Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-28
THE LOST FOUND.
Long Search by a Fayetteville Man
for a SON who Disappeared During
the War.
FayetteTiIIe Express, Nov. %.

Long 6caEch " . GayStASNIAAS NAN
for a SON who Disappeared During
the War.
Fayetteville Express, Nov. &c.
In the year 1868, Alfred II. johnson, Jr.,
a son of Mr.. Alfred II. johnson, of this
place, then a lad about nine years of az e
left his uncle's residence near Winchester,
and went off with a man of the name of
Heidler, who was a Sergeant in the
Federal army. Mr.. johnson was in the
Confederate army at the time, and
Heidler, who appeared TO entertain a
fondeSs for the boy, induced the little fell
low to believe that his father had been
taken prisoner and was then at Chatta-
nOoga, where he would soon have an op-
portUnity OF seeing him. Mr.. johnson
knew nothing of his sons departure until
the close Of the war and, as q matter Of
course, was deeply grieved when he learn
ed the facts. He at once set about
aScertaining his whereabouts, but made
slow progress in obtaining information.
Finally, after writing innumerable letters
and following up closely the slender clue
he had obtained, he traced the boy
TO Dauphin, town in Pennsylvania,
where Heidler resided. He immeciatly
wrote to that individual and obtained a
reply, stating that Alfred had remained
with him some time, but finally left and
was then somewhere in the State Of New
York. Heidler volunteered to make in
qutries, and evidently did, for he soon
gave Mr.. Johnson further intelligence
of his whereabouts. The anxious father
continued the search with Unremitting
industry and received alternately hope
ful and unsatisfactory intelligence, but
utterly failed to obtain the boys exact
address so as to communicate with him.
a few weeks ago the postmaster at Win
chester received a letter from a person in
Binghamton, New York, signing himself
"A. Johnson making inquiries relative
20 the family Of Mr.. Russey, the boys
uncle, which he Immediately turned over
TO that gentleman. 1t was evident, in
view of the writer's questions, that
the letter was from the long lost son, and
certain questions likely to establish his
identity, if correctly answered, were pro-
pounded to him through the postmaster,
and satisfactory replies received. Mr..
johnson then communicated with his son
from whom he bad heard nothing for eleven
long and weary years. A reply was
promptly received, written in clear ana
legible style, and cOuched in language cred
liable alike to the head and heart Of the
writer.
Alfred, who is now twenty-One years of
age, wrote that he had long believed his
father dead, having heard that he was killed
during the war; hence his long silence and
failure to make inquiries concerning him
He inclosed his photograph, which
shows him to. be a remarkably
handsome and intelligent looking
young man whose general appearance in
dictates anything but ill-usage. He j:
learning the printers trade in the Office o.
the Republican, a daily paper published il
Binghampton, and his apprenticeship viii
expire in May next, when he will visit hi:
father. Then, what joyful meeting there
will be between father and son-what a
tender reunion after so many long years o
separation and sorrow.