The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-10-30
ALBANY. OREGON SATURDAY. OCTOBER 80. 1869.

assault on our right wing of the army
before Richmond.
In the guard house again p he said,
speaking to the orderly, who had just
submitted his report. There was regret
as we'll as discouragement in his voice p
q Wfat are we to do with the MANI"
You will have to order severe pun
ishment Simple confinement in the
guard house is of no us se."
"He has in him all the elements of
good soldier" remar ked the officer.
ssNo one goes through the manual bet
ter. He's perfectly drilled is quick,
steady and brave. At Williamsburg he
fought like lion. I cannot forget that
to his prompt courage owe my life.
No-no-not severe punishment. We
must bear with him a little longer
What is his offense now z"
He was away at rollcall and his
reportiof himself was unsatisfactory. The
man is restless and brdoding; and some
times so ill-natured as to make trouble
with his comrades"
The officer sat in thought for some
time. He was about speaking when
sergeant came in with letters, mail hav
ing been received. In running his eyes
over them, the officer noticed two directed
to Thomas Rogers, the soldier reported
as in the guard house. He held them
In his hand for moment, and then laid
them aside with his own letters.
''Let me see you in half an hour"
he said to the orderly. "We must do
something to reform this man. There is
good in him, if We only discover the
way to make it active
The orderly retired and the officer be-
came occupied with his letters. After
getting through with them, word was
passed to have Rogers brought to him.
He came, under guard, but the guard
was dismissed, and the man was alone
with the officer, who regarded him more
in pity than in anger. The soldier was a
young man, not over twenty years of age,
of slender form, compactly built, and
| muscular. Even under disgrace, there
was manly selfpoise about him that did
not escape the officers notice.
.Under arrest again! What have
you to say for yourseify'
The soldier did not answer, but a
look, half dogged, half defiant, was visi
BILE in his face.
Il shall have to order severe punish
ment."
There was no reply, only very Sigh
change in the altitude and expression o
the countenance that indicated bracing
of mind and nerve for more endurance
IS When did you hear from home p
asked the officer, who did not remember
to have seen letter addressed to Rog
ers until the receipt of that days mail
g Not for long time, was answered
with apparent surprise at so unexpected
a question.
4 .sHere are two letters to your ad
dress And the officer who had the
letters in his hand, held them toward the
soldier, who started with strange lool
of surprise and be ewilderment, and re
ceiving them with a hand that trcmblec
visibly.
"Sit down and read them," said th
officer, pointing to a camp-stool. Th
man sat down, showing considerable ex
citement, and, after looking curiously a
the delicatelv written prescription, h
opened one of the letters, and glanced
through hurriedly! The officers gaz
was on him, and he read in his counter
ance the rapid play of various emotions
Then he opened the second letter, whlcl
was read twice. As he finished it, h
drew his hand hastily across his eyes.
" From home" queried the officer.
The young soldier stood up, giving tn
usual sign of respect, as he answered i
his face was graver and paler, and tina
all the late look of dogged defiance ha
faded out
:" And now, Rogers, what have to sa
for yourself7 Win you drive us to ST
we're punishment You know as well a
do, that discipline must be enforced.
There was remonstrance, not anger,
the officers voice.
"Only this" answered the soldie
humbly, yet in, a firm voice. " hay
done wrong and am sorry. Forgive m,
, and if l break rule of the service agai
: shoot me"
g Spoken like a man and soldier
L will trust you, Rogers" said the off
Ger, and, dismissing the guard, he sci
him to duty.
,, Two days afterwards came that owe
whelming onslaught ON our right winl
and on the next day the terrible confll
! at Gaines Mills Among the coole
and bravest in all the fierce battles tn
followed, and among the most endurin
in the long nights of retreat, was your
,, Rogers. He was with that body of i
; fantry which lay at the bottom of Ma
!, vern Hill, under our death dealing ba
teries, the fire fro IA which staggered ar
> then drove back the rebel masses, who
: desperate courage in that maddest of a
: saults, was worthy of better caus
: Twice during this series of battles,
. once at Williamsburg, had Rogers, risl
= ing his own life, saved that of his captai
4 and in several of the conflicts he h;
: shown such GOODNESS and courage tn
= positions were saved, which but for II
: infusion of his spirit in his comrads
+ would have been lost.
One day, about three weeks after t
e letters had been written to Thorn
l, Rogers, the young lady, whom we ha
,r called Annie, received reply from t
soldier. dated su In CamD. near Har