The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-09-16
Tom 0ehiltree's Story.

/ The Colonel, sometimes called the Red
Ranger of the Rio Grande, has Travelled
the world over, hOb-nobbed with Dick
ems, fiattered Bulwer, dined with Victor
Hugo, and was only checked in his
lion-hunting career by savage, cynical
old Carlyle, who returned his card, say
ing ''There were too many Of these -
Americans lying around loose, already
in Europe" But as the misanthrOpic
philosopher had said the same thing to
some other great Americans, Emerson,
Longfellow, or some other fellow, the
Colonel bottled his wrath, muffled the
impending shrek of the bird of free
dom, and went away visiting "H
Erandjra car IL est an ESpagnGl."
This attrition with genius, and the
polish derived from long attendance at
the most polite courts of Europe has
given the Colonel fund of information
and an eloquent power Of narration
which, fifty years ago, would have
made him the delight of the Irish bar,
the rival of Curran, in wit, and the su-
periOr of Darlington, in humor and mar
rative power.
"a fellow of infinite jest, and most
excellent humOr.
That had to come in somewhere,
logically, 50 gave it a paragraph to it
self.
During the late civil war, Col. Ochil-
tree, with that devotion which has ever
characterized the braves of his tribe
when their country called, served on
the staff of Gen. LOngstreet. That dis
tinguished officer, knowing the Col
onel's tact and power to win the hearts
of the people, sent him on secret mis-
sion of great importance through the
heart of Georgia, region which Gen.
Sherman afterward passed through with
less secrecy and even more ecLat. The
Colonel, travelling ON horseback, ar
rived one night at Il lonely residence i'll
the pine woods about dusk, and refining
up his charger, politely inquired if he
could be accommodated with bed and
supper, adding that he was a Confed-
crate officer on duty. That was pass
word to anv Southern family's heart and
he was cordially made welcome. After
stabling and rubbing down his tired
war-horse with his own hands, as be-
comes Il good cavalier, he wended his
way to the house, where he found the
family to consist of an old lady,
daughter and two young lads. The
father and the older son were off to the
wars.
After supper the conversation turned,
of course, on the war. The Colonel
told of great battles, the splendid vic
tories won over the Yankees by that
Marlborough in military genius and
Bayard in honor, Robert Lee, and de-
scribed the appearance of battlefield
after the roar of conflict had ceased
the heaps of slain, lying in rows, like
fence-rails thrown down, every man
with his face to the foe---stern, impla-
cable. and brave. The little drummer
boy was there, of course; thirteen years
of age, fair-haired, his mothers dar-
Iinp, dead, with his little kettedrum
clutched in his tiny hands, red with his
own blood: his childish face cruelty
broken BY bullet, which struck him
down Just as he beat the last charge
which sent StOnewall Jackson's men,
with a wild yell, on to glory and victory.
ssBut he died for his country, ladies !;
and the good God above will give him a
tenderer care than even a mothers, for
the life he gave his country" said the
Colonel, with deep pathos.
BY this time he had the ladies OF the
house pretty well worked up as may be
imagined. The mother sat with clasped
hands and fearful eyes, praying for her
Randolph, while the young girl sobbed
aloud:
"Oh. Colonel ~ said she, "did you
ever meet my brother Randolph in the
army?"
How foolish these good sisters and
sweethearts. They fancy every one
must know their Randolph.
''In what regiment is he, Miss?" in
!, quired the Colonel.
'sThe Sixth Georgia, Company ),
Captain Berrien. -
tsMv God." exclaimed the Colonel,
, with sudden emotion and a glance OF
/ sorrow at the twOwomen. ''Was poor
Randolph brother of yours?"
| s'Was hep almost shrieked the
frightened girl, with look of terror
and apprehension clouding her face
f 'sWas he? He is my brother. Oh,
| don't say, Colonel, any thing has hap
: pened to my darling brother" O."
| The Colonel rose from his chair with
= his handkerchief to his eyes, and walk
ed out on the balcony to compose him
self. Returning, he took both the old
ladv's hands in his own, and looking
the weeping woman sadly in the face,
said:
ssNIadam, he died in these arms '
The scene, of course, was heart-rend'
1 inc. Mother and sister tainted. After
: being restored, and they had become
u calmer, the Colonel, in obedience tC
: their request, described the sad event
! Randolph had won the admiration o.
, his comrades and the confidence OF hi:
superior officers by almost superhumar
> courage, and Judgment marvellous IL
I one so Young. At Gaines Mills he had
Il single-handed, stayed the progress OF
/, Yankee regiment across a bridge owe
II the Chickahominy The Colonel ha(
u directed it should be held until rein
II forcements arrived. Reinforcement
1t arrived, but too late for poor Randolph
> who, shot through the breast, still
y maintained his trust, and when Col
: Ochiltree came up at the head OF tn
. relief column, the gallant lad fell expir
y inc into his arms, saying: ''Ien m
u mother and sister"
n n Bv this time the younger son, havin!
II chopped the wood, fed the pigs, an
II II made things straight for the night
! came into the room carrying an armfu
d d of kindlings for the morning fires. Tn
II mother exclaimed, "Calhoun, Ran
: dolph's dead"
= Down went the wood, and Calhou
7. swelled the cry. 1t was worse than a
II Irish keen. Calhoun recovered fast
= and turning to the Colonel, says:
- - ssWhat mOut your name be
"a stranger?'' d,
% The Colonel allowed it might b
- Ochiltree.
, s'What, - exclaimed the boy, brlgh
: ening up, "Tom Ochiltree, OF Texas
y The Colonel admitted it, with glo,
2 of commendable pride suffusing n
a. a. martial features at finding his fame ma
~ permeated that solitude.
d ssToo-ral, too-ral, wake snakes,
le said Calhoun, as he coolly commence