The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-12-18
"IF HE LIVES TO
SEE THE sun RISE

Away back in 1861, when the War
Eagles were screaming over the
American continent. and armies were
being marshalled, both North and
Sounth, for the great conflict. there
lived a family by the name of Benny,
known in Fulton county, ILL.,, rs Uncle
Ben and Aunt Macy. They were get
ting old and had only one child, Il
bright boy Of % years named Charley.
One Sunday afternoon the evening
paper came. and in bold letters APP
peared call for 100000 volunteers
by our beloved President Abraham
Lincoln. Aunt Nancy, the mother,
read it and looked at her husband
and said, Hide the paper; don't let
Charley see it, he might want to go
In short time Charley came in with
cheeks flushed, his eyes sparkling,
and his mother looking in his manly
face asked, What is the matter with
you, my boy" oh" he exclaimed
Mother, Abraham Lincoln has called
for 300, 900 men to save our country
and | must GO But, my boy, we
can't spare YOU. We are getting old
and you are our only dependence. v
But, mother, my country calls me,
and ! must 30" With tears running
down their checks, they gave their
consent. and the next day Charley en-
listed in the 3lst III. regiment, Gen
cral Grants old regiment. After don
ming the blue, he with thousand
other brave boys, boarded train and
left their homes amid cheers and good
byes Of mothers, sisters, and sweet
| hearts, and arrived at Cairo, III. They
took part in the battle of Belmont
Uncle Ben and Aunt Nancy return
ed to their humble home mourning
the absence of their boy, stirred with
expectancy Of bad news from the com
ing battle, but few days after the
battle, they got letter from Charley
saying, 81 did not get hurt" Oh
what joy to know that their darling
boy was safe, but only short time
and the cannons began laundering nj
| Fort Donaldson. The earth trembled
for a hundred miles, telling the moth.
ers at home that their bright-eyed
boys were spilling their blood on the
battle fields. Uncle Ben and Aunt
Nancy, like thousands of others, were
wondering and waiting ut home
awaiting the sad news telling the fat,
of their children. In short time 1
letter came from Charley telling then
he was safe again. While there wa
joy in the home OF Uncle Ben anC
Aunt Nancy, thousands of homes botl
North and South, were mourning tn,
loss of their brave boys. Belmont ant
Donaldson were hard battles, but Oh
Shilol Shilo! bloody grounds where thu
bravest of the brave FLASHED togethe
on that beautiful April morning, LEI
by Albert Sidney johnson of TIL
South and u. S. Grant of the North
What Carnage! Cannons Numbered
the rattle of musketry was deafcning
for two long days the terrible battl
ragged. Mothers, wives, sisters
sweethearts, both North and South
were anxious for the news. Uncl
Ben and Aunt Nancy sitting all alon
by their Preside, waiting letter fror
Charley. A week passed but no let
ter came. Another week and the let
ter came, but not from Charley, bu
from a comrade saying Charley GO
hurt and is a prisoner. Aunt Name
with streaming eyes arose and bega
packing an old black satchel ard dor
ming her best dress. Uncle Ben look
ed at her and asked, what are 30
going to do?" IL am going to m
boy, Charley. Get the wagon an
take me to the railroad station.
must see my boy Taking the frs
train South, she was carried swift
!, TO the great battle field. Satchel !
: hand, she picked her way through tn
bloody grounds until she appeared Q