New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-11-29

short time, and I ah sure this mystery
will be cleared up
i know it, said he, L feel certain
that God will not permit the innocent
to suffer always; but do not ask me to
remain here now. When return per-
haps all will be right; it must be; but,
in the mean time, it is useless for me to
think of trying to live where there is
the shadow of suspicion on my good
name.'
In another week we were at the Gin
cinnati rendezvous, and in a fortnight
were steaming down the Mississippi to
New Orleans, whence we embarked for
the seat Of war.
Howard made an excellent soldier.
Attentive to his duty, always prompt
and rellable,---these soldierly qualities
gained him the confidence of the Off
GERS, and he was soon appointed SER
geant. But when off duty he was
moody and abstracted-rarely joining
in any Of the various amusements with
which his comrades sought to vary the
monotony of eamp-life, and his taclturn'
solitary habits gained him reputation
of unsociability. 1t was in vain that J.
attempted to convince him Of the folly
Of brooding over the unfortunate event
which had led t" such complete over
throw of all his plans and hopes, and
worked such change in his once frank
and happy disposition. He seemed to
be continually haunted by the recollec-
ton of the unjust suspicion cast upon
his integrity; and though often strug-
Cling manfully to cast off the incubus
which weighed so heavily upon him, he
to be sinking gradually into a
settled melancholy. Occasionally, when
the arrival of courier with letters from
home was announced, his whole manner
would change; smile light up his face,
and eager hope sparkle in his eyes, at
the thought that perhaps among those
letters might be one announcing the
glad tidings Of the vindication O. his
good name, by tho solution Of the mys-
terry which had tarnished it. But
though letters came, filled with love and
tenderness. none brought the wished
for tidings; aud at last the arrival of
the courier seemed scarcely to interest
him, heart-sick, as he was, with defer
red hope.
Our regiment was attached to the
column under the command Of old
Zack;' and, though arriving too late to
share in the glories Of Buena Vista, we
had the honor Of forming part of the
little band who stood before the iron
hail at Monterey, on the 2Srd Of Sept,
1916. After the enterance within the
city walls had been effected, came that
terrible six hours of street fighting, as
we pushed our way to the main plaza.
The pavement was slippery with blood;
our men fell at every step under the
shower of balls which poured from the
windows and housetops, interspersea
with paving-stones, bricks, and other
missiles. In the course of this pleas
ant journey, l spied a truculcnt-look-
ing 'greaser' taking deliberate aim at
me from the upper window; and, as my
piece was unfortunately empty, l had
made up my mind that, unless | should
be able to dodge with unusal activity, |
should probably be missing at the next
roll-call-when suddenly, the levelled
musket came rafting down into the
street, and my Mexican friend stag.
gered forward, and hung half out Of
the window, pierced by ball in the
forehead from musket fired over my
shoulder. I turned to see who was the
sfriend indeed to whom was indebted
for this timely aid, and saw Howard
calmly tearing cartridge fer another
shot, and contemplating, with a smile
of grim satisfaction, the result Of his
last.
Thank you, Charley said I; I'll dc
as much for you some day,'-and as
surrounding circumstances were not ia