Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-09-18
LONG LOST BROTHER.
THE REMARKABLE ADVENTURE OF A SOL
DER LEFT FOR DEAD ON THE FIELD OF

led by business to Omaha yesterday,
met with strange and singular expert
ence, which, though not beyond
the range of probabilities, has certain
fascination on account of its novelty.
Passing up Douglass street he met
man about 35 years of age, on crutches,
and dressed in the army blue OF the
United States service. At glance the
reporter imagined he recognized the
party, but was, however, uncertain
about it, and he looked back until the
invalid, whoever he was, turned the
corner. Still haunted with the face, he
retraced his steps, turned the corner
and quickened his pace, and saw the
stranger some distance ahead OF him.
No time was lost in overtakiug him,
when he laid his hand on his shoulder
and requested him to stop moment.
The stranger did as requested, and half
faced to the person addressing him:
This gave our reporter nearly full
view, and he at once recogniz ed In his
face the features Of brother who had
been missing since the battle OF Antle-
tam, in September, 1862, nearly thlr-
teen years ago. The effect OF meet
ing in such place and under such cir
cumstances, after so long a separation,
can be imagined more easily than it can
be described. The wodnded soldier, as
he proved to be, and his brother ad-
iourned to an adjoining restaurant,
where he rehcarsed his wanderings and
mishaps in the interim. We give the
combined story and vouch for its truth
tulness. Andrew, we will call him,
was, at the outbreak of the war, we'll
to.do tenant farmer, and npon the or
ganization of the Pensylvonia Reser-
YES, under General Mccall, become a
member of the first Pennsylvania Rifles,
under Col. Thomas L. Kane, after
whom the original town of Council
Bluffs was called He served through
out the whole of the early bloody cam
paign of that gallant crops without
scratch, and just before the battle OF
Antietam his brothor, our reporter, be-
came member of the same company.
The two went into action together, and
while on the turnpike which runs by
the Little Tunker church, Oh that MEM
orable battle field, Georgia brigade
drove them from their position, and, in
falling back, Andrew fell by the side
of his brother, with shot i'll the pit OF
the stomach. The last heard was an
exclamation, "My God, my wife| The
retreat was then hastened, and so dead
did he seem to be that he was counted
among those who had given up their
lives for the cause. Several days
Andrew lay on the neutral ground be-
tween the hostile lines, and, being only
wounded, was entirely missed by those
atterward in search of the dead and
wounded, he having hid himself among
some bushes, where he was found after
wards by an old farmer, to whose
house he was removed, near Sharpsburg.
Here he remained for quiet while, and
was beginning to convalesee, when j. E.
G. Stuart's calvery made its famous
raid into Chambersburg, in the fall Of
1861. In their retreat within the Con-
federate lines detachment of Stuart's
cavalry captured him and took him
south of the Potomac river, and thence
he was sent to Libby, and from Libby
to Macon, Georgia. AT the latter place
lie made his escape after being shot
twice in the arm by the guard, and
when on his way to the federal lines,
under the guidance of negroes, he was
recaptured by militia. Losing courage
and hope he took the oath of allegiance
to the Confederate Government, was
sent south to Texas under Dick Taylor,
in whose command he remained, ever
seeking an opportunity to escape by
desertion. Being a Southern man by
birth, he had no difficulty in feigning
assimilation with the troops of the Con-
federacy, but, still, in that remote re-
gion, the prospect of escape was feeble.
The portion of Taylor's command to
which he belonged was driven across
the Rio GraDde, into Mexico, and in
time he fell under the power of the Re-
publican barbarian, Cortia, who raided
upon friend and foes alike. Some bor-
der Indian tribes had possession of some
of Cortina's most valuable auxillariea.
To ransom these large number of cat
tie were required in addition to a stipu-
lation of an exchange Of captives.
Andrew was selected as victim of
this nefarious bargain, and was compell-
ed to accompany Oh foot the well
mounted savages in the gloomy retreats
in the dismal and almost impenetrable
fastnesses of the Cordilleras. Nothing
can fully and adequately picture the
horrors and anguish of that trip. Once
hidden away in the canons that formed
the hiding place of his new and savage
masters, all hope died within him, and
for weeks he was the victim OF brain
fever, which came very near being his
last. When the savages in whose pow
er he was left on one of their raids re-
treated, they left sufficient strength to
insure the safety of the village and
guard against surprise. Every attempt
at evasion OF this vigilance failed and
only added to the horrors of his captivi-
ty. For years he was forced to the
most disagreeable menial service, and
once took revenge, bloody, fearful and
swift; upon a savage companion, when
beyond the reach Of the village, by
hurting him from rock into the canon,
through which dashed an angry river.
The Indians gun went to the bottom
along with the body of his victim, but
he was encoiled by vigilance too swift
to permit him to profit by his daring.