AN INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE FIELD.–

7. February 2009 by admin.

A writer in the “Congregationalist” tells this:–

Returning, we saw a newly opened grave. It was for a Michigan boy of eighteen, who had been shot down by the side of his father, who was a private in the same company. The father sat beside the grave, carving his boy’s name upon the rude head-board. It was his first-born. I took him by the hand, and gave him all my heart; offered a prayer, which brother Holmes followed with appropriate words. There was no coffin, but a few pieces of board were laid in the bottom of the grave, between the body and the bare ground.

“Wrap him in this blanket,” said the father; “it is one his sister sent him. Ah! me, how will they bear it at home? What will his poor mother do? She must have a lock of his hair!”

I stooped to cut the lock with my penknife, when a soldier came forward with a pair of scissors from his little “housewife.” My heart blessed the Sabbath-school child who had made that timely gift. And so, having rendered the last offices of faith and affection, we laid the brave boy in his grave, while the cannon was still roaring the doom of others, young and brave, whom we had just left on the field.

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