Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1875 — A Sad Incident of the Late War. [ARTICLE]

A Sad Incident of the Late War.

Scene, Charleston. Time, Apnl 23, 1864. The Yankees from time to time threw a shell into the city and nobody seemed to mind it. Miss Anna Pickens, the daughter of one of our former Governors, never consented to leave the city. Despite the representation of Gen. Beaugard she remained, braving shells and Greek-fire, tending the wounded and cheering all with her presence. Among the wounded officers under her care was a Mr. Andrew de Rochelle, a descendant of one of the noblest Huguenots of the city. This young man was foil of the liveliest gratitude for his nurse; gratitude gave birth to a more tender sentiment; his suit was listened to; Gov. Pickens gave his consent, and the marriage was fixed for the 23d of April. Lieut, de Rochelle was on duty Fort Sumter in the morning, and it was xietermined that the ceremony should take place at the residence of Gen. Bonham at eight o’clock. At the moment when the Episcopal clergyman was asking the bride if 'she was ready a shell fell upon the roof of the building, penetrated to the room where the company was assembled, burst, and wounded nine persons, among them Miss Anna Pickens. The scene that followed cannot be described. Order being at last re-estab-lished, the wounded were removed, with the exception of the bride, who lay motionless on -the carpet. Her betrothed, leaning and bending over her, was weeping bitterly and trying to stanch the blood that flowed from a terrible wound under her left breast. A surgeon came and declared that Miss Pickens could not live but two hours. We will not paint the general despair. When the wounded girl recovered her consciousness she asked to know her fate, when they hesitated to tell her. “Andrew,” she said, “ I beg you to tell me the truth; if I must die I can die worthy of you.” The young soldier’s tears were his answer, and Miss Anna, summoning all her strength, attempted to smile. Nothing could be more heartrending than to see the agony of this brave girl struggling in 'the embrace, of death and against a mortal pain. Gov. Pickens, whose courage is known, was almost without consciousness, and Mrs. Pickens looked upon her child with the dry, haggard eye of one whose reason totters. Lieut, de Rochelle was the first to speak. “ Anna,” he cried, “ I will die soon, too, but I would have you now die my wife. There is yet time to unite us.” The.young girl did not reply. She was too weak. A slight flush rose for an instant to her pale cheek; it could be seen that joy and pain were struggling in her spirit for the mastery. Lying upon a sofa, with her bridal dress all stained with blood, her hair disheveled, she had never been more beautiful. Helpless as she was, Lieut, de Rochelle took her hand and requested the Rev. Dr. Dickinson to proceed with the ceremony. When it was time for the dying girl to say yes her lips parted several times, but she could not articulate. At last the weird was spoken, and a slight foam rested upon her lips. The dying agony w 7 as near. The minister sobbed as he proceeded with the ceremony. An hohr afterward all was over, and the bridal chamber was the chamber of death.— Charleston (S. C.) Cor. Atlanta Constitution. ■