The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-02-06
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, SATURDAY MORNING, FEB. g. 1864.

George Washington corvette, on the Soutn-
American station. We were lying In the La
Plata, and some Of the officers. who had been
on shore, and had just Joined again, were en-
lures in riding the half.wild horses Of Buenos
Ayres Nolan was ut table, and was In IN
unusual bright and tslkative mood. Some
story Of tumble reminded him Of an advcn.
tnre OF his own, when he was catching Wild
horses in Texas with his brother Stephen, at q
time when he must have been quite o boy. He
told the story with good deal Of spirit,-so
much 30, that the silence which often follows Q
good story hung over thestable for IN instant,
to be broken by Nolan himself For he asked,
perfectly unconsciously,-
"Pray, what has become Of Texas! After
the MeIicans had got their independence, l
thought that the province of Texas would come
forward very fast. 1t Is really one OF the nm
est regions on earth; It is the Italy OF this con;
tinent. But have not seen or heard word
Of Texas for near twenty years."
There were two Texan officers at the table
The reason he had never heard OF Texas Was
that Texas and her affairs had been painfully
cut out OF hi: snSe Go husin nsad q, Msn
duras and Tamaulipas, and, till quite lately. OF
California, this virgin province, In which
his brother had travelled so far, and | believe,
had died, had ceased to be to him. Waters and
Williams, the two Texas men, looked grimly at
each other, and tried not to laugh. Edward
Morris had his attention attracted by the third
link In the chain Of the captains chandelier
Waters was seized with convulsion of sneeI-
ing. Nolan himself saw that something was to
pay, he did not know what. And l, as master
OF the feast, had to say
"Texas Is out of the map, Mr.. Nolan. Have
you seen Captain Backs curious account OF
Sir Thomaa Rne,a WelcOmep
After that cruise never saw Nolan again.
wrote to him ut least twice year, for In that
voyage we became even confdcntially intimate;
but he never wrote to me. The other men tell
me that In those fifteen years he aged very fast,
rs we'll he might indeed, but that he was still
the same gentle, uncomplaining. silent sufferer
that he ever was, bearing as best ne could his
sef-appointed punishment-rathcr less social,
perhaps, with new men whom he did not know,
but more anxious, apparently, than ever to
serve aud befriend and teach the boys, some OF
whom fairly seemed to worship him. And now
Il seems the old fellow Is dead. He has found
u home at last, and country.
Since writing this, and while considering
whether or no would print 1t, rs warning
to the young Nolans and vallandighams aud
Tatnalls Of to-day Of what 1t is to throw away
n country, have received from Danforth, who
is on board the Levant, n letter which gave an
account Of Nolan's last hours. II removes all
my doubts about telling this story.
TO understand the first words of the letter.
the non- professional reader should remember
that after 1917 the position of every offer who
had Nolan In charge was one OF the greatest
delicacy. The Government had failed to renew
the order Of 1907 regarding him. What was q
man to dot Shouli he let him 60! What,
then, II he were called to account by the De-
part,nent for violating the order Of ls07!-
Should he keep himi What, then, II Nolan
should be liberated some day, and should bring
an action for false Imprisonment or kidnapping
against every man who had him in charge!
urged and press d this upon Southard, and
have reason to think that other officers did the
same thing. But the Secretary always said rs
they 80 often do Mt Washington, that there
were no special orders to give, and that we
must act on our own Judgment. That means,
"If you succeed, you will be sustained; II you
fail, you will be disayowed." Well, Us Dam
forth says, all that Is over now, though do
not know but | expose myself to criminal
prosecution on the evidence Of the very reyea-
lion am making. Here is the letter -
"LEvAST, 90 2 s., and 1909 w.
DEAR FRED IL try to find heart and life to
tell you that II Is all over with dear old Nolan.
have been with him on this voyage more than
ever was, and can understand wholly now
the way In which you used to speak Of the dear
old fellow. could see that he was not strong.
but had no idea the end was 80 near. The
doctor had been watching him very carefully,
and yesterday morning came to me and told
me that Nolan was not so we'll, and had not
left his state-room.-a thing never remember
before. lie had let tho doctor come and sec
him as he lay there, e,-the first time the doctor
had been In the state.room,.. he said he
should like to see me. Oh, dear do you re
member the mysteries we boys used to invent
about his room, in the old Intrepid days!-
Well, went in. and there, to be sure, the poor
fellow lay in his berth, smiling pleasantly as he
gave me his hand, but looking very frnil.
could not help glance round, which showed
me what little shrine he had made Of the box
he was lying In. The stars and stripes were
triced up above and around picture OF WASH
ington, and he had painted majestic eagle,
with lightnings blazing from his beak and iis
foot just clasping the whole globe, which his
wings overshadowed. The dear old boy saw
my glance, and said with sad smile, Here,
you see, I have q country!' And then he
pointed to the foot Of his bed, where had not
seen before great map Of the United States, as
he had drawn Il from memory, and which he
hal there to look upon as he lay. Quaint,
queer old names were on Il, In large letters =
Indiana Territory Mississippi Territory
and Louisiana Territory as suppose our ia
theirs learned such things but the old fellow
had patched In Texas, too he had carried his
western boundary oil the way to hs the raeihc'
"'Oh, Danforth,' he said, Il know am dy.
ing. cauuot get home. Surely you will tell
me something now stop stop! Do not
speak till say what am sure you know, that
there Is not in this ship, that there Is not'in
America, bless her IA more loyal man
than /, There cannot be man who loves the
old fag as do, or prays for II rs do. or hopes
for Il as do. There are thirty.four stars In IT
now, Dsuforth, thank God for that, though
I do not know what their names are. There
has never been one taken away: thank God
for that. know by that, that there has never
been any successful Burr. Oh, Danforth, Dan;
FORTH he sighed out. how like wretched
nights dream boys idea Of personal fame or
Of separate sovereignty seems, when one looks
back ON Il after such life rs mine But tell
me,-tell me something,-tell me everything,
Danforth, before die
Bingham. I swear to you that felt like o
monster that had not told him everything be-
fore. Danger or no danger. dellcscy or no del
icacy, who was I. that should have been act
ing the tyrant all this time over this dear,
sainted old man, who had years ago expiated,
in his whole manhood's life, the madness OF q
boys treason! 'Mr. Nolan said /, Il will tell
you everything you ask about. oniy' whero
shall begin
"Oh, the blessed smile that crept over his
white face and he pressed my hand and said,
"God bless you % "Tcll mo their names"
ho said, and he pointed to the stars on the aag
..The last know 10 Ohio. My father lived In |
Kentucky. But have guessed Michigan and
Indiana and Mississippi was whore Fort
Adams is,-they make twenty. But where arc
your other iourteeni You have not cut up}
any of the old ones, Ihopel" N.5I
Well, that Was not bad text, and told
him the names, Ia as good order % could, |