Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-12
BL UE AND GREY.
A story of the Late War.

Were there hundred veterans in
The Army of the Potomac who never
remarched through Winchester, Vir-
gina?
Ono doubts it when the records Of
war tell him that the town was cap
tured twenty-three times during tho
war. 1t was 'Yank' one month,
johnny the next, and the inhabitants
got so at last that they dared not
pronounce for either sidej they claim
ed to be neutral, and only asked the
soldiers III blue or the soldiers in grey
10 let their chickens alone.
If the last year of the war didn't
sweep it away, and the fire has spared
it yet, thcro stands all old brown
farmhouse with front. yard filled
with cherry trees, and lot of mul-
berry trees growing up and shading
the south end of tie house. 1t is a
cozy place for two old whitc-haircd
parents to sit on the front veranda
and rock and doze ia the sunshine
while strong-armed son whistles
sheerily among the growing crops.
saw it TINS once, aud saw it af-
forwards when the storm of war
swept over and around it, staining
the green grass to n red, and when
passionate men and frey horses
swept through the fields and dashed
at each other as the black smoke
lifted for moment.
One day i'll the spring of 1862, the
dispatches said that the Coufederates
had been driven out of Winchester
and the Union forces held possession.
was not with the victorious party ;
bu: a few days after when the Con-
fcderates came back SO close that they
held half of the town and the Union
forces the other half, / went down
with half q regiment of calvary and
u few bat.atlions of infantry to hold
the ground.
Army operations had hardly com
mence.i for the spring, and the Con.
federates were determined to hold
the line of communication open q!
long as possible. Ihad heavy back
ing few miles away, and knowing
this, the Confederatcs only cared tt
cep me from advancing further than
Winchester for the time being.
We had our pickets as thick n
bees in the northern suburbs of tn,
town, but the main force was bacl
on the road, near the old farm house
where the ground offered better ad
vGntages ill case Of an attack. W.
had been in camp less than a da!
when asccrtaincd that the farmer
name was Hastings, and that he had
one of the handsomest daughters il
all Virginia. lie asked for proper
ty guard around his farm and seem,
that the guard was properly posted
| had occasion to enter the house.
There wasn't that bitterness thel
which came i'll after years, and VI,
could speak freely without fear .
oftcnse. Tho farmer was old All,
? weak and when l found out tha
lie was firm believer in secession
and rebellion, had no hot words t,
give i'll reply. Where should one lool
/. for Southern feeling if not in tn
houses of Southerncrs
Vie wife was old and feeble an.
the son away in Richmond, and i
was natural enough that shoul'
make up my mind to stand betwecl
beautiful Kate Hastings and the in
convenienees of war rs much as
could. l don't think l Violated au
5 of the rules and regulations when
promised the family that their prop
I, eYty should be preserved from raid
ers and their personal libertie
abridged only So far as the safety Q
: my command required. Of course,
could not allow them to be passin
back and forth between the lines, bu
: they should he free to move in an
other direction.
tell you right here that I neve
saw more charming, lovely woma
than Kate Hastings. lost IN
heart the moment l saw her, us All
other man would. But l was not 8
idiotic as to believe that had onl
]. To say tho word to make her my wit,
indeed, doubted from the first tha
should ever win her.
81 trust that We shall all b
friends" she swectly said, when
was about to leave the house. at
s s q cruel war, deprecated by all for i,
wounds and griefs, aud civilties frol
captors to captives will always /
i, appreciated"
There was an invitation to ca
whenever had the opportunity, bl
r. there was that modesty and dignu
in tire lady's look aud bearing Wine
L made her anything but a love-sic
maiden to be easily won.
Well, We pitched our camp; ha
camp routine; changed pickets; ski
III miahod With tho Coufederatea, a