The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-02-12

A Thrilling Incident of the War.

FIOm II Worcester Cpys
Nine or ten years ago a citizen of one of the
towns in the Eastern part of Massachusetts was
unjustly suspected of a crime which the statute
cannot eaSilG reach, but which deservedly brings
upon him guilty of it the indignation o upright
men, There were circumstances which gave
color to the suspicion, and the unfortunate gen.
tleman suffered the misery of loss of friends,
businrss and reputation. His sensitive nature
could not face these trials; and he fell into a
condition of body and mind which alarmed his
family. At length, having invested his proper
ty where it could be easily managed by his
wife, he suddenly disappeared, leaving her a
comfortable home and the care of two boys, of
ten and twelve years. The first fear that he had
sought a violent death was partly d~ispel'ed by
the orderly arrangement ot hs affairs, and the
discovery that a daguerreotyp pc of the family
group was missing from the paTlor table. Not
much effort was made to trace the fugitive
When ~afterward, facts were developed which
established his innocence Of theHcrime with
which he was charged. it. was found impossible
to communicate with him.; and as the publica~
ton of the story in several widely circulated
journals failed to recall him, he was generally
supposed to be dead.
AT the outbreak of the present civil war, his
eldest son, now a young man, was induced by
a friend, a Captain in a Western regiment, TO
enlist in his company. He carried himself we'll
through campaigns in Missouri and Tennes>
see, and after the capture of Fort D0nelson
was rewarded with Il First LienteDant'S COM
mission. At the battle of Nj urireesboro he was
wounded in the left arm. but so slightly that
he was still able so rake charge of a squad of
wounded prisoners. While performing TINS
duty he became aware that one of them' a mid
die Gagged man, with a full, heavy beard,
was looking at him with fixed attention. The
day after the fight, as the officer was passing
the soldier gave the military salute, and said:
"a word with you, if you please, sir. You
remind me of and old friend. Are you from
New England ? ~
Il am"
From Massachusetts?
Yes"
And your name!"
The young Lieutenant told his name, ana
why he came to serve in a western regiment.
81 thought So" said the other, and turn~
ing away, he was silent. Although his curios-
ity was much excited by the soldiers manner
the officer forbOre 10 question him, and with
drew. But in the afternoon be took occasion
to renew the conversation, and expressed the
interest awakened in HIM by the incident OF
he morning.
II knew your father . said the prisoner.
is he well?" % 4.
w have not seen Gam for years. we
think he is dead"
Then followed such ar explanation OF the
circumstance of his disappearance AZ the
young man could give. He had never known
the precise nature of the charges against his
father, but was able to 10 AXE it quite clear that
his innocence had been .sinhlfeA~d,
II knew your mother Hlso,' continued ire
soldier. 81 was 10 love with her when che
married your father.
II have a letter from her, dated ten days
ago. My brother is a nine months nan, at
New Orleans. ,
After some desultory conversation, the SOL
der took from under his coat a leathern wallet,
and disclosed a daguerreotype case. The. hasp
was gone, and the corners were rounded by
wear
"Will you oblige me, he sAid by looking at
this alone in your tent - Agitated almost
hey ond control, the young officer took the case
and hurried away. He had seen the picture
before! 1t represented a man and a woman,
sitting side by side, with a boy at the knee of
each.
The romantic story moved the comm ander
of the division to grant the youth a furlough,
and both father aud son reached home last
week.