The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-21
This Federal Prisoners In Richm ON d
LOVE AT SIGHT AND WITHOUT SIGHT.

LOVE AT SIGHT AND WITHOUT SIGHT.
Corporal MERRILL of Rochester, New
York. continues his experience 10 the Roch-
ester Express, and 10 his last communica..
ton we find the following romantic Incl.
dent:
have stated that some of the private
soldiers, from the upper rooms, were en-
poyed in the officers quarters, service
which they gladly accepted as affording SUI
perior rations. Among these was corpo>
ial Nh, of New York, young man
of wealthy parentage, OF active manners,
good intellectual endowments, and withaI
handsome as Apollo"
At the request of some of the officers, he
was occasionally permitted to visit the low
er floor, and upon Cne occasion was permit
ted to leave the prison on parole, for the
purpose Of purchasing supplies. While
thus passing through one of the main thor
oughfares, M-n was accosted by little
girl, who presented him with bouquet, at,
the same time, pointing to young lady, 90
the opposite side OF the street, as the donor.
The corporal acknowledged the gift, by
polite bow, and proceeded upon bis mission.
The lady, apparently fascinated. followed
him at distance to the prison, and, as be
entered it, she reciprocated his bow, and
leisury walked away.
For some inexplicable cause the corpo>
raj was not again permitted to go out, and
q nesro-I should have mentioned that
quite u number u servants were in the pris.
On--was dispatched in his stead. The ne
gro had not proc aeded far when he was met
by the young lady referred to, and the Sc
quel to the interview was developed in
package with which he returned to the Of
fcers quarters, and delivered 10 corporal
Nh. 1t was found to contain new
suit of clothes, and upon one garment was
pinned small card, neatly inscribed with
the name of its benefactress:
"Only this, and nothing more.'
Corporal Nh instantly addressed
himself to the task of epistolary COMPOST
tion, 10 which he gracefully acknowledged
the receipt of the gift, aud expressed bis
heartfelt thanks. This was delivered by the
negro on the day following, and be returned
with a package containing q number Of
pocket haDkerchies, socks, ard shirts.
AS in the first instance, the only commu,
nicatiOn which accompanied the gilt was
the donors card. The corporal again ac-
knowledged his obligations by polite note,
which was duly delivered through the same
medium.
TheDceforth the corporal was in daily
receipt of the choicest dainties, and a reg
ular epist0lary correspondence was carried
on until the day OF bis release, which oc,
Cured on the Sd of January. A matrimo.
NAL engagement had been made during the
interval, with the understanding that the
parties would meet in Baltimore on the LIST
OF March next.
have omitted to state that the corporal
bad been sent back to his old quarters, but
having ascertained that his far inamorata
daily promenaded within view OF the off.
GERS quarters, be obtained employment as
cook, ard was thereafter unfailpgly at
his post to reciprocate the loving smiles OF
his betrothed.
She had sent him her daguerreotype,
which be frequently exhibited to me- 1t
was q lovely image, and one that would
have required no " collateral" inducement
to carry captive the most frgid and lethar-
gic fancy. learned that she was of veal.
thy family, and of as good blood as was to
be found among the F. +. VS.. and her
letters, was assured, evinced that she was
no less intelligent and refined.
When the glad tidings of our release came,
the name of Corporal M. was found in the
list. The intelligence was quick J conveyed
to his yearniDg admirer. We saw nothing
of her, however, as we marched through
tine streets of Richmond, though the corpo.
rails longing vision was strained OF every
animate object.
But when the halt was ordered, q fine
carriage, driven by negro, suddenly made
its appearance, and halted at short dis.
lance from our ranks. A lady descended
there was a brief hut earnest collOQuy
among the Confederate officers of our guard
and the next moment the enraptured twain
Corporal NJ and bis affianced) were face
TO face! A few words, the first they had
ever exchanged in person, were exchanged
10 snbdued, yet melting tones their faces
were for moment lighted, as with fame
the engagement was sacredy renewed
there was fervent, thrilling pressure of
their hands, and they separated.
A circumstance is connected with the
daguerreotype above referred to, which de-
serves passing notice. Before it left the
prison the picture was taken from the case,
and small slip of paper closely written,
and addressed to General Mcclellan, was
deposited therein, and the daguerreotype
then replaced. 1t was safely delivered to
the Commander in Chief, meeting Of the
Cabinet was called, and the day following
there was leak stopped--a mysterious
leak, from high official circles, and which
bad inestimably benefited the rebels for
many months.
1t appears fiom the London Economist
that it is not lack of cotton, but our manu-.
featuring, from which British suffering
arises and the follnwinu extract from q let