event crowded upon event as the first two long years of the war glided by-years that seemed to calendar twenty-four, instead of twelve months each. the strife hadn't yet reached its climax, but blood was flowing fearfully. from maine to the gulf was one vast beleaguered sea-coast, for at every sea-port city, grim monsters of war stood guarding the entrance to the harbor. already the central, though despised queen city, was feeling the fire of a fierce and cruel bombardment. refugees were flitting hither and thither about the country, seeking peace and security, but finding none. want and privation were even now beginning to menace a once luxurious people, and gloom and despair to enshroud the hopes of those who had fondly dreamed of a successful dismemberment of the union. such was the record of the years preceding the memorable seven days' fighting at "merry oaks."
these battles form the half-way stone in the long period of our civil war. it was the day after the dreadful conflict. the forces had retired to re-gather their strength, and the wounded, dying, and dead, were left upon the field. early in the morning, as the heat of the summer sun was streaming down, a horseman rode slowly and carefully about this field of death. here and there, lying thickly, as they fell, were the dead of both forces, easily distinguished by the different colors they wore, while gathered in groups, under the grateful shade-trees, could be seen the wounded whose strength was sufficient to drag them thither. this field was a shocking spectacle. and as the horseman rode slowly along the desolate track, peering curiously and sadly into the upturned faces of the dead, a casual observer might have detected the melancholy expression on his face, and marked the glittering tear that bedewed his eyes. for brave, true, noble george marshall, was never ashamed to weep over the woes of humanity! imperative business had called him from his post of duty to the seat of war, just in time to be within ear-shot of that memorable seven days' carnage. and as he rode, on that quiet summer morning, strange, painful emotions filled his heart. around and about him, before and behind, lay grim and ghastly faces cold in death-faces of soldiers who were brothers in country, and many of them brothers in name-brothers in actual consanguinity, brothers in destiny, brothers in everything, save love. there they were, peaceful now, side by side, the last conflict ended, the last spark of animosity extinguished; there, side by side-dead. no wonder george marshall wept. the wonder is that there ever throbbed a human heart that could refrain from weeping over such a scene.
at length, george marshall suddenly drew his rein, and lifting his hand to his forehead so as to shade his eyes, gazed curiously forward for a moment toward an object lying not very far distant. then, quickly alighting, he stepped cautiously toward the object of his scrutiny. it was the dead body of a soldier. the dark blue uniform told to which army he belonged. the stocking, turned back from a slender ankle, fell carelessly over the heavy army shoe. the head was half-averted, and the open eyes, though sightless, were still bright with god's own azure.
"creeping gently through his slender hand, as though it loved the cold caress of death, was a wild vine whose tiny blossoms would have shrunk at the touch of a wild bee's foot." by the side of his face was the worn cap that had fallen from his head as he fell.
fearfully, timidly, with an air of dread, colonel marshall approached the silent figure and bent over the recumbent form.
"great god! it is franco! i thought i knew the poor fellow from afar! poor, poor boy! poor fair-haired franco!" he exclaimed in a breath. then gently turning the soiled cap, he read "third regiment united states regulars." "my old command, my old command," he murmured. "alas! poor franco! i thank god we did not meet in deadly conflict. your true, kind heart wished no one ill, yet an unkind fate has brought you to a mournful end, and i, for one, shall mourn your hapless lot. alas! poor boy, you'll never see your vine-clad france again, and your kind mother's peasant home will ever be darkened by your absence."
then kneeling for a little time beside the dead boy, the kind-hearted colonel dropped a tear and bowed his head in deep reflection. then, arising and looking eagerly about him, he said at length, "there, in the end of that entrenchment, by the side of that shattered tree, i can lay his body, in lieu of a better grave. there it will at least be safe from the vultures and the horrible fate that awaits the unburied dead of a defeated army."
then tenderly and sadly he laid the young soldier away in his peaceful grave, covering his face with his smoke-stained cap, and folding his pulseless hands upon his bosom. at last, covering the mound upon which his tears had fallen, with some evergreen boughs, he patiently carved upon a rude board, that he set up to mark the grave, the words:
"poor franco. aged 20."
