"So? Dot vos a Tennessee regiment charged upon ours in de efening,
Shust before dark; und dey yell as dey charge, und ve geef a hurrah,
Der roar of der guns, it vos orful."—"Ah! yes, I remember, 'twas deafening,
The hottest musketry firing that ever our regiment saw."
"Und after ve drove dem back, und der night come on, I listen,
Und dinks dot I hear somepody a callin'—a voice dot cried,
'Pring me some vater for Gott's sake'—I saw his pelt-bate glisten,
Oonder der moonlight, on der parapet, shust outside.
"I dhrow my canteen ofer to vere he lie, but he answer
Dot his left handt vos gone, und his right arm proke mit a fall;
Den I shump ofer, und gife him to drink, but shust as I ran, sir,
Bang! come a sharp-shooter's pullet; und dot's how it vos—dot is all."
"And they called you foolish and crazy, did they? Him you befriended—
The 'reb,' I mean—what became of him? Did he ever come 'round?"
"Dey tell me he crawl to my side, und call till his strength vos all ended,
Until dey come out mit der stretchers, und carry us off from der ground.
"But pefore ve go, he ask me my name, und says he, 'Yacob Keller,
You loses your leg for me, und some day, if both of us leefs,
I shows you I don't vorget'—but he most hafe died, de poor feller;
I nefer hear ofe him since. He don't get vell, I beliefs.
"Only I alvays got der saddisfachshun ofe knowin'—
Shtop! vots der matter? Here, take some peer, you're vite as a sheet—
Shteady! your handt on my shoulder! my gootness! I dinks you vos goin'
To lose your senses avay, und fall right off mit der seat.
"Geef me your handts. Vot! der left one gone? Und you vos a soldier
In dot same battle?—a Tennessee regiment?—dot's mighty queer—
Berhaps after all you're—" "Yes, Yacob, God bless you old fellow, I told you
I'd never—no, never forget you. I told you I'd come, and I'm here."
George L. Catlin.