The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-09-06
4 5elrftcS Talc.
THE FREE MASoN'S WIFE,
A TALE OF THE, MEXICAN WAR.
BY A TRAVELLER.


of commanders, paragraphs of newspapers. nor
to the numerous volumes written upon the pro.
| life chapter of the worlds history. 1t would
take thousand pens. to record the mcIety Of
the surprising events and romantic circnmslan-
ces that have .ranspred in the war. Every
,lder has q story Of his own, told in his own
way, of bis own experience and each soldiers
story is worth The listenirgIo.
ln the month of August last, was pnssen.
| ger on board steamer ascending the Misss
sippi. On board were several returned officers
who had served on the fields oI Mexico. A
voyage Of four days in their company gave me
an opportunity of listening 10 the recital of
| many hairbreadh escape aud daring deed in
the ..imminpnt deadly breach )" not that the
brave actors therein were fond Of boasiing, but
ON the contrary, were retiring and diilident
touching the discourse Of their experiences
Nevertheless having nothing todo I" pass away
the time, we succeeded, step by step, in draw.
ing them ont.
One noble locking young corporal. who spoke
we'll, and knew how TO describe what he had
seen and taken a part in, particularly interested
us. He had the rare faculty to bring The bat
tie field and the individual combat directly be-
fore his amli'ors-and it is picture of ndivid-
ua power that most plcases the listener.
have seen a woman face fire that appall
ed our regiment, and made us keep cover.
| Ah. how was that? Who was she? Young
ard pretty? An American, or a Senorila q
When was it. and how? was The string o inter
rogalions that assailed the lecnnter.
1t was on the second day. before Mexico.
The particulars were these. In our company
was mere lad %! sixteen, a daring young Vir-
oinian, the Eavorite for his chrrrfulnr<s, coilr.
age and youth and here let me add, taking OF
courage under fire, give me a regiment ol well
grown boys from fifteen to nineteen. Nothing
can withstand their charge. Buys bound aud
leap over the ground as if they were al play,
and dash at anything without thought, like 50
many blind pups. Fora hard fight in the stree,
or foe headung rush give me The boys. They
are perfect imps Tor fight.
This boy some weeks before had leaped a
fence aud c!imbedp paraprt some hundred yards
ahead OF his company. and WAS taken prisoner,
though not without killing three Mexicans and
-woun.ingthe Colonel Irfnr" he gave in. tlis
mother. widow, (lhouah lad y, and why n"t')
heard oI it, and a. ne was her only sou, yrarnci
for his release. She bad no money no infu
eniaI friends. Suddenly she recoIlectrd that
she was Alasons widow; hope was lighted
up in her bosnrn hy The thought, and She dried
her tears. She said, will test he taIsnanic
power oriie order my husband loved and re-
vercd SO highly"
There was 4 movement Of interest with the
listeners. Grave gentlemen grew nearer and
gave coser attention, doul'ilrss being of The or
der them. elves. The soldier evidently gratih-
ed by the size and eagerness Of his encircing
audience, resumed his narrative.
She sold some little articles Of value, aud with
the money she reached Washington city; she
reached the Secretary of the War Department
on foot and dusty. With difficulty she ohlain.
ed audience with the great man; for our b z
secretaries are as big lords rs English lords
are, only wanting the tile. 4 poor soldier or
| ty.
"Well, ma 'am," said he, crustily. as she en-.
tered and he saw how dusty she Looked. but
when she removed her veil, and he saw that she
was ladr-liEe, and handsofn" too, he half arose
and pointed TO a chair. Well, she told him Of
her sons capture, and that she wanted TO 60 to
him.
II cannot help yon, MAJ Very expensive!
fle will be exchanged by and by. Better
wait"
'.You can help me to a passport, sir," she
said. n"thing daunted.
"Ofcourse they can't refuse that to you al
the Secretary of States office. You say you
are poor How do you expect to pay the cx.
penses ola journey to Mexico? 1t isa vision.
ary scheme. Good morning man,
.'Sir, if you could recommend me to The care
the officer in command o!ihe regiment that
sails from Baltimore"
"lmposSible, ma am" (rothe page in wait.
ing.) "Who did you say waited tell him |
am at leisure"
"Arc youa Mason" said the widow to the
Secretary, making sign for the page to delay.
Eyes. ma am
81 ain Mason's widow. Nv son is Ma.
sons son. appeal to you, sir, in that cupaci.
,y, and by the honorable order" said the wild.
ow firmly.
The secretarys manner at once changed to
one of courteous interest. "Stay," he said 10
the page. 'rake a seat ma'a
And from lha, moment, the affairs Of the wild.
ow took quite new turn. The Secretary gave
her politely written note TO the Secretary Of
State, who. in turn, gave her n letter to the
commandan a, New Orleans. 10 furnish her a