The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-06-11

varfo-s places o. the uzzzoth
bafsIeseid. he scene Of coufusion-
confict znt carnage cannot b
conpassed b.. tie fnasiaarion- Ths
z~fuI sublinitY OF tie spectacle
would be hard 70 equal
Throsgh this terrible earnzzs
young Smith carried the eoIors G.
ais regiment. Comrades 1ere fall
irx all around him and the bullets
from the weapons Of var tore as
clothing yet he ~ent through the
whole conflict aud lived TO tell tie
story Of his experience II sseusd
that he bore a charmed life. but
probably the KEY to his safety cculi
have been found could bis eTss have
looked through the roof OF a little
cottage. way Up among the Penn
syIvsais hills The scene there
vas beautiful in its simplicity. A
good 'o1d-fzshioaed Scotch mothe-
kneeling before the Ere, with HAMS
upIifted toward the great PoVs-
enthronsd above the canopy of the
sky. in duplication 20 Him. WHO
vas paid homage b. the Wise Me-
OF the East. she vas asking. not
blessings for herself. but pro
lection for her son. away from TIE
home fold. amid the lurking dan
gers Of war.
Twelve thousand Union men gave
I'D their lives on December Il.
1861, a. sacrifice to the god OF
war. These men fought vaIizntly.
but death vas riding on the wings
Of the wind and they answered 10
the final buzle blast and Joined the
silen bivouac OF the heroic dead.
Scattered over the great battle
field we're hundreds OF human bod
les. while high up among the clouds
scores OF uncsnny dezth-birds how
cred over the scene OF carnage, like
silent spectres. As the shadows OF
approaching nizhtfalI cast sombre
reflections like fanaticzl forms. the
surviving nen Of war. stalTart and
brave. bowed in the cleaning and
with hands GpIifted, thanked the
great Power for the protection Of
their lives during the horrible con-
hict between the Blue-cIad men Of
the North, and the Gray-robed war
riors OF the South.
That night was one long TO be
rernem bered by the thinly clad SOL
diers. The wind volt riding upon
the crest OF winters storms sent IT'S
chilly blast out over the country
side like the icy hand OF death and
The drums beat at the dead Of
night,
Commanding fires of death 70
light
The darkness of the scenery.
Sleep was impossible that night.
Living soldiers lying between the
bodies OF fallen comrades. vas the
awful spectacle TO be witnessed on
the mammoth battlefield.
The moon cast it's misty rays ov-
ed scene OF ruin and desolation
and the wintry wind howled a
mOurnful dirge as it swept over the
bodies OF the half-dead soldiers.
Through this horror young Smith
went, and lived TO tell the story.
He lives to-day as he has lived
in days gone By. living memorial
TO help perpetuate the memory of
his fallen comrades who so nobly
gave up their lives for their coun-
try's sake and honor. One by one
the survivors have answered the
last roIl-call and found peace and
rest in the silent city OF the dead
Soon the bugle blast, like the
clarion call OF the recording angels
trumpet. will shrek forth its final
command and taps" will sound for
the lest time when given by the
dark yisaged messenger OF death.
With a smile of grim satisfaction
those remaining battle-scarred vet
Grams OF war will answer the roll
call and enter into the haven of
rest they so richly deserve.