Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-05-10
Continued from last week.

CONTINUED from last week.
My sickness had greatly reduced
me in flesh and left me very weak.
Also / was left alone, except when
my food was brought in. This food
which was the best that could be
procured at the time, consisted chief
ly of coffee, army biscuit and salt
pork, all good enough in themselves
for a healthy man, but not very
appetiZing to a convalescent as weak
as | was. Many times since then
have | been prone to make compari-
sons between an illness like that and
one equally severe under the loving
care of a mother or wife at home
In comparison with my sufferings at
to suffer at home, with devoted
wife and loving friends to care for
you, anticipate your needs, provide
you with food suitable to your con-
dition, and do for you in every way.
/ have had occasion two or three
times in my life to prove all this,
for | have seen the time when a
painful, serious illness was a posi-
tive enjoyment though it may seem
strange thing to say.
Upon regaining consciousness
learned that the regiment had gone
to Pittsburg Landing, on the Ten
nessee river, having taken its de-
parture a few days before. A little
squad among whom was my friend.
Conway had been left behind to take
by boat such camp equipage as
could not well be conveyed over
land The boats were to proceed
of the Ohio, then down that river
J to the Tennessee and on up the
| Tennessee to General Grants camp
at Pittsburg Landing, where the
| Union forces were gathering in great
numbers. AS soon as ! was able to
crawl out of my bunk and pack what
( few things / possessed in my KNAPP
sack, | started for the river, where
was told a steamer was loading
with supplies to be carried to Pitts
burg Landing. Securing stick which
someone had thrown away, l began
my Journey to the boat landing. Un-
able to carry my knapsack, ] seized
it by the strap and dragged 1T after
me, as | placed my stick in front
| and managed to pull myself few
steps forward; then unable to go any
further, / would drop TO the ground
in utter helplessness and declare t(
myself that it was no use, | coul6
not make the boat; l might as wei
die right there as to make any fur
ther effort. But then there was the
battle field with all it's scenes o
anguish and horror as vivid before
me as on the day it had been fought
In my weak condition / could hea'
the groans of the dying; l could se'
the torn and mangled dead lyin'
taround me as / had heard and seer
them on the day of the battle. l
was all fresh before me, and it wa
utterly horrible. To one in nor
NAL condition II would have mad
little impression, comparatively, bu
/ felt it all and more. Then | woul'
think of home and the loved one
there, and would say to myself
"Come, come, this won't do; | vii
not give up, | will make anothe
effort" And getting to my fee
again after a struggle, would pu
out my stick and drag myself for
ward a few steps, only to collaps
and go down again utterly exhaust
ID. 1t was fortunate for me tina
it was down hill all the way, or
never could have made it; as it wa:
after giving up the struggle an
living down to die several times,
succeeded in finally reaching tn
landing and found the boat ha
oeen told was there. Leaving tn
Hort some time in the morning,