The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-10-23
A LOVE STORY OF THE WAR.
Washington Capital ]

Washington Capital
We were sitting in our room az the
Glades Hotel, in Oakland, Md, one day
with u charming lady who had dropped
ia on o visit. One of our windows looked
into that of another room 80 placed by the
projection of the main building that half
Of its interior could DO seen. We were
admiring . little chubby, blue-eyed two
year-old, white as snow, who WAS pulling
a bouquet to pieces and tossing out the
fragments, or clsppipg her little hands
with delign as train went laundering by.
"These rooms" said our fair visitor,
"hsve some very tender associations for
me-"
"Why so 2" we asked.
"WelI," sho answered, during the war
the greater part of the hotel was seized by
the Government as \ hospital, and We
were crowded into few rooms. Ny
sister and l had this. In that room where
that little beauty 10 were two Union off,
GERS, ono sick OF the fever and the other Of
wound. 1t was hard to tell whether
they we're slowly dying or slowly getting
well. l never saw such ghastly skeletons
TO be alive. We were 'sece.h, and not
modest about IL either. but still our hearts
ached for the poor young men, SO III, per-
hsps dying, far from friends and reIa-
lives
al, bothers one to know how this
should be a hospital we said. ut was 70
far removed from active operations
cit was thought" she answered "lhat
the mountain air VI the glades would TO
more favorable to recovery than else-
whore, 30 this WAS made a hospital. One
day one Of these officers dragged himself
to the window and under the impulse OF
the moment, my sister asked If we could
do anything for them, and no ans Yored.
gasping for breath, that n little chicken
soup would save their lives. Chickens
were rare in those days--sn army 10 hard
on poultry. The men will work all night,
after marching during the day, TO secure
a few chickens go that while the hospital
nurses and physicians had an unlimited
supply OF actual luxuries in tho way of
wines, potted meats and canned vogeta.
bles, they were without anything fresh.
We knew where few chickens were hid
IN cellar, by neighbor. We coa1ed
one out oil the owner, and after 4 deal OF
vexatious trouble, for at every turn we
were met by xed bsyonet and an insult,
we got the soup ready and as the guard
In the hall would not permit us TO ap.
proSch our patients, my sister attempted
TO hand the bowl TO the officer In the
window.
just as ho was fsebly reaching for it,
and she stretching herself half out to rive
il to him, harsh, ugly voice below cried
OFT, Look out there-poison.' She nearl '
dropped herself, soup and all. Drawing
back, she hesitated a second, and then she
took the spoon and began eating the broth
oh brother, cried the officer, don't waste
1t in that way-lm not afraid and 30 she
gave him the soup. Ii seemed to revive
them, and they continued steadily 10 i'm.
prove as day after day we supplied them
with chicken broth until the cellar was
empty.
During his time we sat at the window vi
talking; aud we sang to them--sang NV
Maryland and all the Southern songs We
knew, until they were we'll enough e
leave the hospital and return TO duty
They both seemed sorry to 60, and forced
on US q quantity Of hospital stores and
some coffee, which last we needed sadly
Then one gave q ring and the other
breach ~ tokens Of their kind feelings
"And did they never return p weasked
One did not, for, poor fellow, no wal
killed In tho very next battle In which h,
was engaged. His companion wrote u
about II, and tho writer insisted upor
opening correspondence with my sister
and soon his letters grew into love letters
and after time they were engaged.
Nearly q year subsequent 70 this, our
patient got leave Of absence and came or
to be married. lie put up at hotel. and
will you believe it. our own brother, who
was in the confederate service and knew
nothing Of my sisters affair, led band OF
guerillss at night into town and captured
his intended brother-in-lsw from hls bed
This not only deferred the marriage bu,
deprived the young West Pointer Of his
promition, that had been promised for gal.
liant services in the field. 1t was really
sggravating, tor exchanges had almost
ceased, and 1t looked as if the lover. would
have to wait until this cruel war was over
before they could be united.
"You should have appealed to Abra-
ham Lincoln to give a married brlgadier
for an unmarried lieutenant"
1--WE did better. Procuring passos. we
went through the lines and sppssled TO
jeff Davis. jeff said he would put my
brothers prisoner in his sisters keeping.
They have been happily married these
many years. He Is q brevet brigadier
general now, and il all came of our nurs.
ing the enemy In that room"