After the terrible battle of Pittsburgh Landing, we were taking the wounded down the Tennessee river to the hospital. I said to some of the Christian Commission workers who were with me:
“We must not let a man die on this boat without telling him of Christ and heaven.”
You know the cry of a wounded man is, “Water! water!” As we passed along from one to another giving them water, we tried to tell them of the water of life, of which if they would drink they would never die. I came to one man who had about as fine a face as I ever saw. I spoke to him, but he did not answer. I went to the doctor, and asked, “Doctor, do you think that man will recover?”
“No; he lost so much blood before we got him off the field that he fainted while we were amputating his leg. He will never recover.”
“I can’t find out his name, and it seems a pity to let him die without knowing who he is,” I lamented. “Don’t you think we can bring him to?”
“You may give him a little brandy and water,” said the doctor. “That will revive him if anything will.”
I sat down beside him, and gave him brandy and water every now and then. While I was waiting, I asked a man nearby, “Do you know this man?”
“Oh, yes; that is my chum.”
“Has he a father and mother living?”
“He has a widowed mother.”
“Has he any brothers or sisters?”
“Two sisters, but he is the only son.”
“What is his name?”
“William Clark.”
I said to myself that I could not let him die without getting a message for that mother. Presently he opened his eyes, and I said, “William, do you know where you are?”
He looked around a little dazed, and then said, “Oh, yes; I am on my way home to mother.”
“Yes, you are on your way home,” I said; “but the doctor says you won’t reach your earthly home. I thought I’d like to ask you if you had any message for your mother.”
His face lighted up with an unearthly glow, as he said, “Oh, yes; tell my mother that I died trusting in Jesus!”
It was one of the sweetest things I ever heard in my life!
Presently I said, “Anything else, William?”
With a beautiful smile he said, “Tell my mother and sisters to be sure to meet me in heaven,” and he closed his eyes.
He was soon unconscious again, and in a few hours his soul took its flight to join his Lord and Master.