Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-01-31
CHAPTER XIII.
Field Hospital. sixt., corps.

My head 'ached so abominably
when l first opened my eyes that
was compelled to close them again,
merely realizing dimly that | looked
up at something white above me,
which appeared to sway rs though
blown Cently by the wind. My CROP
ing hand, the only one l appeared
able to move, toll me / was lying
upon a camp-cot, with soft sheets
about me, and that my head rested
upon a pillow. Then l passed once
more into Inconsistencies, but this
time it was asleep.
When l once more awakened the
throbbing pain had largely left my
hot temples, and l saw that the sway
of a large tent, upon which the
golden sunlight now lay in checkered
masses, telling me- the canvas had
been erected among trees. A faint
moan caused me to move my head
slightly on the gratefully soft pillow,
and | could perceive a long row of
cots, exactly similar to the one |
u,
stretching away toward an opening
that looked forth into the open air.
A man was moving slowly down the
narrow aisle toward me, stopping
here and there to bend over some
cufferer with medicine or a CHEEKY
word He wore a short white jacket,
and was without a cap. his head of
heavy red hair a most conspicuous
object AS he approached l en-
deavored to speak. but for the moment
Lily throat refused response to the eff
fort. Then l managed to ask feebly:
Where am I?'
The Llue eyes in the freckled, boy
ish face danced spontaneously, and
he laid a big red hand gently upon
my forehead.
Field hospital, Sixth Corps" he
said, with strong Hibernian ac-
cent. An how de We loike it. John
ny?"
Better than some others I've seen, .
l managed to articulate family. Who
won?"
''Diyil wan of us knows" he ad-
mitted frankly, but your fellows did
the retratin'."
1t was an old, old story to all of US
by that time, and | closed my eyes
YEARLY. content to ask no more
I have = way of knowing how long
/ rested there motionless although
awake, my eyes closed to keep out the
painful glare, my sad thoughts busted
with memory of those men whom
had seen reel and fall upon that
stricken field we had battled so vainly
to save. Once I wondered; with sud
den start of fear, if l had lost limb.
if | waS to be crippled for life. the
one thihg | dreaded above all else.
Feeling feebly beneath my bed-cloth.
ing | tested. as best l could, each
limb. All we're apparently intact. al
though my left arm seemed useless
and devoid of feeling, broken no
doubt. and | heaved a sigh of genuine
relief. Then became partially
aroused to my surroundings by a
voice speaking from the cot next
mine
You lazy Irish marine!" it cried
petulantly, that beef stew was to
have been given me an hour ago.
Sure, sor," was the soothing reply,
at wasn't to be given yer honor till
two O'Clock"
Well, it's all of three now
"Wan-thirty, on me sowl, sor.
That first voice sounded oddly
familiar. and l turned my face that
way, bul was unable to perceive the
speaker.
"Is that Lieutenant Caton?" asked
doLbtfully.
Most assuredly it is" quickly
And who are your"
Captain Wayne of the Confederate
Army
"Oh. n .yne? Glad you spoke, but
extremely sorry to have you here
IDLY hurt?"
Not seriously. think. No limbs
missing anyhow. but exceedingly
weak. Where did they get you?
In the side musket ball, but ex