Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-12-10
NUMBER SO.
MlistsIIann.
A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

B. +. Taylor in one of his letters to
the Chicago Journal from the Cumber-
land relates the following incident
When love for the old flag does ex-
list in Dixie it is clear, warm and earn
est. 1t gushes out sometimes in the
most unexpected places, like a spring
in the desert, and many time have
Federal prisoners been startled into
tears at finding a loyal heart beating
close beside them when they had only
looked for taunt and treason. Chap
ters might be wrtten-and perhaps
have been-of illustrative incident.
An officer of an Ohio regiment has
just told me one that will be worth re-
cording
A body of Federal prisoners had
reached Rome en- route for Richmond.
Weary, famished, thirsting, they were
herdcd like cattle in the street under
the burning sun, public show. 1t
was gala day in that modern Rome.
The women magnifcently arrayed
came out and pelted them with balls of
cotton, and with such sneers and
taunts as 80 you have come to Rome,
have you, you Yankees? How do you
like your welcome ?"-and then more
cotton and more words. The crowds
and the hours came and went but the
mockery did not interrnit, and our
poor fellows were half out of heart.
My informant, Major p, faint and ill,
had stepped back pace or two and
leaned against post. when he was
lightly touched upon the arm. As he
looked around mentally nerving him.
self for some more ingenius insult, a
fine looking, well dressed boy of twelve
stood at his elbow, his frank face turn
ed up to the Majors. "And he, too ?"
thought the officer.
With furtive glance at the rebel
guard, who stood with his back to them,
the lad, pulling the Majors skirt and
catching his breath, boy fashion, said,
" Are you from New England ?" 81
was born in Massachusetts, was the
reply. So was my mother" returned
the boy, Frightening up "she was a
New England girl, and she was what
you call school ma'am,' up North
she married my father and I'm their
boy, but how she does love New Eng
land and the Yankees and the old Uni
ted States, and so do | 7"
The Major was touched, as we'll he
might be, and his heart warmed to the
boy as to young brother, and he took
out his knife, severed button from
his coat and handed him for remem-
brance. "Oh, l've got half a dozen
just like it. See here !" and he took
from his pocket little string Of them,
gifts Of other boys in blue.
My mother would like to see vou,n
he added, land I'll go and tell her" #
=" What are you doing here 2" growl-
ed the guard, suddenly wheeling
around upon him, and the boy slipped
away into the crowd and was gone.
Not more than half an hour elapsed
before lovely lady, accompanied by
the little patriot, passed slowly down
the sidewalk next to the curb stone.
She did not pause, she did not speak
If she smiled at all it was family, but
she handed TO one and another of the
prisoners Bank notes as she went. As
they neared the Major, the boy gave
him a significant look as much as to
say, that's my New England mother"
The eyes of the elegant lady and the
poor weary officer met for an instant,
and she passed away like vision,
out of sight.