Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-05-25
Interesting Story Of the War.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.


family, the history Of which forms
something so romantic as to consti-
tute most interesting story:
In the summer of 1859 Charles Ge-
rouX became graduate of a college
in the southern part Of this State
He was the descendant Of an ariSto-
cratic family who lived in Louisiana,
and to be brief, he was then full en-
bodiment of the ~chivaIry," just hav-
ing entered his majority While at
tending college he had formed the ac-
quaintance Of Clara c.. who at
tended a college for Young ladies in
this city, which acquaintance ripened
into attachment and love, and, Just be
fore the breaking out Of the rebellion.
they were married, II d removed
South. Miss e. was was an or
phan, possessed Of considerable
property, which was held in trust by
her uncle, Southernminister. who had
raised her from infancy, ana personal
ly superintended her education. In
addition to the endOWmentS of a col
legiatc education. she was possessed
oi Il strong character, bordering on
the masculine, but tempered with a
sweetness and miIdness not often com
bined in the same person. She was
mt once handsome and wonanlv
Within Il year after their marriage
and settlement in the South. came the
fierce, wild blasts of war from Sum
ter's parapet, and there was none more
ready to enter the deadly fray than
Charles GerouX. His political tutors
were practical secessioni5ts, and he
entered upon the war with a ieryor
and zeal to command the admiration
of his friends, and which secured to
him a Majors commission. His wife
opposed his mad scheme with all the
power of a woman's cloquence. but to
no avail. She openly eSpoused the
cause Of the Union, and steadlastly
refused to cooperate with her new
friends and neighbors. Notwithstand
ing her love for the old FLAG, and op
en- UniOnism, her husband loved her
and while her husband was at home
the ncighbors respected her. Gerou>
invested all his ready property, whicl
included his wiie's property, in con
federate bonds, placed them in heI
hands, gave her a kiss for a shor
! farewell, assuring her that the wa
would soon be over, and, marchin!
at the head of victorious column o
his cOuntry's defenders, she would b'
proud to welcome him. After his de
parture, her treatment by his relative
and neighbors became almost intoIe
rable, because of her hatred of seces
sion.
After two years of service in th
: Confederate army, he was captured
prisoner, by the victorious Sherman
!. in his march to Atlanta, and sent t
Camp Douglass.
This was good news to his wife
who could no longer endure the pei
secutions she received at the Soutl
and she resolved to make her wa
= North and reiein him in his priso
home, and if she could not secure hi
pardon, to at least stay near him.
Her confederate bonds were wortl
less, and she was penniless. Sh
q. made her way to the Mississippi III
), er and took passage on the i'll fate
7 steamer SuItana for the North; sh
5, sold some jeweiry for money sufficieI
y, !, to carry her to Chicago. Arriving +;
S. Memphis, her child was taken very il
and by the advice Of the captain
} the Sultana, she remained there to s
,e cure medical aid for the child. Wit
p in twenty four hours thereafter tt
70 boiler of the Sultana exploded. al
twelve hundred lives were lost.
Geroux Jared i'll at ease in Can
% Douglas, and made many stratagen
to escape. He finally succeeded
Of bribing a raw sentinel to let him pas
and to avoid pursuit, resort to d
ception became necessary. A col
It rade Of his was on the point Of deaf
His mess dressed the dead soldier
the Majors uniform and convey
him to the dead house, and gave |
IL name as Major Chas Geroux, Sd Lc
% % isiana Regiment, G. S. A. The ne
nd morning the body was taken aw
in in and buried, and the rank, name, re
II ment, and place OF burial, were dl
he he recorded in the register of Camp d.
3D. glas dead, by G. H. Jordan, the
nr- dertaker for the Government at {
by cago. That night Geroux escaped.
p His absence created no inquiry, as
was reported dead. For the purp'