Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-02-14

it isn't the place for the cultivation
of sentiment. We can't suspend the
operations of war, to give the men
an opportunity to visit their sweet
hearts. You are needed at yourpost.
Our force is already too small for
guarding so large number of pris-
oners and you cannot be spared.
Frederick Scott uttered no word
of remonstrance or entreaty, but 81
lently he left the room. His COM
rades knew by the flash of his eye,
what was the result of the interview,
and they knew too, of his resolve.
The precious moments were passing.
The steamboat which was the only
means of travel within reach, lay
on the opposite side of the river, low
erdOwn than the folt, ,and the time of
her departure was at hand. He
must reach it by swimming and he
had no time TO lose; he rushed to the
bank of the river and threw himself
in. His comrads heard the splash of
water, but every eye was aYerted.
No one sac him go, and it was not
until he reached the middle of the
stream that the Captain became
aware of his flight. Such daring
disobedience filed him with rage
and he commanded an instant pur-
suit. But E'stop" he said-"fire upon
him from here's" and in obedience
to this command a yolley of shot fell
harmlessly around Frederick. 'The
boys will aim. vide of the mari, ? he
thought, when ball came whizzing
so near bis head that his sense of Sc
'cdrity was Instantly dispelled. It
was the Captains shot, he knew
and perhaps he would take still bet
ter aim the next time. To avoid this
danger, he struck out for the shore
and landed out of reach of the guns.
But here. anew difficulty was to be
overcome. The path to the landing
was SO choked a part of the way
by mderbruSh,,l that, with his ut
most effort, he made but slow pro-
gress. When he. reached spot
where the DISTINCTIONS were less, in
his eager haste he bruised his fore
head against the low branch Of a
tree which hung over the path; wip-
ing away the blood which came
streaming over his face, he pressed
on and came in sight Of the landing,
only to see the boat steaming away
in the distance, He waved his hand
kerchief, he shouted until he was
hoarse, in vain-zhis cries were either
unheard or disregarded.
Exhausted, heart-sick, he felt like
lying downhere to die. After having
encounteredsiso many dangers he
feared that he, was efoifed at last,
when he suddenly recollected that
there was another landing mile be-
low, where thesboat might stop. He
reused himself and passed on, and
withshis clothes tattered and limbs
Iacerated and bleeding with his strug-
giles through the matted path, he
reached the boat and sunk fainting
and insensibIe upon the. deck, but
kind hands ministered, to him, and
rest and sleep restored him. How
slowly the weary hours of his jour-
ney dragged themselves along; how
often the boat stopped, he could
hardly endure the nervous restless
ness which was induced by the fre-
quent delays. At length at the close
of the third day, the end was reach
ed, and he stood by Mary's bedside,
her hand clasped in his, and the joy
of his return giving her. temporary
strength, which treasured him and
filed him with the hope that she
would yet recover to bless his life. =
In one short hour that hope vanished,
for Mary began tosink rapidly; soon
she was insensible to his presence,
and before the setting sun she had
left him forever. .9l2 . -s@
It was not until she was no longer
sensible to any of the connections of
this world Gorlthis how thankful he
felt that the house was surrounded
by party of pursuing soldiers, to
arrest Frederick as a deserter. He
went out and spoke to the men as
suring them that he would stay to
Mary's burial, and then he would go
with them to death or disgrace, no
matter which, now that she was
gone. The men made no objection,
but waited in silence, and when the
last sad rites were over, Frederick
returned with them to his post. 7
Shortly before his sarrival, Captain
L had been made aware that
it would be at his peril to punish
him. Certain anonymous letters
limited to him, the ease with which
an obnoxious officer could be dispos-
ed of, in the heat of battle, by an
accidental shot from his own men.
Whether this man who seorned all
tender emotions, could have given
way to the womahish weakness, of
being afraid of these threats, was
not known, but certain it is, that this
case of disobedience and desertion
was never reported at headquarters,
and Frederick after reprimand re-
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