Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-26
A A.Romanea of the war.

| q -hOmdQC9 OI IuG w ar
Corporal Merrill. one of the Union pris-
oners recently released from Richmond,
in letter to the Rochester Express, re
lltes the following romantic story:
4 have before stated that some OF the
| private soldiers, from the upper rooms,
were employed in the officers quarters, a
| service which they gladly accepted, as at-
! tording. superior rations. Among those
was Corporal Nh, of New York, a
young man of wealthy parentage, of at
tractive manners, good intellectual en-
dowments-and withal Handsome as A
| polio" At the request of some of theof-
tcers he was occasionally permitted to
| visit the lower floor, and upon one occa-
sion was permitted to leave the prison on
parole, for the purpose of purchasing sup
| plies. While thus passing through one
OF the main thoroughfares, Nh was
accosted by a little girl, who presented
him with a bouquet, at the same time
| pointing to young lady on the opposite
side of the stresk as the donor. The Cor
poral 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
| leisurely walked away
From some inexphcable cause the Cor
poral was not again permitted to 90 out.
and a negro-I should have mentioned
that quite 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 de
veloped in a package with which he re-
turned to the officers quarters, and deliv-
cred to Corporal Nh. 1t was found
to contain new suit of clothes, and upon
one garment was pinned a small card.
neatly inscribed with the name of his'ben-
efactress-
Only this, and nothing more"
Corporal Nh instantly addressed
himself to the task of epistolary compO-
sition, in which he gracefully aclxnowledg-
ed the receipt of the gift, and expressed
heartfelt thanks. This was delivered by
the negro on the day following, and he re-
turned with q package containing a num-
Der of pocket handkerchiefs, socks and
shirts As in the first instance, the only
communication 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 receipt of the
choicest dainties, and regular epistolary
correspondence was carried on until 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
HvOrrld IN, Da1TTr,Oro - IL -cl
March next.
l have omitted TO state that the Corpo-
raj had keen sent back to his old quarters,
but having ascertained that his inanorata
daily promenaded within view of the Off
GERS quarters, he obtained employmentas |
a cook, and was thereafter unfailingly at
his post to reciprocate the loving smiles of
his betrothed. She had sent him her da- !
which he frequently exhibit !
ed to me. 1t was lovely image, and one |
that would have required no collateral
to carry captive the most frig- |
id and lethargic fancy. l learned that
she was of wealthy family, and Of as
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 tohis yearning admirer.
We saw nothing of her, however, as we
through the streets of Richmond, |
though the Corporal's longing vision was
at every animate object. But |
when halt was ordered, fine carriage, |
driven by a negro, suddenly made its ap- |
pearance, and halted at q short distance |
from our ranks. Alady descended-there
vas brief, but earnest colloquy among
he Confederate officers of our guard, and
he next moment the enraptured twain
Corporal Nh and his atfianced) were
ace to face A few words, the first they
,ver exchanged in person, were exchang-
ID in subdued and melting tones; their
aces were for moment lighted up as
With hame-the engagement was sacred
Y renewed-there was feryent, thrilling
of their hands, and they separa-
ed
A circumstance Is connected with the
above referred to which
deserves a passing notice. Before it left
he prison, the picture was taken from the
ase, and small slip of paper closely
rritten, and addressed TO Gen. Mcclellan,
1as deposited therein and the daguerreo-
ype then replaced. 1t was safely deliY-
red to the Chief, meet
ng of the Cabinet was called, and the day l
blowing there was leak stopped-aI
Mysterious leak, from high official circles
nd which had inestimably benefited the
ebels for many months.