The Monte Vista journal., 1907-08-10
AN OLD WAR LETTER,
Recalls the Sad Story Of WoundIng Of
Gen. Wallace at Shiloh.

or all relics of the civil war the
ones which most touch me are the
faded yellow letters from soldiers at
the front or in hospitals. and those
other letters from home to the sol
diers, showing the marks and creases
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 and 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 to 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
PittsburS Landing until morning
came, with Buells advance on the
field, and the dispirited troops of the
day before ready for a new trial be-
fore 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 6. 1862. The
letter am describing was written by
Mrs. Wallace some ten days after
the battle to near relation.
She Describes bar nrriyal-fh, yicit
was to be a complete surprise to her
husband-and she remained on board
OF the river steamer. after sending
word to him that she was there, and
as she waited him. as the sun rose
over the spring landscape. she heard
firing, but thought nothing of it 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 strick-
en-, and they all told the same story
OF the early morning attack and the
driving in of 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. Nainly she tried 10 get an.
other message to him. He was in the
Hornets Nest" where no one could
penetrate. Before noon the boat was
crowded with wounded, and Mrs. Wal
ri N
their sufIerinrs.
In the afternoon the Minnehaha was
used to ferry over Nelson's regiments.
the advance of Buell's recnforcements.
At last. when the boat landed on the
Pittsburg side. message was brought
10 the anxious woman. Wallace's d.
vision. they told her. had been falling
back. Wallace leading 1t. just having
been hanked by the enemy. Just clear
OF the Hornets Nest and as his
command came into the road TO the
Landing, the general had been shot
and had fallen from his horse and left
for dead. One of his soldiers. an or.
derly, ''one who loved him." had car.
ried the body more than "a quarter OF
a mile. and then to avoid death and
capture. had To lay him down out OF
the way OF tramping feet, and leave
him.
All night Mrs. Wallace nursed the
wounded ON the steamer. and at ten
o'clock Monday morning word came
to her that the general was still
breathing. and that he was to be
brought to her. Her dead wns alive.
and she rejoiced. She was allowed to
take her husband to Savannah, n few
miles away. ON the river. and to nurse
him for four days. before he brea,hed
his last.
Gratefully she tells In her letter OF
the comfort II was TO both that they
could have these last days together.
The general could not speak. but he
showed to the last minute that he
knew his wife and by the faint pres.
sure Of his hand that she held told how
much II was to him to have her by
his side.