During the American Civil War D. L. Moody wrote: `We were taking wounded men down the Tennessee River after the battle of Pittsburg Landing. A number of young men of the Christian Commission were with me, and I told them that we must not let a man die on the boat that night 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, 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 said: "Doctor, do you think that man will recover?"
"No, he lost so much blood before we got to him on the field that he fainted while we were amputating his leg. He will never recover."
"I can't find out his name, and it does seem a pity to let him die without knowing who he is. Don't you think we can bring him round?"
"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 said to a soldier nearby:
"Do you know this man?"
"Oh yes, that's 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 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 Mother that I died trusting in Jesus."
It was one of the sweetest messages I ever heard in my life!