Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-11-03
Miscellany.
How Federal Major Became EnanOred with a
Texan Widow-A Romantic Story.

Texan Widow-A Romantic Story.
The following amusing episode, as the Sc
Quel will show. lately occurred on trip to
New Orleans, and was related 10 us by a gall
liant Captain of the 9th Army Corps He
says:
'We had very pleasant trip down to the
Crescent City, with some political prisoners
from the Department of the Missouri, and per-
sons who were allowed to pass into the Con-
federate lines to see their relations. look after
their property &c. Among the exies was
Ashton p. Johnston, of st. Louis; Marmaduke,
late Of the Convention; Rev. Father Donnelly,
Of ST. Joseph, and others of less Import
Among the sSvountaries'' We're young maids
and old maids, wives and widows Among
the young maids was one who confdentiGlIg
| told me that she was going to Mobile to be
married. 1t looked to me very much like send
ing supplies to The enemy, bat couldn't help
it, so let her 60. They nearly all came to this
place in charge Of Captain Dwight, Assistant
Inspector General cf the Department of the
Missouri.
In the party was young widow.--" Pretty!'s
| In my judgment she was interesting--when
/ was young and pretty widow not? Being
| young, pretty and widow, is it strange that
/ Young officer TO whose care she was enirust-
! ed should extend to her all the courteses and
attention proper and consistent with his Off
cial position? 1t was not strange; nor was it
strange that, in return for his kindness, she
should confde TO him the tale of her woes
She was from Mexico; her husband had been
conscripted f,om Texas into the rebel army;
had died leaving her the sole proprietress OF
numerous droves Of mustangs and the mother
of two small children, (mosfly boys and girls }
/ Her spirits and her person draped in the habil-
iments of mourning for the length Of time
deemed proper, she resolved to quit the place
where each familiar object reminded her ofthe
time spent in conjugal felicity with the dear
departed one; that one E1gone TO ranch from
which there was no return;'7 so all the nei som
al pl operty, with the exception of some unru-
| ly mustangs, who refused TO be s-cotched7 and
some colored individuals, who, having heard of
| the proclamation, refused 10 be considered per-
sonal property, and wouldn't be E:cotchedn eli
| tier, was converted into Confederate tr-cash,
and the ranch vacated. At Matamoras the
/ Confederate money was exchanged for gold,
and passage secured on Spanish vessel fol
! Havana, which was soon bounding across the
Cuff. Tears were shed. as leaving ones ma
live land there always will be; but it was all
| for the best; residence upon the beautiful IS
land oil Cuba; place in the affections and fam
| ily of the dear relations who anticipated her
coming; quiet walks beneath fragrant orange
groves; the air of that delightful and salubrious
| climate would 60 far in dispelling the gloom
which shrouded her young and ardent soul.
But, alas! for the orange groves and ambrosial
atmosphere, storm arose, the ship was driv-
en- into an inlet off the coast Of Florida, was
taken by our blockading squadron off Key
| West for blockade runner, and sent to New
| York. After an examination the vessel was
released and sent on her way.
! The fair widow, having escaped the dangers
of the sea, resolved not to venture again until
her nerves had gained their wonted hfmness.
Having friends Ia st. Louis, she resolved to
visit that city. Arr wing there, she remained
until the fall Of vicksbuIg and Port Hudson.
and the consequent opening of the Mississippi
| River, when she resolved to attempt HaTana,
| this time Ola New Orleans. Major B---wys
on the boat. The Major, yoa must know, is
| a very gallant man. The ladies', dear crea-
tUres, will fall in love with him. In fact, the
citadel of their affections invariably capitulate
when he layssseige, The Major was introduce
ed to the faawidow by the captain in charge,
and he had soul to sympathiZe with her af-
fiction, SO to his special care she was consign-
ed. 1t was soon a mutual discovery that their
tastes and sympathies were similar. Did be
admire any particular scenery along the shore,
ditto, she. Together they Cu!d pass hours
in some retired place upon The guards of the
boat, in sweet interchange oil thought and sem
timent He bad never met one before for
whom he had formed an attachment SO sincere;
4
ed, felt that she saw il him the realization of
her hopes. In him she saw the only one who
should ever catch the untamed mustangs and
again bring joy to the rancho. Thus did this
enamored pair pass the long hours of the jour-
ney. Arrived In New Orleans, would the Ma
jor be so kind as 10 secure her rooms at the
hotel, and 10 make some inquiries after her I'M
Gle, who resided somewhere 10 the city? OF
course he would. Mine host of the st. Charles
provided the proper apartments, and the wild
ow, duly domciled therein. the Major sailed
forth to make inquiries after Sour uncle," ia
which he vas entirety unsuccessful, not being
able TO find any gentleman oftlat name The
widow felt sad--was disappointed. Her uncle
was formerly a man of wealth and influence,
and she had not calculated upon having any
difficulty in fndind him; bot This cruel war had
changed everything, and then The beautiful eyes
of the FAR and fascinating widow filed with
tears. 1t grew rather embarrassing for the
Major. He was expecting TO meet his vile.
who was waiting in The city for him, having
come around by the Gulf. But the fair clea-
tore, whose hand wasrecliniag upon his shoul-
der, ana whose heaving bosom was beating
against his own, knew nothing of that; she on
" knew, as size said, that in that great city.
among strangers, without the Major, her heart
would break. How benevolent the Majors
intentions may have been, we can only conjec-
~uFes Tor ua-Io0keQ~I0r events Will sometimes
play he deuce with ones arrangements. u
was SO in this c2ses TIE fact was, tile Majors
wife, learning Of his arrival, made inquiries
and ascertainiEg that lie had taken Noe
solved upon pleasant surprise for him. So
with two Of The little Majors in tow, she pro-
ceeded TO No.. Passing an adjoining room
she overheard the voice OF the one sought for
and thinking there must be some mistake ii
The number Of the room, and that where thai
familiar voice was heard, must be the righ
ono, she pushed open the door and entered
Whether the scene " hich met her eye was cal
culated to increase her faith in the consistency
Of her spouse. or otherwise. we leave thoss
who are able 10 JUDGE, 10 decide. We do know
though, that the Majors baggage was Iemoy-
ed to arother part Of he house before many
hours had expired, and that he wa the recip-