Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-24

AOu Vht hnNO W OIu6T u btV6Tb
Simple confinement In the guard-house Is of
no use." aD 0,.,... ,.
"He has In him oil the elements of a good
soldier" remarked the officer. "No one goes
through the manual better. He is perfectly
drilled; Is quick, steady, and brave. At VIII
liamsburg he fought like lion. can not for
get, that to his prompt courage, owe my life.
No--no--not severe punishment. We must
bear with bim little longer. What 10 his Of.
feuse roW7" 100 'a t.F..-
"He was away at roll-call, and bis report of
himself is unsatisfactory. The man is restive
and broodipg; and sometimes 60 ill-uatured az
to make trouble with his comrades,n irr
The officer sat in thought for some time, He
was about speaking, when O sergeant came in
with letters,a mail having arrived To running
his eye over tLem, the officer noticed two direct
ed to Thomas Rogers, the soldier repolted as in
the guard-house. He held them for a moment
in his hand, and then laid them aside gith ala
own letters.
'Let me see you In half an hour" he said
to the orderly. eve must do something for this
man. There is good in him, If we can only
discover the way to make IL active"
The orderly retired, and the officer became
occupied with his letters. After getting
through with them, word was passed to have
Rogers brought before him. He came, under
guard, but the guard was dismissed, and Che
man was alone with the officer, who regarded
him more in pity than in anger. The soldier
was young man. not over twenty years of age;
OF slender form, but compactly built, and mus.
cular. Eve1 under disgrace, there was man.
ly self pOise about him that did not escape the
officers notice.
"Under arrest again! What have you to cav
for yourself?" The officer tried to be stern,
and to speak with, severity.
The soldier did not answer; but q look, half
logged, half defiant, was visible in his face.
~ shall have to order severe punishment"
There was no reply; only slight cbauge in
attitude and expression Of countenance, that
Indicted braciDg Of mind and nerve for more
endurance.
"Wben did you hear from homer" asked the
officer, who did not remember to have seen a
letter addressed to Rogers until the receipt of
that days mail.
"Not for long time," was answered, and
with apparent surprise at go unexpected ques-
tion.
"Here are two letters to your address,"
And the officer who had the letters in his hands,
held them toward the soldier, who started,
with a strange look of surprise and bewilder-
ment; and received them with hand that trem-
bled visibly.
"Sit down and read them," said the officer,
pointing to camp STOOL The man sat down,
showing considerable excitement, and, after
looking cautiously at the delicately written su-
prescription, opened one of the letters and
glanced it through hurriedly. The officers
gaze was on him, and he read in his counter.
ance the rapid play of various emotions Then
he opened the second letter, which was read
twice. As he finished it, he drew hie hand
hastily across bis eyes.
"From homer" queried the officer.
The young soldier stood up, giving the sign
of respect, as he answered in tho affirmative
The officer noticed that his face was grayer
and pRIer, and that all the late look Of dogged
defiance had faded out.
"And now, Rogers, what have you to say for
y0urself7" VIII you drive us to severe pun
ishmeDt2 You know, as we'll as l do, that dis.
cipline must be enforced" There was remon-
STRANGE, not anger, In the officers voice.
"Only this" answered the soldier, humbly,
yet in firm voice, "I have done wrong, and
am sorry. Forgive me; and If | break rule
of the service again, shoot me e.. r,. .n
"Spoken like o man and soldier will
trust you, Rogers" said the officer; and dis
missing the guard, he sent him to duty.
| Two days afterwsrd came that overwhelm-
ing assault upon our right wing, and on the
next day the terrible conflict of Gains's Mills.
Among the coolest and bravest in all the fierce
battles that followed, and among the most en-
during in the long nights of retreat, was young
Rogers. He was with that body Of infantry
which lay OF the bottom of Malvern Hill under
our death. dealing batteries, the fire from which
staggered and drove back the rebel masses,
whose desperate courage in that maddest OF all
assaults, was worthy OF better cause. Twice
during this series OF battles, as once at Will
liamsburg, had Rogers, risking his own life,
saved that Of his captain, and in several OF
the conflicts he had shown such coolless and
courage that positions were saved which, but
for the infusion OF his spirit into his comrades,
would have been lost.
One day, about three weeks after the letters
were wrisien to Thomas Rogers, the young
lady whom we have called Annie, received a
reply from the soldier, dated, "In Camp, near
Harrison's Landing" IL ran thue:
"a good angel must have put 1t into your
head to send me that letter, for 1t came lust In
time 10 save me. was 10 the ggard-house for
neglect of duty and disobedience Of orders. /
was reckless and desperate. All my comrades
were getting word from home-letters come to
them by every mail-but no one wrote 10 me,
or seemed to care for me. So lost respect for
myself, grew sour, unhappy, aud Indifferent to
duty. But your kind words-your talk sbout
the past time when you were my teacher-your
strong appeal to my better nature your calm,
true, sweet sentences, dear lady, stirred my
heart with new feelings, aud filled my eyes with
tears. was before my Captain, in disgrace,
when your letter was placed in my hands. He
waited for me TO read it; saw that | was touch
ed, and like o true man as he is, forgave my
offenee. Then and there l resolved 60 die
sooner than swerve hair 's.bresdth from duty.
/ have been In fearful battles since, but God has
kept me from harm, To-day, for bravery and
faithful service in these battles, l have been
made Second Lieutenant. Thanks, thanks TO
you, kind, good friend! You have saved one
who came nign being lost!"
a Fair readers, is there not, In some far away
camp, soldier who would be made better or
happier through a letter from your hand7
Think! If there s write to him. Brothers,
sisters, fathers, mothers, write ofen to the SOL
diers, who have gone out from your homes.
They are 10 the midst OF temptation, trials,
sufferings and privatons, and your words OF
love, your tenderly manifested Interest, Jour
exhortationa to courage and duty, cannot fail
to do them good. 5y 9,oDft4
More ssUnanimous,' Resolutions.
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