Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-03-12

grapn she was TO read. Sie read as
follows: - Dr.. .... #.E .....
"Capt. Preston, after being expos
ed to a mercless fire Of four consecu-
tive hours, was one of the last to
swim the river. He had made his
way down the bluff, and was assist
ing some of his wounded comrades,
| when the enemy came pouring down
upon him. He was surrounded, and
would have been slain, but for the he
roic bravery and devotion of a SER
geant of his company This sergeant,
who's name was Walter Evermond,
seeing the captain in danger, sprang
to his side, and with his revolver shot
down three men who were pressing
upon him. When they gained the
water Capt. Preston had received a
wound in the shoulder which rendered
it impossible for him to swim but
Evermond did not forsake him. The
noble fellow clung to his captain like a
brother, and succeeded in getting him
safely over the river. We are happy
to state that Capt. Preston's wound is
not dangerous"
90 Heaven bless that noble SER
geant calculated Nellie, as she fin
ished reading the account. .g
And her father joined her with his
whole soul.
Later in the evening a curious
thought worked its way into Nellie
Prestons mind. She wished the man
who had saved her brothers life SO
bravely had been only corporal
And then she wondered where that
fair haired, bright eyed soldier was
whom she had kissed in the depot
She wished that she knew bis name
1t would be a satisfaction to know how
he Jared. She hoped he was safe
Ere long letter came from George
in which he gave thrilling account ot
the battle. He spoke of Sergeant
Walter Evermond as he would have
spoken of brother " He saved my
life at the risk of his own" he wrote
land but for him you would have M
son living to write this and Nellie
would have no brother" There was
postscrip to the letter, as follows
"P. S.-Walter Evermond has just
received the commission Of Second
Lieutenant.
The Winter wore away, and George
in his letters to his sister, frequently
spoke of Walter Evermond as of a
very dear friend. At length came a
letter with the following passage =
"My dear father and sister, give me
joy. am a Major. and my commits
sion dates from the day of Balls Bluff
My dear friend Evermond is Captain
of my old company and better
soldier does not live and know there
cannot be a truer friend"
Once more the Judge and his daugh
ter were anxious. The til Regiment
was before Yorktown. Then came
the bloody field Of Williamsburg but
George was not called into that battle
At length, however, came the tidings
of another bloody fray, in which our
regiment was engaged. Fair Oaks
The list of the killed and wounded
Jagged but letter from George was
received. He was alive, but badly
wounded. s.. ......
"0ur Colonel was stricken down."
he wrote early in the engagement.
| had been acting as lieutenant.colonel
for some time, and the command de-
volved upon me. was following
the lead of the gallant Howard, when a
bullet passed through my thigh. Capt
Evermond was on the right of the Reg.
imcnt; and | had just time to pass
the command over to him when the
clash of the final charge came. was
faint and dizzy; bat l saw him dash
on at the head of our noble regiment
and the shout of victory struck my
ear as | was borne from the field.
Late at night Capt. Evermond was
borne into our quarters severely
wounded by sabre cut on the should
er. He had hand-tohand conflict
with the enemy over a battery and
he took it, and held it
Three weeks afterwards another let
ter came #a-. .... .rse...-
Dear Nellie, am coming home.
| have a furlough for forty days.
Capt. Evermond is coming with me
/ Our wounds are doing we'll" H
The train arrived at three o'clock in
the afternoon. Major Preston came
from the car on his crutches, and his
father was there to receive him
Nellie had not come down. Big, proud
tears coursed down the old mans face
as he heared the glad shouts that
welcomed his noble boy !; and for a
while his son was monopolized by the
multitude.
/ Where is your friend Evermond?'
asked the Judge, as they moved to,
wards the carriage.
30, he will be with us this evening
He had to stop to see friend on the
way, and come in the next train.
told him our carriage should be on
) hand for him."
A ioyful moment was it for Nellie
Preston when she threw her arms
. around the neck of her returned broth
er. o, she knew how much-how
very much, she loved him. Wha,
numberless questions were asked, and
how eagerly were the answers listen
ed to.
; By and by Nellie asked after Capt
: Evermond.
90" she cried, !" l hope he is no
old and ugly, for l want to love him 7
Not very DID," said George, will
! smile e" and not very ugly. Bu
there is curious circumstance con
: nected with his experience as sol
. dier, which is worth relating. He
J told the story to me with tears in his
, eyes. After the affair at Balls Bluf
we were like brothers. Evermond il
an orphan without father or moth
, er, brother or sister. Tie has splen
did education, which he owes TO al
! old aunt, who intended him for minis
/, ter but his disposition did not leat
! him that way, and he started to stud.
, law. His aunt withdrew her favo
and he was left to struggle alone