
and she reioicsd She was allowed &c
take her husband 10 Savannah. a few
miles away. on the river. and 10 nurse
him for four days. before he breathet
his last
Gratefully she tells In her letter Of
the comfort IL was TO both that they
could have these las, days together
The general could not speak. but he
showed TO the last Rinute that b.
knew his wife and by the fain, pres
sure Of his hand that she held told how
much Il was TO him 10 have her By
his side
Such is the story told by the faded
letter 10 read it brings home To N,
heart and lmagieation what The mer
sud wonen G! the country suffered
! and endured. more than a generation
ago. that the union might i've Re-
eren.ly l sefer to this Cd !eiiSs iron
/ ore OF the women y Illinois I'm,
survivors 81 oh iii hear Of 1t witt
mourpin.. Interest. | am sure.