The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13


dlers' Home on Bellinger' Heights was
no more.
Mrs. Bellinger returned home a few
days before the battle planned for our
destruction was fought-the awful bat
tie of Seven Pines" May 81, 1862. Every
one knew THE battle was impending.
What heart-breaking suspense, In the
trenches around Richmond were Mrs.
Belingers two sons and, her nephews,
the Taylors and Hails-ten cousins in
ALL
An original poem, written by menu
Der of the Bell branch of the Bellinger
family, clearly expresses the longing
those brave boys in the trenches must
have felt for the dear old homes and the
loved ones in them, though they stood
ready to die on the morrow for the south
land. They must have felt cheered and
ncrved to their duty by knowing that
pure hearts were lifted on high in prayers
for them:
"When the sweet little stars have
trimmed up their lamps,
When the moon her bright lantern I'M
furls,
As | sit by the fire 1 am thinking to-
night
OF mother. of home and the glrls
As my mind is o'ercrowded with thoughts
of the past,
Thro' my brain each sweet memory
whirls;
] cannot but feel that this world Is all
blank
Without mother, sweet home and the
girls.
My dearest of mothers, I'm thinking of
thee.
Whose love is more precious than
pearls;
I'd be willing to die could ! see you to-
night,
Dearest mother of home and the girls.
Those dearest of faces, whose features I
see
In the flame that so gracefully curls-
I'd give all the world just to be back
with thee,
Dear mother sweet home and the
girls."
While at home, in the aim candle-hielS-
er, mother and the girls had visions
also: of the gallant youths who were
we'll and theirs today, but when tomor-
rows sun should rise, though field of
glory
Mother. can this the glory be,
OF which men proudly tell,
When speaking of those fearless ones
Who In the battle 1ell!
o. God of the battle, shield him still
And yet. Thy will be done
A sister for her brother prays,
mother for her son,
We seek to share no glory now,
We ask Thee but 10 save
The noble hearts of sunny south,
Our beautiful and brave!
The very day that the news OF the bat
10
was driving into the city as DR.. James
H. Taylor drove out to carry her the
news.
The carriage was stopped; he rode up
close to the carriage window and said
slowly and solemnly: The battle has
been fought; Montgomery is in mourn
ing; the Third Alabama is cut to pieces"
Then wall went up from that mother
heart that made his own quail; MY
sons. my boys," The reassurins news
was quickly impaired to her that her
sons were safe-but many comrane mad
fallen and the colonel Of the regiment,
the gallant Lomax. was dead on the Held
of glory
Twas in this battle that Mrs. john b.
Gordon rendered signal service to wound
ed and dying men of the Third Alabama.
She went to the field and had many of
them brought to her and assisted 10
staunch the flow of lifeblood until sur
way she saved the life of George C.
| Clisby of Montgomery: he lost an arm
and Mrs. Gordon personally applied a
tournequet, stopped the loss of blood and
saved life, so the surgeon and Mr..
Clisby declared; the modest woman said
nothing. She still blushed like girl, in
1885, when a guest of the city of Mont
gomery, and when Mr.. Clisby once more
poured out his appreciation of her no.
BILE and patriotic conduct ION the field of
| battle"
War death and destruction had broken
up family circles; had thrown delicate
women out into the world to struggle for
| a living. Many a case of this kind came
| under Mrs Bellinger's observation, and
her tender sympathy, ready tact and
practical resourcefulness helped to ease
the burden of many woe-laden heart
| One young girl, seeking a pace to teach
| that she might be self-supporting. was
| assisted on her journey by Mrs. Bellinger
| Her letter of acknowledgment after
reaching her haven of refuge is most in
| teresting:
| ''Honeycut, Jan. 1S, 1853.
MY Dear Mrs. Bellinger-lt gives me