The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-04-16
From the Continental Mon thly.
TAKEN PRISONER.
by II. WOLCOTT.

Vi WOuHueu nOTscS, ana tilc Wliu shouting
Of the men, the clear voice of Lieut.. Hugh
Gregory rang out: Rally, my brave boys
rally, and avcnge the captains death
"Not quite SO fast, SIR quietly remark
ed rebel officer, bringing his sword to a
salute; you observe that your men are
retrea'ing, and you are my prisoner"
Hugh saw that it was so, and with a
heavy heart gave himself up.
| "Hurrah FOR the stars and stripes -
shouted brave young soldier, attempting
to raise himself upon his elbow, but falling
back. exhausted from the loss Of blood.
-'fsaA-.,nA ycu, I'll stripe your exclaimed
brutal fellow. rising in his stirrups and
aiming blow at the wounded man.
! "Dare to strike a helpless inanw shout
ed his commander; and he wardcd off the
| blow with stroke that sent the fellows
sabre spinning into the air. Nov dis
mount and help him if you can" But it
was too late; the brave soul had gone out
with those last words.
Lieut." said the rebel officer, whom we
will know as Captain Dumars, III see that
you are wounded. Let me assist you up
on this horse, and one of my scrgeants
will show you the surgeons quarters."-
And he bound up the wounded arm as
well as he could, helped him upon the
horse, and, with a playful au repoir, rode
on.
Hugh's wound was too painful, and he
was too weak and tired to wonder or to
think clearly o: anything; he only felt
grateful that his captor was gentleman,
geants guidance.
The battle was en- lel-;n whose favor it
does not matter, so far as this story is con
cerned-and Captain Dumars obtained per-
mission to take Lieut.. Gregory to his moth
er's house until he should recover from his
wound, or be exchanged.
When Hugh found himself established
in pleasant little chamber, with windows
looking out upon the flower garden and the
woods beyond, fading away into his own
beloved Northland, he thought that, after
all, it was not so terrible to be prisoner
of war. He was decidedly confirmed in
this opinion when he occasionally caught
glimpse of the little form Of Annie Dumars
fitting about among tn. flowers; and be-
ing somewhat of philosopher, in his way,
he determined to take it easy.
The presence of one Of the "Hessians"
at Mrs. DumarS' house gave it much the
same attraction that is attached to a mcna-
gerie. Feminine curiosity is an article that
the blockade cannot keep out of Dixie, and
and many We're the morning calls that An
ME received, and many and various were
the methods of pumping adopted to learn
something of the prisoner: how he looked,
how he acted, how he was dressed, and so
forth.
"lmpertinence he heard Annie ex-
claim, as one of these gossips passed
through the gate, after putting her through
a more minute inquisition than usual
And he heard her dainty shoe heels impa-
tiently tapping along the hall, AID when
she brought in a bouquet of fresh flowers,
he saw in her face traces Of vexatiep.
81 seem to be quite What is itr"
"Shame and she broke off a stem
and threw it out of the window with alto
gether unnecessary vehemence.
'Splendid girl ~ thought Hugh ''where
have seen herr"
And he turned his thoughts back through |
the years that were past, calling up the old
scenes the balls, with their mazy, passion
ate waltzes, and their promenadcs on the
balcony in the moonlght's mild glow, when
sweet lips recited choice selections from |
Moore, and white hands swayed dainty
sandal-wood fars with the potency Of the
most despotic sceptres; the slcigh-rides,
with their wild rollicking fun, keeping time
to the merry music of the bells and cul.
in the inevitable upset; the clos
ing exercises of the seminary, when bloom
ing girls, in the full ctflarescencc of hot
house culture, make a brief but brilliant |
display before retiring to the domestic
sphere-oh, yes
"Mis Dumars, were you not at the
Institute last year,
"Yes."
''rhen you know my cousin-Jennie
Gregory?''
ayes, indeed and you are her cousin
How stupid in me not to recollect it ~
And she told him how that 'Jenne"
was her dearest friend, and how in their
intimacy Of confidence she had told her all
about him, and shown her his picture, and
in shert: Hugh and Annie began to feel
much better acquainted.
1t was few days after this that Hugh
sat by the open window, listening to An
ME reading from the virtuous and veracious
Richmond Enquirer. Distressed by what ,
ne heard, not knowing whether it was true
'r not, he begged her to cease torturing
nim. She laid aside the paper with an ,
emphatic 81 don't believe it! that could
lot but attract his attention, and he looked
up in surprise.
II must tell you Mr. Gregory-I have
'een tortured long enough by this forced i
ecreey-I am a rebel" s
That is the name we know you by" :
le replied, smiling.
''But | am a rebelLious rebel Yes" she =
ddcd rising, 81 detest with all my heart /,
his wicked, causeless rebellion | detest :
he very names of the leaders Of it. And Z
ct am compelled to go about with lies =
pon my lips, and to act lies, till detest y
nyself more than all else. have consoled h
nyself somewhat by making a flag and :.
'orshipping it in secret. will get it and y
how it to you" q
This" she continued, returning with h
miniature specimen Of the dear old flag, "a =
cal flag, the emblem of a real living nation, h
aust be kept hidden. its glorious lustre r
'ding away in the dark, while that" point 5
'g to where the "Stars and bars" were 4
uttcring in the breeze, "that miserable ab- :.
rtlon is insolently hauntcd before our eyes, r
othing about it orgi.al or Suggestive -
xcept its stolen colors. reminding us of the
nancal operations of Floyd! Oh, if hope
ould be prophecy-if a life that is an un-
easing prayer for the success Of the feder- +,
arms could avail, it would not be long Il
efore this bright banner would wave in +
'iumph over all the land, it's starry folds r.
leaning with purer, more glorious light a
,rever" -
And as she stood there, with eyes up h
lted as in mute prayer, and fervently kiss a.
l the silken folds Of the flag. Hugh
ished that his station in life had been that
an American flag. +,
Time passed on, and the prisoner was to r.
; exchanged for rebel officer of equal
INK. Can't. Dumars brought him the in