The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1873-09-10
Good fortune of a Confederate GCRerhl-
A Romance.

A Romance.
:, It would appear as if kind provi.
dcnce had specially interviewed to
protect from poverty, misfortune,
and the other ills of life, those true
and gallant officers who risked all
in the struggle FOR the independence
of tho Southern States. We know
few Of them who havo not improved
their worldly condition since the war,
or who arc not, il better ciroum.
stances than they were previous to
that event. 1t is an agreeable rctlco-
.tion that, in this as ih other acts Of
devotion to duty, and patriotism,
honesty has proved The best policy.
The instance of General S. B.
.Buckncr is striking and, cheerful
one. General Buckner lived in q
State which never secedod, and ma
jority Of its people were opposed to
the movement. All his own and his
%ife'ss property must be left to the
tender mercies of the enemy. in case
hc should join the Confcderatcs. It
was magnificent property, the largo
income Of which enabled the General
to live in a style suited to his refined
and elegant tastes. And yet all this
ho risked, when, impelled by his
symrathies and convictions, he aban-
dvrod his beautiful home, joined tho
cunfcdcrates and fought through the
war with distinguished gallantry and
,nnflinchiug fidelity. At the close Of
tho war General Buckner found him.
self stripped Of every hing.
locating in New Orleans, he set to
work first as 2 journalist on the
Crescent, and afterwards engaged in
the business of life insurance, wherein
10 achieved brilliant success. He
then took measures to recover his
property in Kentucky and his wife's
property in Chicago. There were
serious obstaol les to the SUCCESS of
these efforts. Large suits had been
brought. agaipot him for damages in
Aicted by t he Confederate forces un-
der his command. On these Suits his
prcbcrty had bcen attached and
much of it sold. 1t was q severe,
tedious, and expensive litigation in
which he became involved; but his
efforts wore finally crowned with vic.
tory. His property was restored to
him, and the clai ms. for damages
against him we're all defeated.
Next he instituted proceedings. to
recover his wife's PROPERTY. And
here was developed an: intensely in
teresting romance. 6Irs. Buckncy
had, before joining Eer husba and 10 the
Confederacy, conveyed her property
to her brother, under deed Of trust.
The obligation rested upon his honor
to preserve and reconvcy the proper.
ty to her after the war. In the pro-.
gress of the war this brother married
and accepted commission in the
Federal service. Further to complis
cate affairs, he became father. In
case he should prove faithless to his
obligation to his sister, this child
would inherit large fortune.
Here was great teinptation to Che
young man whose natural affections
for his sister were antagonized by
his ardent hostility to the cause with
which she was identified, and to Iii
patcrnal instincts and affections. I,
was for him alone to determine
whether this large property should
accrue to the wifo of rebel, in pre-.
ference to his own offspring. Honor
and brotherly affection, It is true
demanded a certain course :; but how
rarely in these selfish and materials
tic times, do these principles control
the acts Of men !!
This young man however, rsoognis
cd their obligation, and on the eve o.
battle he made his will reconvcyinf
to his sister the property which Sit
had confided to him. After making
one of those Wills he went forth wit!
the intrepidity of man conscious O
ON act of high self coItrol, to enooun
ter the enemy, and met tho fate of
brave soldier at the battle of 3hurps
burg. The General Of his corn
knew of the will he had made. Al
honor to him that he kept the sccre
and, after the war, communicated tt
his old comrado in arms, his recent
foe, but now his friend and brother
tho facts, and gave evory aid to re
cover the instrument This wa
General Burnside.
BY his generous assistance, ant
through the indefatigablc devotion
and energies of one Of General Buck
ncr's staff, the gallant and gifte'
Colonel Wooley, of Lexington, Ken
tucky, tho testamentary proofs wer
procured and the title of Mrs. Buck
ncr to her patrimony was fully estab
lishod, and aftor legal contest sh
was roinvestcd with the same, an'
now is in full undisturbod enjoymen
of a magnificent cstate-and no coupl
ever more justly meritod this happ
fortune, this victory over tho mos
formidable difficulties and peril
which could arise in tho path of dut
and honor, but which novor for