American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-01
VOLUME 2.
Tom Patson' s Revenge.


II was about 8 o'clock in the evening,
"a Tom Patson sat near one Of the camp
fires oe his company. Tom was third
sergeant OF company I,-regiment OF
cavalry. The loud laugh and merry soi's
of his comrades resounded on all sides OF
him. but Tom sat with his chin resting
on his hands. as silent as the grave. His
hair fell in black curling masses over his
head and brow, and the lower part of his
face was covered with heavy black
heard He wore an old battered drab
felt hat. and the collar Of a red flannel
shirt was turned out over his jacket.
Long boots. splashed with mud, reached
up to his thigh.
Toms fits of abstraction were of so
common occurrence thatthcy were scarce
" ever noticed by his companions. AT
times he would be the gayest of the say,
aid then in the midst of his hilarity,
cloud would come over his spirits, and
he would not utter word, except when
answering question for hours together.
Every one liked him for he was generous
TO fault. and would share his last crack
or with comrade. Kind though he was
to his friends, still he never was known
n show quarter TO A rebel-he turned a
deaf ear to all appeals 70: mercy.
"Tom's got the blues again" said one
of those near him as he noticed his po-
sition near the FIRE.
"He'll be lively enough when we at
tack the Johnnies in the morning, said
anotner.
"What makes him so down hearted p
asked Il new recruit " He was as full
of fun as he could be for couple of
hours this afternoon; aud then all on
sudden he became as speeches. as stat
ue."
every few of the boys know the real
reason of Toms conduct said the man
who had first spoken. and who was known
as Jack Dwight; $50 I'll tell you. Tom
is a native of New York State; but for
couple of years before the war broke
out he was acting as Il foreman OF large
mandatory in Richmond, Virginia,
where was also employed. While IN
this position, Tom became acquainted
with a young girl named Kate Chester
She was of the same station as Tom, and
he fell in love with her. For some
months everything was as well and Tom
fancied his love was returned. Paul Ar
den, the son of rich planter, now be-
came acquainted with the girl, and she,
dazzled by his wealth, treated Tom with
coolness. | think she really liked Pat
son. and she would have recovered from
her fancy for Arden, ut her parents
forced his suit and forbade Toms visits
| never liked the young planter and as
you may readily suppose, my dislike was
shared by Tom. Arden was too smooth
and polished to suit my taste. lie had
the reputation of being rouej but
Kates parents were so blinded by his
riches that they could not see his faults
"Kate Chester and Paul Arden were
married, and Tom Patson was almost
heart-broken. Almost six months after
the marriage we heard that Paul Arden
had deserted his wife The marriage
was n sham. The minister was tool of
Arden. The disgrace was too much for
Kate to bear and she died saying, with
her last breath, that Tom Patson was
the only one she had ever truly loved.
"When Tom first heard of her death,
he went almost crazy. He would have
killed Arden like a dog if he could have
found him, but the villain, fearing the
consequences of his crime, had sailed for
Europe.
"Fllled with hatred of the South and
its people. Tom gave up his situation and
returned to New York, and accompani-
ed him.
4" A few months after our return the
war broke out, and Tom enlisted in one
of the three months regiments. He was
badly wounded at the first battle of Bull
Run, and was in the hospital for nearly 8
year. When he had fully recovered he
and myself joined this regiment, and as
you know he has risen to be third ser
geant. Arden is now an officer of caval
ry in the rebel army, for Tom and myself
saw him one day in one of our camp.
when he was the bearero of flag of truce
l had considerable trouble in restraining
Tom from executing summary yengeanc,
on the villain at that time. And if eve
they meet in battle, God help Paul Ar
den! Whenever we are on the eve o
battle Tom is always gloomy, for he i
thinkingo of Kate, and the hope of meet
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