Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-07-18
THE YANKEE SOLDIERS WIFE
A Story OF the War.
BY JAS X. Magic.

During the portion of time I was
military, postmaster, our regiment
was stationed at Shelbyville, Tennes-
see. l occupied the old post office,
which was neatly and commodiously
fitted up with distributing tables,
shelves, boxes, etc. Major J. G..
Smith, of the Goth H., (since made
generaD was provost marshal on
Gen Stedman's staff, and it was his
practice every afternoon to call in
the office and examine all letters ad.
dressed TO citizens. usually assist
ed him in this interesting labor, and
often learned important family secrets,
it and was not unfrequently the case
that information was thus gathered
that led to the arrest of some guerilla
or bushwhacker, a species of villain
which abounded in that section of
the State.
One morning, soon after my mail
from Nashville had arrived and been
distributed, neat and pretty young
girl, apparently not over sixteen
years Of age, called at the office and
inquired if | had a letter for Mrs.
Susan Litton, Robert Litton's wife.
1t was our practice to deliver the
citizens neil only to the persons ad-
dressed, and l informed her of this
rule. 'Well,' says she, that's my
name
But you asked for letter for Mrs.
Susan Littop, and certainly you are
not married p
But | am, though she said with a
rogueish laugh, 'and my husband is a
Yankee soldier in the 10th Ohio cav
airy
How long have you been married,
| asked for | was now quite interes-
ted in the history of this young girl,
and was so ill-mannered or forgetiul
as to stand and question her without
once offering to look over the letters
for her
Two weeks last Tuesday, said she
in reply to my question.
and where is your husband p
'lIe started last week with his de-
tachment over in Maury county, and
he told me he would write the first
opportunity he had
Were you acquainted with your
husband long before you married
him p
No; the first time / saw him was
Sunday, and we got married Tuesday
night
ventured to say to her that per.
haps she had committed a very in
discreet act in marrying in such
haste, and that probably her husband
had forgotten her by that time.
Il know better than that, she tart.
ly replied, che loves mel know he
does, and he has promised to come
and take me TO Ohio just as soon as
the war is over
BY this time | had looked over the
letters and found none for Mrs. Lit.
ton, and so informed her. A shade
OF disappointment fitted over her
countenance, but Frightening up again
she said 'I'll be in again Saturday.
| know there will be letter for me
by that time' And she darted of
without giving me an opportunity to
ask further questions.
The next days mail brought sever
al letters for citizens, and among
them Twas pleased to notice one for
Mrs. Sttsaa Litton.
Major Smith came in at the usual
hour, and we sat down to look over
the letters. / took a peep into the
letter for Mrs Susan, and found it to
be from her husband, Robert Lltton.
His epistle was well worthy an affec.
tionate husband to his devoted wife.
1t contained information respecting
their marches, etc., and announced
that small attachment embracing
his company, would on the morrow
start for q scout in Lincoln county.
The letter closed with assurances OF