Year: 1863

in the drama Of the Peninsula tha, has never
been truly painted


Early on the day following that Of the bat
tie, rode into the village Our troops had
already occupied it. After taking a general
survey and feeling the promptings Of hunger,
| stopped at a spacious mansion on the prin-
cipal street 1t proved to be the residence Of
the oldest physician, whose name | do not
recall was met at the door by the lady OF
the house, person Of refinement and pleasing
appearance. From her | soon learned that
several wounded soldiers we're in tn house,
among them some Federal prisoners, brought
there the day before. On my expressing a
wish to see them, the lady conducted me to a
spacious chamber, where probably a dozen
men, in different stages Of injury and suffering,
were lying on the floor.


They arc all comfortable, believe, re
marked the lady " but in this ROOM" she
continued, proceeding toward another door,
lis lad in whom have taken very deep
interest and for whose recovery have grave
doubts" Then lowering her vo'r 10 o whis-
per as she placed her hand on the latch, she
continued, 4" He is patient suferer-and so
handsome IA mere boy who ought not to
have gone into the battle. lie was brought
here with others late in the day yesterday,
suffering much from a serious wound in the
side fear it is fatal But we're he my own
child, could not do more than | have done
for him Having bad two sons slain since
this war began, can feel tor the mother who,
fear, is destined never to see her darling
boy again"


We entered the room, and on the only little
bed lay Lucius, pale yet handsome as ever
saw at once that the fears expressed bv the
kind lady ware well grounded A sweet
smile passed over his pale features when be
saw me- and needed no assurance other than
| had in his look OF the feeling OF gratitude
that filed his heart lost no time in dis
patching messenger with a note TO a reg
mental surgeon near by and it was not halt
an hour before be was at the side OF the boy
hero After examining into the nature Of his
wound, he told him frankly, yet in words OF
tenderess sympathy, that it was fatal, and
that be could not live more than few hours.


The thought seemed not before to have en-
tered his mind, and the announcement quite
overwhelmed him for the moment. " oh
what viii my poor mother DO ~ was his first
exclamation and it was in tone Of such
anguish that can never forget it. He re-
peated it over and over again, forgetlul Of his
bodily pain, and with mental suffering so pit
eous that the most stony hearted could not
witness it unmoved. The good woman Of the
house did her best, as it was her office, to
console him, and administered to him some
quietiug powders which the doctor gave. By
degrees he became calm, and be asked me To
tell him all about the battle When told
him that the enemy were fleeing his counte-
nance ht up with glow of satisfaction. 81
wish could 60 to Richmond with the regi-
ment,' sal! he and then, as if recalling the
words OF the surgeon, his anguish returned
Oh what will my poor mother do wha'
viii she do - he repeated, aud sobbed as II
his heart would break. The opiates finally
mad their effect, and he slept.


That night Lucius died. learned wher
| called in the morning. The kind lady as
sured me that she remained with him to th,
/ last. and received his last message, which wai
TO his mother, full o. tenderest affection.


Riding back to camp | found the regimen
to which be belonged. 1t was not difficult tt
to obtain a detail Of eight men from his owl
company. who knew him best, to go for thu
body. II had coffin A prayer was said
and a hymn was sung 1.-THE same that was 81


lately sung at the grave Of his companion.
( The Boy Hero sleeps in the village grave
I yard in Williamsburg, where beautiful flow
ers blossom in the shade of venerable trees, il
whose branches little birds sing and builC
their nests in peace and innocence.