Picture for the President's bed-room: ‘is this war?’
While I was stationed with our left wing in one of the forts, on the evening of the 21st, I saw a Mexican woman busily engaged in carrying bread and water to the wounded men of both armies.
I saw this ministering angel raise the head of a wounded man, give him water and food, and then carefully bind up his wound with a handkerchief she took from her own head.
After having exhausted her supplies, she went back to her own house to get more bread and water for others.
As she was returning on her mission of mercy, to comfort other wounded persons, I heard the report of a gun, and saw the poor innocent creature fall dead!
I think it was an accidental shot that struck her. I would not be willing to believe otherwise.
It made me sick at heart, and, turning from the scene, I involuntarily raised my eyes towards heaven, and thought, great God!
and
is this War? Passing the spot next day, I saw her body still lying there with the bread by her side, and the broken gourd, with a few drops of water still in it—emblems of her errand.
We buried her, and while we were digging her grave, cannon balls flew around us like hail.—
Cor. Louisville Cour.
