Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 20, 2025
I then said: "Boys, this seems all right to me," and they answered, with almost one voice: "Yes, that's all right. We'll sign that." I was never so proud of the American soldier-boy as at that moment. They all felt that signing that paper was to give them freedom and life. They knew too well from sad experience what the alternative was.
But what was that to a soldier-boy who had been home, seen his best girl, and had one of his mother's square meals? When the train rolled into Jeffersonville in the afternoon, they saw Lieut. Bowersox on the platform anxiously waiting for them. His face lighted up with pleasure when he saw them, and eagerly coming forward he said: "Great Cesar, boys, but I'm glad you've come.
But as he went home his thoughts were not of his last day at the office, nor of his last acts as editor, but of his last caller the soldier-boy whom he had left seemingly so surely on his way "West," and whose eyes had burned into his memory on that fearful night a year before! Strange that this boy should have been his last visitor!
His heart was so tender that he would dismount from his horse in a forest to replace in their nest young birds which had fallen by the roadside; he could not sleep at night if he knew that a soldier-boy was under sentence of death; he could not, even at the bidding of duty or policy, refuse the prayer of age or helplessness in distress.
Never again would that meek-eyed mother fold her darling soldier-boy to her heart. Never again would brother, nor sister, gaze upon his manly form for that brave boy slept his last sleep on the battle-field of his country. Who shall say that the angels did not welcome him that morning to a Happy New Year, where the sound of battle is never heard?
They had dropped their tribute on the coffin-lid when Tom was carried home under their drooping branches. The soldier-boy had loved them so, that a little cluster had been laid on the breast of the gray coat he wore. Night and day they had guarded this old home like silent sentinels that loved it well.
Randolph, and, seeing the resemblance to the soldier-boy, I asked him about Sharpsburg, recalling the incident, and found he was the lad. The straggling already mentioned continually increased, and seemed to give General Jackson great concern.
On the morning of June 4th, by a détour to conceal the course from which we came, and a journey of a dozen of miles, we reached the home of my wounded friend. I shall not attempt to describe his tearful, joyful meeting with his mother and three sisters, and the pride of the good old father as he folded his soldier-boy to his heart. My own emotions fully occupied me while their greetings lasted.
No doubt desertion was this fellow's aim, and, to serve his purpose, he fell into this strong temptation and crime. Desertion cost the life of one whom I saw in Mississippi sitting on a white-pine coffin and followed by his armed comrades, who were soon to take his life. It was then as now, too late to speak a word to that soldier-boy.
Such nobility of character and such a generous nature as that displayed by this officer, must ever remain a living monument to true greatness; and should these lines perchance meet his eyes, let him know and feel the proud satisfaction that the remembrance of his noble deed is gratefully cherished, and forever engraved in the heart of the soldier-boy in gray.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking