Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-25

steps triumphantly 10 States from which
they had been ostTae zei. Weeks and months
passe away, and step by step the gallant
band und Buell fought its way on. Tue
deeds ertormed are part Of undying hlsto-
~. Wherever danger was, there might be
found the refugee band and tor many 4
gallant bit OF work did NJ ijOr Cooper and
Captain SlyTe receive tie commendatiOn OF
theirs rscommauder.
At last C lme the fall Of Doneson, the
stronghold of rebel power, and the crash
shook the whole land. One OF the first that
sprang over the line OF works was Willis
SaYre Those WHO were with him said that
his wild shout for the "UniOn and Old Ten
nessee" did lore toward quickenins the Ay-
ing feet OF the rebels than anything else
That night, when the work was done, and
hands were grasped over the campfire in
hope Of the future, and congratulations Tor
the foo hold gained upon the soil from which
they had been obliged to flee, George and
W ills sat dreaming OF the time, one year
before, when they had gone forth without
knowing whittier their steps tended. Within
a few days they would be once more IN Nash
vile A.; George to attempt the recovery OF the
property he had been obliged to surrender to
sack and plunder, and " ILLS 10 find the old
plantation on which he was born, and his
father, perhaps, fugitive.
Scouts were coming in from all directions,
and small parties returning from reconnoIt-
ering expeditions. bringing in some prison
ers, sometimes captured provision or mate
riel
" Major" said a sergeant, touching his
cap, ave have squad Of secesh here that
we've Just brought; an old man and four
soldiers. The oil man swears like a trooper
that he's u -cOmbatant-whateyer that Is
but We thou ht it best to bring him along
though he tried mighty hard to get OIL
We've just Gagged him down bel.w here in
an empty wagon, under guard, until we
made our report"
'Come, Willis. let Us stretch our legs a
little on Old Tennessee again. Let US go
down and question our prisoner. Perhaps
we may get something new.
Hardly q stone 's-lhr0w away from the
camp the white canvas tops Oi the army
wagons were glisteniug in the moonlight.
and the one containing the prisoner promi-
nent by the guard mounted over 1t. rs
they approached they could hear the voice
Of the prisoner in high alteration with the
guard.
Whar's yer gineral, | say ? Take my
compliments to him, and say that N non
combatant. Dye hear? Jist mention to
him that Doctor John Slyre Of Nashville,
Tennessee, Is hyar, and pertests agin being
made prisoner OF war. m gentleman,
d we see. Tell him that.
There was no mistakins that voice, even
had the name not been announced, and
MI lTaf
ened to the harangue Of the pseudo-patriOt.
At last George, m0tioniny Willis to keep IN
the background, advanced toward the wa
on. knowing that he could trust 10 the uni
form for cOncedlm -.
- Here's the 'gineral,' squire - was the
greeting Of the sergeant, pointing out the
Major TO the prisoner.
'Ah general. | IN glad 10 sec ye, was
Doctor johns rather feeble response. some
o your boys haYe picked me- up tonight,
and, by ginger. they talked Of hanging me
right out y hand told 'em | was a gen
tleman an u noa-comOatant, but they dldn I
seem TO mind that
q" You ought tj have huFrahed for the
Union. They would have understood that, -
was Georges gruf answer.
This was bitter jlke for Doctor John,
but be swallowed it with ghastly smile,
and returned once more 70 the attack, with f.,
Why, dye see, glueral, I'm a non COM
batant, and can't according to that be made
a prisoner OF war
Are You a Union man - was Georges
poser; which the Doctor d0dged, with,
Dye see, general, warn taken with
arms in my hands.
{" Are you willing to take the oath Of ale
glance p
.'It won't do, general. dye see, to keep
me prisoner, and send Inc up North, because
in that case / shan't be home in time to put
in a crap
"Are YOU willing to take the oath Of ale
glance ?" repeated George.
The Doctor gulped heavily, and thrust his
head well through the seyen-by-nine apert-
ure in the back OF the wagon, and then went
on,
&" 'Twould be too bad, gineral, by ginger
to keep a man that Is strugglin to git on IN
the world a prisoner when II Is jlst comm
time for crap"
" Once more. and the lass time, | ask you
if you are willing to take the oath ?" slid
George, in a very decided tone.
Wa'al, stranger-Sinerai, mean-by
ginger, yes - ,.,
9 Very well then. yol shall have your lib
erty, Doctor, and 70 home Release the pri
soner, men III take BIN % the quarter;
and swear him myself"
George. Willis, and Doctor John vert
soon upon their way, the two first keeping
the caues of their overe1ats well up to then
faces, the last srum and silent. When thel
were out of other hcaIing George came clos
beside the Doctor.
Doctor, there is one other item in th'
terms upon which | shall give you liberty.
"What is II? ?" asked the Doctor, in al
anxious tone, trying hard to peer into tn
muled face beside him.
You must consent to the marriage o.
your son TO my whte-iaced sister. y
The Doctor jumped as th ugh he bad beer
shot, and was speechless. ..
"You had better do It, father, said VII
| lis, coming out INTO the front and droppin.
| the cap from his face. "Cooper's command
ing officer tonight, and must be obeyed.
s.Wa'al, by ginger this is con-spl-ra
cy,'' shouted Doctor John. half in trigh
and half in astOnishment.
ssBetter Eeep quiet, Doctor, was George
caution; .'if YOU become known as seces
nothing can save YOU nun Nalio INV %.
keeping till the end of the war. | must b
sure that you are sound on your loyalty be
fore can vouch for you"
" Oh, well! go on, groaned Doctor Johr
'.ye kin do jist as ye please, but, by gingel
III never have anything more to do with Ii
cussed thing either one way or t'other.
"WeH sad; and now, Doctor, for Il
oath. and then onward to Nashville.
A few days later and George, Willis, ar
tie Doctor were in Nashville, gathering t
gether the wreck of Cooper's property,
which they are much assisted ty Doct'
Johns anti-Union friends, for, as the Doct
argues, since I've got to have this gal Tor
daughter-In-law, | might as well look o.
for the main chance. The Doctor alsc b
gins to confess that he likes Yankees bett
as be sees more Of them, though he has n
vet admitted that the charm lies in liking
man better after you have fought with hi
especially when you got the worst OF it.
There will be wedding in Nashville Il
) suring, as soon as things are sufficient
| settled 20 allow Clara to turn.
II NaeM NHHHN