Katherine M. Aldridge

“...when the bullets fly and sundry erratic fragments of shell are seekinga fellowʼs life, and he has to lay low in the pits to keep his light from being snuffedout, then is a good opportunity to reckon up and balance accounts with the worldin general and a fellowʼs near relatives and family in particular. Many, many,many a time have I thought of the careless word or deed never recalled, oramended, and during those midnight hours would I have given almost life itself tohave the opportunity of making amends for them. Not through fear of what isbeyond this life, but in order that after my flesh had turned to dust, and my bonesto traces of white lime, those that knew me in life could say, “Charlie is gone, andthough his life was full of inconsistencies, still he was a good hearted fellow, andif he did not amount to much as man, still he done no one any harm.” Charlie Biddlecom January 22, 1865”