The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-08-01
AN OLD WAR T
Recalls the Sad story Of woundlng Of
Gen. Wallace al Shiloh.

OF al relics Of the civil wnf iho
ones which most touch me are the
faded yellow letters from soldiers n
tho hont or IN hospitals. and those
other letters from home 10 the sol
diers. showing tho marks and ereases
caused BY being carried long in pocket
and knapsaok. untii BY some chance
they drifted back home again across
the lines OF faction and war. writes
Ada C. Sweet On Chicago Journal
One OF the o pathetic and yet
nobly strong letters remember 10
have read. IS one from Mrs. Wallace.
widow Of the gallant Gen. William II.
Wallace. who met death az shiloh,
after helping Premise to hold the cen
ter all OF that terrible nrst day. when
the whole union army was crumpied
up and crowded almost into the Ten
nessee river. only escaping BY holding
came, with Bueil's 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 70 visit her hus-
band ia the camp AZ Shiloh. and she
arrived az Pittsburg Landing on the
steamer Minnehaha before daylight
Sunday morning. April s. 1859. The
letter I am describing was written by
Mrs. Wallace some ten days after
the battle 10 q near relation.
She describes her arrival-the visit
was to be a complete surprise 10 her
husband-and she remained on board
Of the river steamer, after sending
word 20 him that she was there. and
as she waited him. as the sun rose
over the spring landscape. she heard
firms, but thought nothing Of Il there,
near the great war camp. where thou
sands Of lei were being drilled and
trained ia the uses Of var.
Before very long she saw wounded
soldiers being brought on beard Of her
steamer. and then came more and
more. pale, bleeding and panie-strick-
en-. aud they all told the same story
Of the early morning attack and the
driving 10 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. Yainly she tried 20 get an
other message % him. He was In the
Hornets Nest. whore no one could
penetrate. Before noon the boat was
crowded with wounded. and Mrs. Wal
lace tried to comfort and assuage
their sunerings.
In the afternoon the Mlnnehaha was
used 20 ferry over Nelson's regiments.
the advance Of Buelrs reenforcements.
AT last. when the boat landed on the
P%ittsburg side. a message was brought
10 the anxious nma Wnllace's d.
vision. they told her. had been falling
back. wallace leading e. just having
been Ranked by the enemy. Just clear
Of the Hornets Nest" and as hts
command came into the road 10 the
Landing. the general had been shot
and had fallen from his horse and left
FOR dead One OF his soldiers. an or.
DERBY. 'one who loved him. had car.
ried the body more than a quarter of
a mile. and then 10 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 az ten
o'clock Monday morning word came
TO her that the general was sull
breathing. and that nc vas 20 be
brought 10 her, Her dead was alive.
and she reioiced She was allowed Ia
take her husband 10 Savannah. a few
miles away. on the river. and 20 nurse
him for feur days. before hd breaihed
MSS last.
Gratefully she tells IN her letter Of
the comfort n was 10 both that they
could have these last days together.
The general could not speak bat be
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 u was 10 him 20 have her by
his side
Such r. the story told By the faded
letter; 90 read 10 brings home 20 the
heart and imaeinauon what the men
and women OF the country suffered
and endured. moro than a generation
ago. that the union might live. Rev.
orcntiy , refer 60 this old letter from
one Of the women of Illinois Tbs
survivors Of shiloh wil hear OF 10 with
mournol interest. l am sure.
one Use Tor a Newspaper.