Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-07
COurtship Under Difficulties.

Corporal w. II. Merrill, Of Rochester who
spent five months in the Richmond prison
after the battle Of Bull Run, is publishing
an interesting history Of his life in Rebel
dom and incidents connected Herewith, in
the Rochester Express. He relates the fol
lowing as an illustration of the proverb
that truth is stranger than fiction;
have before stated that some Of the pri-
Vate soldiers, from the upper rooms, were
employed in the officers quarters, service
which they gladly accepted as affording su
perior rations. Among these was Corp.
Nh Of New York, young man of
wealthy parentage, of attractive manners,
good intellectual endowments-and withal
handsome as Apollo
AT the request of some of the officers he
was occasionally permitted to visit the lower
floor, and upon one occasion was permitted
to leave the prison on parole, for the pur.
pose of purchasing supplies. While thus
passing through one of the main thorough
fares, Nh was accosted by little
girl, who presented him with q bouquet at
the same time pointing to young lady on
the opposite side Of the street, as the donor
The Corporal acknowledged the gift by a
polite bow, and proceeded upon his mission
The lady, apparently fascinated, followed
him at distance, to the prison, and as he
entered it, she reciprocated his bow, and
leisurely walked away.
For some inexplicable cause the Corpora
was not again permitted to go out and Il
negro, Il should have mentioned that quite
q number Of servants were in the PRISON.
was dispatched in his stead. The negro
had not proceeded far, when he was met by
the young lady referred to, and the sequel
to the interview was developed in package
with which he returned TO the officers quar-
ters, and delivered to Corporal Mn.
1t was found to contain a ne1C suit Of clothes,
and upon one garment was pinned small
card, neatly inscribed with the name of his
benefactress-
"Only this, and nothing more"
Corp. Nh instantly addressed him
self to the task Of epistoary composition, in
which he gracefully acknowledged the re-
ceipt of the gift, and expressed his heart
felt thanks. This was delivered by the ne
gro, on the day following and he returned
with package containing q number of
pocket handkerchief socks and shirts
AS in the first instance, the only COM
municRtion which accompanied the gift
was the donors card. The Corporal
again acknowledged his obligations by a
polite note, which was duly delivered
through the same medium.
Thenceforth the Corporal was in daily re-
ceipt of the choicest dainties, and regular
epistolary correspondence was carried on un-
til the day Of his release, which occurred on
the Sd of January. A matrimonial engage
ment had been made during the interval,
with the understanding that the parties
would meet in Baltimore on the 1st Of March
next.
have omitted to state that the Corporal
had been sent back to his old quarters, but
having ascertaned that his fair nanorqta
daily promenaded within view of the officers
quarters, he obtained employment as a cook,
and was thereafter unfailingly at his post
to reciprocate the loving smiles Of his be-
trothed.
She had sent him her daguerreotype,
which be frequently exhibited to me. 1t
was lovely image, and one that would
have required no collateral" inducement
to carry captive the most frigid and leth-
argic fancy. | learned that she was of a
wealthy family, and as of good blood as was
to be found among the f. 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 Nh was
found in the list. The intelligence was
quickly conveyed to his yearning admirer
We saw nothing of her. however, as we
marched through the streets of Richmond,
though the Corporal's longing vision was
strained at every animate object.
But when halt was ordered, fine car
riage, driven by negro suddenly made its
appearance, and halteda a short distance from
our ranks A lady Observation-Disclosures was a
brief,bu earnest colloquy among the Confed-
crate officers of our guard-and the next mo-
ment the enraptured twain Corporal Mn
and his affianced bride) were face to face!
A few words, the first they had ever ex-
changed in person, were exchanged in sub
dued, yet melting tones; their faces were
for moment lighted, as with fame-the
engagement was sacredly reEewed-there
was fervent, thrilling pressure of their
hands, and they separated.
A circumstance is connected with the
daguerrOtype above referred to, which de-
serves passing notice. Before it left the
prison, the picture was taken from the case,
and small piece of paper, closely written,
and addressed to Gen. Mcclellan, was de-
posted therein, and the daguerreotype then
replaced. 1t was safely delivered to the
commander-in.c chief meeting of the Cab
met was called, and the day following there
~dS a leak 'toPped-a mysterious leak from
high official circles, and which had in
estimably benefited the rebels for many
months.