New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1862-10-17
NEW OREGON HOWARD COUNTY, IOWA OCTOBER II 1852


At the battle of Cedar Mountain. the cav
airy had warm work. Tho Confederates
were strong in artillery, and it was necessary
that the Federal movements sheuld he. rap
id and sudden. The regiment, then. to which
the two friends belonged, had busy day Of
it, and suffered heavily,
It was toward the close Of the engagement,
and the firing was becoming desultory and
scattered, when the young officers met on thc
brow Of hill, after having been separated
in sort of running skrmish with small
body of Confederate horsemen. s-
''Saee and sound still Tom ?" said Lieut.
Booth "you see our time hasn't come yet "'
"No, by Jove shall never be killed. in
battle. Pm too lucky
When will men learn not to plume them
selves on success they have not gained? Did
you ever, my dear reader, congratulate your
self on your excellent health without then
and there falling i'll : Did you ever know
anybody to chuckle complacently over his
immunity from any kind of accident, that it
did not happen to him Immediately All !!
Fate picks out the certain, trustful, hoping
ones for her pet victims always. I once
heard man boasting Of his wife,s affection for
him, at the very moment of her el cpernent
with his friend. once heard gentleman
--one whose name is familiar to many O.
you-talking of the longevity Of his family,
and rlayfully Offering to lay wagers that he
would outlvc all of us then present. The
next day, he fell over at the dinner-table, in
fit of apoplexy, and never spoke again.
So with Captain Satterlcc. He had not
finished his sentence when q shell came
bowling along dashed up the eartl, a few
| yards and exploded with frighttul detona
tion.
Lieutenant Booth had Just time to disno,nt
and lie fat on the earth. Satterlce was not
quick enough. HIS horses head was blown
completely of, and he was hurled twenty or
thirty feet down the hill. .~-
Ills faithful Lieutenant was beside him in
second, but only in time to catch his last
words; for the fragments Of the shell had
mangled him cruelty.
"God bless you Harry y groaned tic dying
man, rs Booth lifted his head "'m glad
you're hore at this moment. All but it does
hurt y,
"Havc you anything to say to anybody
anything to send!'
Eyes; you are right IL shall never gat
up again, 1t is on me now Harry, Pm dy-
ing. know t!r ..... ~........
n hope not, old fellow. God sparc you I
wish it had been me do indeed :"
"No, no. We must come to it somc time
one way or another ;and-and you know I
die as q soldier ought to-, ~3e
He was silent moment rs if in respect to
the tears that his comradc could not restrain.
"Now then let the tell you while I'm
strong enough. In my breast-pockct is a
picture of a girl, and in my hayersack, in
camp, is package Of letters from her. You
will see the name and address there Send
them to her, and tell her bow died. Let
ME see! Yes she can have anything Of mine
that she wants. There are stme rings, and
my watch, and other triles she might fancy
Nv equipments and arms want you to have.
Send everything else to my mother. Her adj
dress is in my writing desk. Mothcr--M-"
His voice failed, and ho brcathcl a long
breath. A sudden tremor startled the lieu
tenant and, as he looked he saw the last
change ovcrspread the face Of his comradc.
They found him sitting sadly on tho hill,
holding the dead mans head on his knee, and
crying like child. gt z.. = fa
When Lieutenant Booth began to fulGll his
friends requests, a strange and terrible emo
ton was awakened within him. He piously
opened the miniaturc-c case, and beheld the
fair face of Maria Hardness. The letters,
too, bore her signature. The dead captain
had becn, then, her finance }; at once the
best friend and deadly rival of the icuten-
ant.
Honest and sincere, as he wasin all things,
the young man carried out his captains in.
structions to the very letter. He made up a
package of the letters and miniature, aud sent
it to Maria, with note from himself, detail.
ing the whole affair in simple language, but
without any reference to any past acquain-
tanceship between the writer and the lady he
addressed. Inclosed was u list of the cap
tain's minor effects, and request that she
should choose from among thcm, as tho late
owner had desired This note was signed
simply, Very respectfully, yours, Henry D.
Booth, Commanding Company b, -th Cav
airy 't lo boa- sas
u OF course, further particulars were want