The national Republican., 1862-02-05
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
YxpxlAI rllserrzg Ar aIcnHoND.
LOVE Ar sfoHr AND WITHOUT sroHr. =


f6yE AT ssoHr AND WITHOUT sIGHr. -
Corporal Merrill, in his letters to the hocn-
ester Express, relates The following romantic
etory: ....rsIgr,Y ...sjTg 81
Ibsve before stated that some Of che private
soldiers, from the upper rooms, were employed
in the officers quarters, 9 service which they
gladly accepted, as afording superior ratious.
Among these was Corporal Nh, Of New
York, young man Of wealthy parentage, Of
attractive manners, good Intellectual sDdow-
menb-and withal !" handsome a. Apollo"
At the request of some Of the officers, he was
occasionally permitted 10 visit the lower foor,
aud upon one occasion was permitted to leave
the prison on parole, for the purpose Of pur-
chasing supplies. While thus passing through
one Of the main thoroughfares, Nh was
accosted by little girl, who presented him
with bouquet, at the same time pointing to q
young lady on the opposite side o. tne street
as the donor. The corporal acknowledged the
gift BY polite bow, and proceeded upon his
mission. The lady, apparently fascinated, fol-
lowed him at distance 10 his prison, and as
he entered 1t she reciprocated his bow, and
lcisurely walked away. h.r.
For some inexpllcsble cause the Corporal
was not again permitted to 60 out, and negro
i should have mentioned that quite number
Of servants were in prison-was dispatched in
his stead. The negro had not proceeded far
when be was met BY the young lady referred
oped In Q package with which he returned TO
the officers quarters, and delivered to Corporal
Nh. It was found to contain new suit Of
clothes, and upon one garment was pinned Q
small card, neatly inscribed with the name Of
his benefactress-
Only this, and nothing more"
Corporal Nh instantly addressed himself
to the task Of epistolary composition, In which
he gracefully acknowledged his receipt of the
gift, and expressed his heartfelt thanks. This
was delivered by the negro on the day follow
ing, and he returned with u package containing
number Of pockst-handkcrchieis, socks and
shirts! -...
As In the first instance, the only communion
tion which accompanied the gift was the donors
card. The Corporal again acknowledged his
obligations by polite note, which was duly
delivered through the same medium. =
Thencefofth the Corporal was In daily re-
ceipt Of the choicest dainties, and Q regular
epistOlary correspondence was carried on until
the day Of bis release, which occurred ON the
Sd Of January. A matrimonial engagement
had been made during the interval, with the
understanding that the parties would meet In
Baltimore on the lst Of March next. ...
have omitted to state that the Corporal had
been sent back to his old quarters, but having
ascertained that his fair indnoratd daily prom
cnaded within view Of the officers quarters, he
obtained employment as cook, and was there
after uufailingly at his post TO reciprocate tn.
loving smiles OF his betrothed.
She had sent him her daguerreotype, which
he frequently exhibited to me. 1t was Q lovely
image, and one that would have required no
collateral inducemeDt to carry captive the
most frigid and lsthargic fancy. I ltarned that
she was Of wealthy family, and Of as good
blood as was 70 be found among the +. F. We,
aud her letters, i was assured, evinoed that she
was no less intelligent and refined.
When the glad tidiDgs Of our release came,
ethe name Of Corporal n was found In the
list. The intelligence was quickly conveyed
10 his yearnlng admirer. We saw nothing oi
her, however, "a We marched through the
streets Of Richmond, though the Corporsl's
longing vision was strained at every animate
object = lr....
But when halt was ordered, fine car.
iiage, driven bys negro, suddenly made its
appearance, and halted ut short distance
from our ranks. A lady descended there
was brief, but earnest colloquy among the
Confederate officers OF our guar1, and the next
moment the enraptured twain Corporal Nm
and his affilnced) were face to face A few
words, the first they had ever exchanged in
person, were exchanged in subdued, yet melt
ing tones; their faces were for y moment
lighted, as with Hame-the engagement was
sacredly renewed-there was Iervent, thrill
ing pressure OF their hands, and they separated
A circumstance Is connected with the da.
guerreOtype above referred TO which deserve.
passing notice. Before 1t left the prison the
picture was taken from the case and email
slip Of paper, closely written, and addressed to
General Mcclellan, was deposited therein and
the dsguerreotype then replaced. 1t was safe.
ly delivered to the Commander in Chief, q
meeting OF the Cabinet was called, and the day
following there was leak stopped-a myste.
rous leak, from high official circles, and which
had inestimably benefited the rebels for many
months.