The National tribune. [volume], October 11, 1888, Image 1

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WASHINGTON D. 0., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1888.
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Scouting and MgMing Adventures of
. Two Boys
IN
MISSOURI A2?D ARKANSAS
W 1861, 562.
Fremont Pursues Price into
Southwest Missouri.
SIEGE OF LEXmGTON.
BY THO&IAS V. KNOX,
Author of "The Roy Travelers." "The Young
jN'irorods." "The Vyee of the Vivian." "Fulton
awl Steam 2favMortion,' "Decisive Ba&Ues Since
Waterloo," "Marco Polo for Boys mid Girls,"
da, etc.
iCOrnUOHTBD lSftS. All EIGHTS EESEBVED.J
Chapter XYITL
THE REBELS ON THE OFFENSIVE SIEGE
OF LEXINGTON.
H E mornjng after
their arrival at Rolla,
the prisoners taken
through the instru
mentality of Jack and
I Harry were eent to
St Louis, -where they
-were held until an ex
change-was arranged.
Col. Wyman thought
the interests of the
service -would he ad-
Tanced by keeping the captured Captain and
his comrades in ignorance of how their seiz
ure "was accomplished, and in ohedience to
his orders the two youths kept out of the
way of the prisoners, and nothing -was said
in their presence that could enlighten them.
It "was several months before the Captain
foundoui how cleverly hehad been taken. At
first he -was inclined to he very angry -with
the hoys, and vowed vengeance upon them
if he ever met them again; hut on reflec
tion he remarked that all -was fair in love
and war, and perhaps he -was not quite free
from blame in talking so readily with two
entire strangers. "Tney played the game
weil," said he ; " splendidly, in iact, for a pair
of youngsters, and if I can ever give them a
helping hand -when they're in trouble I'Hdo
it" He -wasn't at all a bad sort of fellow,
that Captain, and you can be sure that after
that he -wasn't quite so ready to confide in
persons Tvhoin he had never seen before.
Not only did the boys have a selection
from the captured horses, but they had a
choice of saddles and also of the pistols
which formed the armament of the prison
ers. All the pistols -were old, and some of
them -were quite as likely to do damage at
the rear as at the business end. The Cap
tain had the best weapon of the lot a Colt's
revolver, and there was another just about
as good. Jack and Harry drew lots for the
choice. The advantage fell to Jack, "who
immediately picked up the Captain's re
volver and handed it over to Harry. " I've
got the Captain's horse, said he, " and you
ought to have something to remember him
by, so you must take this along." Thus the
division was settled, and both were happy.
Tbu6 armed and mounted, the hoys were
what might be called "swells" in the. gar
rison of Iiolla, and the envy of many of their
associates. There -was not a great deal for
them to do for a month or more, as the enemy
did not make the attack upon the post they
had been threatening to make, nor did they
even make a feint of one. The boys went
on several scouting expeditions on their own
acceoiitt with the approval of the command
ing oflioer of the post, and though they wade
eome discoveries and obtained information
that was of use, they did not succeed in mak
ing captures of prisoners and horses.
Becruiting for the rebel army was in prog
ress in all the interior Counties of Missouri,
and ilea almost under the eyes of the Union
authorities. Now and then an expedition
seized a sqaad or company of recruits and
brought them triumphantly within the lines,
but as a general thing the most of the men
who wanted to join the Southern armies
succeeded in doing so. The fact was, it was
not possible to garrison every town and vil
lage throughout the State, and it was
thought best to allow those with Secession
proclivities to get away to the field when
ever they wanted to go, rather than remain
and be a cau&e of trouble.
Geo. Fremont had been assigned to the
command of the Department of the Missouri
ahorUy before the battle of Wilson's Creek,
and it was to him that Gen. Xyon had ap
pealed so earnestly and so vainly for rein
forccmeets to enable him to hold out against
the advancing rebels. After the retreat of
the army to Eolla and the occupation of
Springfield by the rebels, Gen. Fremont set
about organizing a force to take the field
early in the Autumn, with the hope of
securing possession of the State and flying
the Union flag all over its territory.
After the battle of Wilson's Creek the un
pleasantness which had existed between the
rebel leaders Price and McCulloch in
creased, and finally threatened to end in
warfare almost equal to that which they
were trying to wage together against the
Unioa. McCulloch refused to advance fur
ther into the State, in gpite of the entreaties
of Price. An appeal to the Confederate
Government did not result in securing a
peremptory order for McCulloch to advance
as Price desired, and the result was a separa
tion. McCulloch went back to Arkansas,
while Price, whose forces had been strength
ened by recruits from various parts of the
State, marched northward in the direction
of the Missouri Eiver.
Price's openly-declared intentions were to
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gMK
capture Jefferson City, the Capital, and re
establish Gov. Jackson in authority there.
A State Convention had met there in July,
and, of course, there was no Governor to
welcome it, and no Commander-in-Cbief of
the State forces. The Convention declared
the office of Governor vacant, and chose a
new Governor, Hon. Hamilton E. Gamble,
to fill Jackson's place. It is needless to say
that Gov. Gamble was a Union man, and
from that time onward the power of the
State was exerted in favor of the National
Government and against the rebellion of the
South.
Jackson, the fugitive and rebel Governor,
never saw the State Capital again after he
left on the day of the memorable flight to
Booncville. He continued with the rebel
armies in southwest Missouri and Arkansas
and died in the last-named State long before
the end of the war. Gen. Price survived the
war and afterward went to Mexico, where
he was one of the founders of a colony of
Americans who had sworn never to live
under the flag of the United States. He
died there in 1867.
With 20,000 men in his command, and with
his numbers increasing every day of his ad
vauce, Price reached Lexington, on the banks
of the Missouri, having two or three encoun
ters with the Union forces on his way, none
r0 WHY
Fais of Hemp as Breastworks.
of which were of much account. The su
periority of his numbers gave him the ad
vantage, and his opponents wisely retreated
as he moved on. Lexington was garrisoned
by about 2,600 Union troops, consisting of vol
unteer infantry and Home Guards, under
command of Col. Mulligan of the Irish Bri
gade. A fortification had been thrown up
around the college buildings, which stood
in a commanding position between the new
and old towns of Lexington, and about half
a mile from the river. The bank of the
river was a high bluff, and with theexception
of a small supply from cisterns and springs,
water for the garrison had to be brought by
hand or hauled by team3 from below the
base of this bluff.
Col. Mulligan arrived at Lexington on the
1st of September, and the fortification, which
he greatly strengthened, had been laid out
by the commander of the troops already
there. The spot was not wisely selected, as
we shall presently see. As one of the offi
cers said afterwards, "it was a very good
place for a peace fortress, but very bad for
warfare, especially when the warfare has to
be defensive."
The men worked night and day to com
plete the intrenchments, which were 10 feet
high, with a ditch eight feet wide, and capa
ble of inclosing 10,000 men. Eumors of the
advance of Price were in the air, and it was
definitely known that he was moving to
ward Lexington. Appeals for reinforce
ments weresent to St. Louis,but they did not
succeed in bringing troops to the aid of the
garrison, for the simple reason that none
could be spared from that city.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 11th
of September, the Union scouts and pickets
were driven in by the enemy only a few
miles out of Lexington. The rebels followed
rapidly and attacked one of the angles of the
fortifications, but not very vigorously. The
fighting was kept up on the 12th and follow
ing days, while the rebel army was coming
up and making its preparations for the re
duction of the fortification and capture of
the garrison.
There were nearly 3,000 mules and horses
inside the fortifications, and as the rebel
shotand shell fell amongst them they caused
a great deal of trouble. Numbers of them
were killed and their bodies lay rotting in
the sun, the garrison being too much occu
pied with defending the position to give
attention to burying the dead animals or
doing any other work of the camp. Fre
quently some of the affrighted animals
broke loose from their fastenings and ran
wildly about the camp, and it was finally
found advisable to allow some of them to
run outside, as their value was not sufficient
compensation for the trouble and danger of
caring for them.
The college building was within the inclos
ure, and occupied as the headquarters of Col.
Mulligan. Very naturally, it formed a fine
target for the rebel artillery, and they blazed
away at it with good effect. One night they
fired hot shot at it, but did not set it on
fire j had they succeeded in doing so it would
have created considerable havoc among the
garrison, as the ammunition for the defense
of the place was stored in the cellar, where
it was covered with dirt and sods.
The rebels went to work leisurely, as be
fore stated. They planted some of their
artillery on the river bank, where they
stopped every steamboat going up or down.
They seized the ferryboats that connect Lex
ington with the opposite bank of the river,
and thus prevented the crossing of reinforce
ments which were moving from Kansas to
join the threatened garrison. Several steam
boats were thus taken, and for a while, at
least, Gen. Price was certainly master of the
situation.
The country around Lexington grows a
large amount of hemp, and thousands of
bales of this article were stored in the ware
houses of the town. The rebels rolled out
this hemp, and with it constructed moveable
fortifications, with which they proceeded to
reduce the earthworks of the Union army.
And this is the way it was done: The
hemp was thoroughly wetted, so that there
would be no danger of its taking fire, and
then the bales were rolled toward the Union
works, one after another, until they formed
a breastwork; and all the time not ahead of
a man could be seen. Then other bales
were brought forward and rolled on the top
of the first layer, and in this way the assail
ants had a defense that no bullet could
penetrate. Even the four or five pieces of
light artillery which Col. Mulligan possessed
could do but little against such a bulwark
as this.
The first of these hemp brejistworks was
thrown up to the west of the fort; another
on the north, where it was partially shel
tered by timber, followed it very quickly.
In the night they were pushed forward, so
that they were within very short range, and
from the spaces between the bales the rebels
kept up a fire upon every Union head that
was shown on that side of the "earthworks.
It was a repetition of the trick of Gen. Jack
son with the cotton bales at New Orleans in
1S15.
There were several houses within range of
the fort, and these were speedily occupied"
by the rebels. Then from every rock, ele
vation, fence, gully and tree bullets were
steadily whizzing, the great numbers of the
rebels enabling them to keep their lines of
attack fully manned at all times.
Eations were growing short in the fortifi
cations, and the men were worn out with
hard work and the necessity of being almost
constantly on duty. The stench from the
dead animals within the lines was fearful,
and threatened to breed an epidemic; some
of the Home Guards were demoralized and
wanted to surrender, but the commander
refused to entertain the idea of giving up
the place.
Chapter XIX.
SURRENDER OF LEXINGTON PRICE'S RE
TREAT AND FREIIONT'S ADVANCE.
To the lack of ammunition and provis
ions, the stench of the dead animals, the
immense preponderance in numbers of the
enemy, the abundance of hemp with which
the rebels could construct breastworks, the
beleaguered garrison had to face an addi
tional horror that of thirst
As before stated, the fortification was at
some distance from the river, and within the
limits of the fortification there were two
cisterns, which were soon exhausted, and
just outside the lines were two springs,
which afforded a scanty supply, the rest
being taken from the river. As eoon as the
besiegers ascertained this state of affairs
they proceeded to cut off the supply of
water, which they were able to do with their
greatly-superior numbers.
All communication with the river wa3
severed, and then a force was posted in a
position to fire on anybody who went to get
water at the springy. Men can fight under
great privations of food and with short sup
plies of ammunition, but they cannot fight
against thirst. So determined were the
men to hold out, that during a heavy rain on
the second night after the siege began every
tent and wagon cover was spread to catch as
much water as possible; in this way a good
deal was secured, and more was obtained by
spreading blankets, and afterward wringing
them out.
Twice a white flag was raised on the ram
parts without the authority of Col. Mulligan,
and immediately hauled down as soon as he
learned of it. A third time it was raised,
also without his authority; but when he
considered the sufferings of his men and
found there was no prospect of relief, he
consented to surrender, and negotiations
were begun immediately. Unconditional sur
render were the terms demanded by the be
siegers, and under the circumstances the be
sieged were forced to accept them. They
piled their arms and handed over their col
ors. Col. Mulligan wept as ho gave up his
command, and many of his men fairly rolled
on the ground in their rage at having been
defeated. But it was practically impossible
that they could hold out any longer, and
the surrender was certainly in the interests
of humanity.
The losses were less than might have been
expected in a fight that lasted from the 11th
to the 20th of September, though it must be
remembered that for the first few days it
was not very energetically pushed by the
besiegers. Tho water supply was cut off on
the 17th, and from that time to the 20th the
garrison had no water beyond what they
caught in blankets, tents and wagon-covers
in the rain, that has been mentioned. Less
than 200 were killed and wounded on the
Union side, and about the same number on
that of tho rebels. Each side claimed to
have inflicted a greater loss on the enemy
than it sustained itself, a circumstance which
has been more or less intimately connected
with warfare since the world began.
Immediately after the surrender the reb
els swarmed around the prisoners, and while
some treated them kindly others heaped
abuse upon them, and if the Unionists had
not already laid down their arms there would
have been a good prospect of a renewal of
the fight. The prisoners were paroled not
to lake up arms against the Confederacy
until regularly exchanged, and then they
were set across the Missouri Eiver and
marched to a point near the Hannibal & St.
Joseph Eaiiway and told to go where they
pleased. During this march they wero in
charge of Gen. Eains and his brigade, and
most of them testified to the kindness of the
soldiers of Eains's Brigade and of tho people
along tho road they traveled.
After the surrender Lexington was a lively
place. With nearly 30,000 victorious rebel
soldiery in the town, and many of these sol
diers filled with whisky, in addition to being
flushed with victory, the streets were any
thing but quiet and orderly. The officers of
the Confederates were gentlemanly enough,
but as for the soldiers they wero anything
but well-behaved. It required all the au
thority of the officers ?x keep the men from
breaking loose and setting tho town on fire
or committing somo other folly or barbarity.
In somo instances it became necessary to
order the men out of lown and form camps
three or four miles away, which no ono could
leave without express permission.
There was the same lack of uniforms that
had characterized the trpops at Wilson's
Creek, only a few hundreds of all the army
under Gen. Price having been able to obtain
the Confederate gray. Some of the Generals
and Colonels wero uniformed, but many
were not, and wore their civilian dress, with
cloth shoulderstraps to indicate their rank.
Many of the soldiers fought quite indepen
dently of all command, and took their posi
tions wherever they were best suited.
An eye-witness of the Biege said that the
mode of fighting was well illustrated by
something that came under his observation.
There was an old Texan, dressed in a buck
skin suit and armed with a hunting-rifle of
the kind in use on the plaius before the war.
About 7 o'clock every morning this Texan
used to go to the Confederate breastworks,
carrying his dinnerjn a tin pail. He hunt
ed around for a good: position till he found
one, and then he fired away whenever he
saw a head until the sun showed the me
ridian.
Promptly at noon he knocked off for an
hour and ate his dinner. Then he went to
work again and kept at it till 6 o'clock?
when he went home toapper and to spend
the night in peaceful sleep. Morning saw
him at his post again; and thus he contin
ued at his daily task till the surrender took
place. There wero a good many independ
ent warriors of this sort, and if they did not
kill many of their adversaries it was be
cause the latter kept their heads out of
range.
As soon as Lexington was surrendered
Price turned his attention to gathering sup
plies and recruits from the rich and popu
lous Counties along the river. While he
was engaged at this business, Gen. Fremont
assembled an army at Jefferson City for the
purpose of heading him off. A portion of
Fremont's army marched from Jefferson
City to Tipton and Syracuse, while the bal
ance was scut forward by railway to the
same point. It was intended to march from
these points to Springfield and reoccupy
the place, which Lyons array had been com
pelled to give up in August after the re
verse at Wilson's Creek.
At the same time the garrison of Eolla
was strengthened, and a column was order
ed to move from that point to join the main
force at Springfield. This movement prom
ised to give occupation to Jack and Harry,
who had been chafing at their inactivity
while preparations wefu in progress. True,
they had scon ting expeditions occasionally,
but as they did not succeed in finding any
enemy, except in a very few instance?, there
was not enough to make the life of the camp
at all exciting.
Movements were delayed by a lack of sup
plies and transportation, and it was not till
the middle of October that the Union forces
took the offensive. ' In the main column
from Tipton and Syracuse, Gen. Sigcl's Di
vision had the advance; while the other
commanders were waiting for transporta
tion Sigel scoured the country and picked
up everything that could be of use. His
wagon-train when he started was one of the
funniest things of thokind ever known;
there were some army wagons of tho regula
tion pattern, but there were more emigrant
wagons, such as are used by pioneers seek
ing new homes in the far West beyond the
lines of railway and where steamboats are
unknown.
Then he had stage-coaches, family-carriages,
drays, hay-carts, in fact all the kinds
of vehicles lenown to that part of the coun
try, and whenever a" pack-saddle was found
it was taken along. T And the motive power
Tnu Texan Eifleman.
was as varied as .the Vehicles to be moved;
it comprised mules and horses as a matter
of course, and it also included oxen, and even
cows where the latter were found docile
enough to bo yoked or harnessed. There
was a rumor that some of Sigel's men at
tempted to harness up a drove of pigs; that
they took the pigs along there can bono
reasonable doubt, but probably for some
other purpose than breaking them in as
draft animals. However burdensome to
carry a pig may be, he has never been found
a satisfactory beast of burden.
Before Fremont could get his army in
motion, Price had taken tho alarm and evacu
ated Lexington. He was too wily to wait
till his enemy could get in front of him to
cut him oil and the most that Fremont
could hope for was that Price would make a
stand in the neighborhood of Springfield and
give chance for a battle.
Fremont did hot encounter any enemy on
his southward - marcli until he was in the
neighborhood of Springfield. When within 50
miles of that placehe sent forward two com
panies of his body-guard, comprising abont
150 men, under the command of Muj. Zagouyi,
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and composed of most excellent materials
for a cavalry squadron. The members of
the body-guard wero from the best class of
young men of St. Louis and Cincinnati.
From the completeness of the body-guard's
outfit and the dashing appearance it .pre
sented, it was derisively known as the kid
gloved regiment. It consisted of four com
panies of cavalry, and the intention was to
increase it to a full regiment of 10 com
panies, an intention never carried out. After
the removal of Fremont tho famous or
ganization was sent to St Louis and dis
banded. Well, the body-guard got within eight
miles of Springfield without seeing the ene
my, but at that distance from town it found
a brigado of infantry, with some cavalry,
drawn up to receive them. Maj. Zagonyi
ordered a charge, and it was made in gallant
style. It was like the charge of the Light
Brigado at Balaklava it was magnificent,
but it was not war. The enemy was routed
and. the town was occupied only to be
abandoned as soon as night came on, for the
very natural fear of a surprise, which might
easily have been disastrous to the 70 or 80
men that remained of Zagonyi's command,
the rest having been killed, wounded, or
scattered in the fight. Fifteen were killed
and 27 wounded, and fully 50 horses were
killed or rendered useless by reason of
wounds and over-riding.
Jack and Harry discussed the affair, when
the news reached them, with the coolness
and critical air of Major-Gencrals.
"What was the use of such a charge as
that?" said Jack, with his eye fixed on
Harry as though he would pierce him.
" It was a splendid fight," was the reply,
" and did great credit to the men that made
it."
" Nobody says it didn't," responded Jack ;
" but just look at the waste of life, and
nothing to show for it. The rebels were
preparing to leave Springfield ; in fact, the
2,000 that Zagonyi says he encountered were
only the rear-guard of Price's army, and
when our army came along it could have
occupied the town, as it afterwards did, with
out any opposition. The lives of those sol
diers were just thrown away, and it isn't
the only time men have been sacrificed just
to enable somebody to show off."
Harry nodded assent, and the conversa
tion shifted to other topics.
I To be continued.
i
"SHJKHLDAN."
In Memoriam.
BY JOHN KEVKTOK-.
Hnrk! Down tho lines a solemn cry
Sweeps on tho night winds hurrying byl
A Nation's sad and pitying high
Proclaims the soldier and the man 1
Halt! At the somber ates of Death,
" Who coea there?" nnd in mournful breath
The answer conies "Phil Sheridan I "
Not nt the po-jtof dnlv, where-.
Amid the battle's lurid glare,
In other years 'twas his to share,
"With sword to do, with nerve to plan;
Yet honored by n deathless fame,
A glorious and peerless name.
He goes to Death our Sheridan I
What ardor all our being thrills,
What glory each heart-fiber flils I
Forget tho deathless day who can,
When spurring onward, in his might,
On that black steed he won the fijfht
At Winchester Phil Sheridan !
Oh, pallid is that daring brow !
Oh, nerveless is that strong arm now;
Death, who makes mighty heroeBbow,
For him has done all that Death can 1
But powerless it eVr ahull be
To dim ids loyal memory I
He lives with us Phil Sheridan.
He lives with us unto all time
Until Eternity shall chime!
A living, breathing, fame sublimo
That ages shall not scathe nor banl
Where'er a hero's love is sung,
While falls a word from heart and tongue,
Thy praise 'twill speak Phil Sheridan!
O, gates where those immortals dwell,
Soldiers who in Life's conflict fell.
He comes to you who loved him well !
No blot upon that sword yu scan !
Mourned by the mighty hearts of those
Who knew him. sinks he to repose,
He Jives in Death Our Slicridaul
nc comes, oh, heroes grand, to you I
Give him a welcome fond intd true,
The grasp of brotherhood renew!
And, as that laureled brow ye scan,
We know that in each hero-heart
He bears of love a gentle part,
A brother, friend Phil Sheridan 1
He lives 1 Tho' fallen in the strife!
His is not death, but breathing Life!
Willi all its love and honors rife!
Deatli can but crown tho peerless anan!
Lay him to rest! lay him to rest!
His sword upon his pulseless breast!
Peace, soldier-heart Phil Sheridan I
One comrade more in that brave roll
That column vast that ncars the goal !
One comrade more, for him we toll
The burial chime; God's nobleman!
O, tuuflled drums, your mournful sound
Proclaims the hero, honor crowned.
Rest, peerless heart Phil Sheridan.
WAITING FOR THE BUGLE.
TJtomas Wentworlh lligginson in the July Century.
Wo wait for the bugle; tho night dews arc cold,
The limbs of the soldiers feel jaded and old,
The field of our bivouac is windy and bare.
There is lead in our joints, there is frost in our
hair, .
The future is veiled and its fortunes unknown
As we lie with hushed breath till the bugle is
blown.
At the sound of that bugle each Comrade shall
spring
Like nu arrow released from tho strain of the
string:
The courage, the impulse of youth shall como back
To banish the chill of tho drea bivouac,
And sorrow and losses and cares fade away
When that life-giving signal proclaims tho new
day.
Though the bivouac of ago may put ico In our
veins,
And no fiber of steel in our sinew remains;
Though the comrades of yesterday's marcli are not
here.
And tho sunlight seems palo and tho branches are
tear,
Though tho sound of our cheering dies down to a
moan,
We shall find our lost youth when tho bugle is
blown.
BUAYE SHERIDAN.
BY MRS. EMILY SI. GIlirr-KN, KIMBAIX, DAK.
Again our Nation's called to mourn
And bow in deepest grief,
For death has called, this time to take,
Her Army's honored Chief
Brave Sheridan!
No coal-black charger dashed and foamed
As on that historic day
He carried forward, mile on mile,
To Winchester away
Brave Sheridan!
At evening's calm and pensive hour,
As loved ones gathered near,
The dark-winged angel quickly called
The man who knew no fear
Brave Sheridan l
Rest, soldier! rest! for spirit forma
Will guard the heavenly way,
And lead thy spirit in its march
To realms of brighte-it day,
Rest, Sheridan I
if I YON MYa If
"PD
1 i.
u,
Some Exceptional Instances of Wooing
and Winning.
EST A HOSPITAL.
A Comrade Found His "Wife
Among the Visitors.
CAPTURED BY LETTISH
A Pennsylvanian's Romance
Came After His Discharge.
IN AN ATLANTA HOSPITAL.
An Hllnolsan Woos and WIruv
a Fair Ansel of
Hcrcy.
Editok Natio2AL Tribune.
TWAS one of the many
participants in one of
participants
1 uic grauuesb umiuuea
Y on record Sherman
march to the sea ; be-
'M. ing a bigh private in
the rear rank of the
89th 111. Sherman's
army had been fight
ing almost continu
ally for nearly four
months, when we captured Atlanta, Gx
Here at this place was the turning-point of
my life, for in the battle before Atlanta I
was severely wounded in the left knee
(thank fortune it was not one of my arms, as
you will see farther on that I could use both
my arms to advantage). My wound was not
at first considered severe, but it would take
some little time before I would be able to
use my leg again.
I was cared for at first by the Surgeons of
our command, but they had more cases than
they could well attend to, and a great many
of them were worse than mine; so I did
not fare the very best at first, but later on
received better treatment.
I had been suffering pain that pen nor
word cannot describe for nearly two weeks,
when I commenced to fall off in flesh very
rapidly. My mind had also begun to fail,
and my case was beginning to look serious
indeed. It was but a few days before I had
A MlNISTERIXG AQEL.
wasted away to a skeleton, and my mind
failed me altogether. By the untiring work
of the skilled physicians and the aid that
the ladies of the city lent them, I was soon
restored to ihy mind.
It was the custom of some of the South
ern ladies to visit the hospitals, and some
times even help care for us, and I think it is
a wrong idea that a great many have who
say the Southerners were all rebels, for I
think differently about the matter. I hold
that there were some very kind-hearted peo
ple in the South, more especially a certain
Southern lady.
I REMEMBER THE DAY VERY DISTINCTLY
that my reasoning powers were restored. It
was one of those hot Summer days known
only in the South, when the mercury was
ranging from 110 to 125 in the shade.
About the first thing that I remember was
the beautiful face of a lady, who was dressed
in neat attire. She was busily engaged iu
dressing my wound. The first thought that
entered my mind was that she was one of
the angels, who had descended from Heaven
to care for the dying Union soldiers who so
bravely bared their breasts to the balls of
the Southern Confederacy. On looking
closer, and mustering all the reasoning fac
ulties that were then at my command, I
"saw as through a glass darkly, but now face
to face," that it was the form of a well-to-do
Southern lady, performing the duties of a
nurse to one of the enemies of her home, if
not her cause. I was too weak or could not
command words to speak to her then, and
after she had finished bandaging my wound
she cast a sympathizing smile toward me,
AND GAVE MY HAND A PARTING CLASP;
but before she could release her hold I drew
her lily-white hand toward me and pressed
it to my lips, as I breathed a silent prayer,
wishing that she were mine. However, she
did not tarry long this time, but passed on to
the next ward to care for the wants of other
suffering comrades,
By the time that the hour of 1 had rolled
around the next day I had gained wonder
fully in strength, so much so that I could
talk intelligently, and was greatly cheered
at the sight of this lady, who had cheered me
so wonderfully the day before. As soon as
Bhe entered the room she seemed to throw a
halo of light and peace around her. After
exchanging a few kind salutations she be
gan her labor of dressing my wound, which
site said looked a great deal better.
I found on questioning her that her name
was Miss Maud Jackson, and that she lived
with her mother, her father having died
HO1
v- O "W&iWW.
IM? ' WFl
1 11 t J J. 9 1
when sho was bub six yeis eW,bnt lfi
enough to comfortably sepprt Mis. Jack
son ami her daughter, who raovad in the
beat society of Atlanta. I ako learned, to
my heartfs content, that she had charge of
the section in which my ward was located.
She mado her daily rduade, supervising and
helping with th wrk, ag she had 25 nnraea
under her instructions. She stayed a little
longer this time than the previous visit, and
on leaving she promised to call again as soon
as her duties would permit She did not
seem to be so busy that day fer some reason,
for she was around again in about an hour,
and we had a very pleasant aad agreeable
talk.
From this time on " I began to gain in
strength very rapidly, and at the end of an
other week was able to sit up in bed ; in lesa
than a month I was able to walk around,
with the aid of orutches. About this time
I moved my headquarters. I was now sta
tioned at the Jackson mansion, located en
West Fourth street, and everything being
agreeable Miss Maud and I consolidated oar
fortunes. I soon afterward obtained ray dis
charge, and led a retired life until after the
war, when we came "West to seek our for
tunes on the Western prairies. WiLLlA3
Goodsiax, 89th Hi., Abilene, Kan.
A SUCKER'S STORY.
He Win Ul Wife Vilth His Pea.
Editor National Treboxs:
CnSG on your sug
gestion to the bq js to
write for publication
in Ths Natiostai,
Tribune the story of
the wooing" and' win
ning of our "help
meets," I submit the
following Ietier,whicrx
Vf-s waa written on the
-- - icCS historic battlefield or
Chickamauga. and
wa3 addressed to the lady whom I married
soon after the close of the war, and with,
whom I have lived in happy wedlock for
nearly 23 years:
Qoudos's Mnxs. Q.c. April 28 1364
3Iisa Mary Ass Chatpei.ear, Bloominston HI.
Madam: My esteemed friend, Robert Lewis, haa
gpticrouily contributed to-my cwp of pleasure by
pivinjj your name and address, accompanied by
your photograph and a permission to opea a cor
respondence with you. I regard this as a great
privilege, and for Ibid net of kindness on the part
of your worthy couaiu Robert I shall over feel
truly grateful.
To you, lady, who proposes to send a word of
sympathy nnd cheer to a stranger soldier while so
fur from kindred, home, and all its thousand
endearments. I tender my warmest thanks.
Permit m? to say that I commend your judgment,
and receive thw seneroua exhibition of your na
ture a conclusive evidence of your feelings of re
spect for tho soldiers of our common country and
ttie patriotic devotion you feel in the great and
honorable cause in whieh we are engaged. The
name of such, a lady will be written on every sol
dlerVbeart. and though never seen, will be cher
ished while reason and memory hold their seat.
Am highly deiiuhted with this novel mode of
commencing an interchange of friendly communi
cations, nnd sincerely hope that we may enhance
our ociaI enjoyment and derive instruction and
profit through the medium of the pen.
Though I have little faith in the proverb that
"the pen is mightier than the sword" at this par
ticular period in our Nation's career, yet I have
an ardentuission for letter-writing, and am hanny
I that Robert's proposition came so opportune.
Letter-writinjr affords to the soldier much real
enjoyment. His pathway would indeed be dark:
ami cheerless did not these tokens of remem
brance and love come to divert his mind and en-
courage him in his trying; duties.
None can more fully appreciate such favors than
! the soldier boy who has left mother, sisters, home,
frieuds all, and staked everything on the ultar of
his country. And the influence on our minds is
incalculable ; while it contributes to our pleasure it
also retruius from wrong doing, and prompts to
actions that comport with moral integrity and vir
tue. Woman, you know, is said to be "the re
deeming portion ofhuuianity." We readily admit
the truth of the adage, for history demonstrates the
, fuctthut from her hunds we receive all that ennobles
j and dignities man.
These are not words of idle llattery, but expres
sions of our true sentiments in regard to the salu
tary aud elevating influence that women ever wield,
over the minds of men. Probably you are aware
tiiut much of the time of army life is leisure, which
accounts for the many evil habits contracted by the
defenders of the dear old flag'. If a soldier has no
letter to write, no book or paper to read, he will
do something-, and that something is pretty sure to
be demoralizing in tendeucy. whieh fact illustrates
the truth of the saying tliat " an idle brain is the
devh's workshop." Life in camp becomes very
monotonous without some healthful and enliven
ing pastime, and our taste seeks amusement in the
sweetaof an epistolary correspondence rather than
wasting time over the card-table. Our experience
and observation have taught us that the army is
no school of moral-; hence it is that we so highly
prize letters from the pure hearts of " the girls wa
left, behind us." During our inactivity in the Win
ter m.uiths the prolific brain of a baebelor of our
conip my suggested the following; plan to obtain,
correspondence:
Each sohtier wrote the name of some lady friend
on a slip of paper, wbieh we styled "lottery tick
ets." and dropped into a hat held by a trusty boy
iu blue. After the tickets bad been thoroughly
mixed we each drew one with our eyes closed
with the understandimr that we would address by
letter the lady indicated by the name drawn. I
can truly say that I have been exceedingly fortu
nate iu these novel drawings, having drawn some
valuable Drizes."
Our object is intellectual and moral improve,
ment aud mutual pleasure. We have realized aEf
the rich and loity outgusmngs of reciprocal joy
that the pens of the good ladies can inspire nude;
the promptings of the most generous impulses.
I hope that our acquaintance may prove as pleas
ant. Our Chaplain is holding a series of religiouT
meetings, which are being attended with much,
profit. vVe have a beautiful "church," 40x50 feet,
and an organized association of those who feel an
intere-st iu the promotion of the cause of Christian
ity. Quite a revival has blessed these protracted
efforts and a number of happy conversions have
occurred, while others are seeking the way of sal
vation. There seems to be something peculiarly
touching iu this awakening at tins particular time
aud place. Last Sabbith four young soldiers nobly
distinguished themselves by confessing their sins
and joining the great army of Ziou. They were
baptize.! in the Chickarnauga, with whose water
blends the blood of our fallen heroes. The scene
was deeply impressive and calculated to elicit seri
ous reflections. Tlte memory of the precious blood,
shed on Chickauinuga's banks, the thousands of
gallant dead whose bones are bleaching in the sun
shine aud the storm, and the sanguinary conflict
before us all rendered the occasion one of peculiar
interest and solemnity. May the good work go on,
and to God be all the glory.
Expect to uiuve soon, with a view to the opening
of the Spring campaign. With Gen. Sherman at
our head, we expect to mnreh, 1G0.C0O strong, into
the heart of Georgia and the so-called Confederacy.
We arc confident that we shall ere long succeed in,
our praiseworthy object the suppression of tho
rebellion and the preservation of onr cherished
Republic
With a soldier's best wishes and kindest regards,
I am, your friend, most respectfully,
L. A. Ross.
"Mary Ann " whom we now calFMollie for
short answered my letter immediately, and
wo kepc up a pleasant interchange of epistles
during onr march to the sea and through the
Carolinas, Virginia, and on to Washington.
Soou after our muster-out at Chicago I called
on her, near filoomington, and at this first
meeting I surrendered to her personal charms
und her bewitching black eyes. I "popped,"
and she said "yes"; but we were not married
until Aug. 9, 1386, over 22 years ago.
It is with pleasure that I testify that our
matrimonial union ha3 been a happy one. Onr
attachment for each other has grown with tho
passing years, and will not be broken even in,
eternity. We have two lovely daughters-
Abhie, who staid with U3 12 years and the
went to Heaven, and Maud, who is with n
? s-tysi.
A
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YtSb Jrt -tfitiEU-,
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