Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-14

- ~ - 4 Nt-~ 'ttNS ~ ~ -iACFNf VI
have an interview with a spirit. At
least. think did. may have been
dreaming; don't know. But, anyhow,
it was most remarkable, a most mex
plicablc dream what you might call
prophetic dream, that was fulfilled in ey-
cry detail in most extraordinary man.
ncr And don't exactly think it was
a dream:
1T was during the war. was on the
Confederate side in the war, soldier
in the First Maryland cavalry. In the
same company with me was gentle
man from California, whom you may
call Copleston. I'd rather you wouldn't
publish his real name, as the family is a
prominent one there aud in Richmond,
and it might pain the relatives now liy-
ing 10 read the story In print. He was
splendid fellow. and before long we
became very intimate and gradually
grew TO be devoted friends. He was
the brayest ofmcn, but at the same
time unusually warm hearted and allec-
tionate. and our affection for each other
was something unusual ameng men,
One day we were together in pretty
hot fight near Greenland Gap, Hardy
county, Va, during Gen. Jones' raid,
and as we had no artillery with us, our
regiment was dismounted and detailed
TO storm church in which body Of the
enemy had entrenched themselves. 1t
was dirty piece ofwork. and the pros
poets were slim Of getting back alive.
As we went at it Coploston turned to
and said, Look here. old fellOy, let's
promise each other that If one Of us is
killed without a chance to say good bye,
he will come back again to see the 9TH
cr, if such thing is possible l under
stood him and promised. We got of
time without much damage. but 1t was
understood between us that the agree
mcnt was lasting one.
Not long after this we were separa-
ted. lie was sent oil with a detail for
scouting work upon the Mississippi, and
before GOT back was captured By Ave-
rll at Mooreiell. after the Chambers
burg raid. They sent me TO Camp
Chase near Columbus, Ohio, and here |
laid for long time, with some fifteen to
twenty thousand other prisoners, hear
ing little or nothing OF our men on the
other side of the Potomac and then on
ly from the new prisoners when they
were brought into camp. Of Copleston
we heard nothing at all.
In Camp Chase we livedin in big bar
racks, about three hundred men in a
barrack. In the one in which 1 was
most of the men were Marylanders Of
our old command. We slept in big
hunks around the room, and the room
was heated by three big stoves. One
night was sitting by the stove nearest
the door, thinking. In was late, and
all the others were in their hunks asleep.
| sat there alone for some time, look
ing at the fire and lost in thought. Sud q.
denly felt impelled to look up, and
there, just in front of me, on the other
side of the stoye and between itand the
door, stood Copleston.'
Were you alarmed at ALP asked the
reporter.
No. was the answer. Il was not
alarmed, only greatly surprised. There
was nothing to alarm me. 1t was only
Copleston, dressed in the same gray
suit and black felt hat. | thought, Of
course, at the instant, that somehow he
had been captured and brought prison.
er to camp, and had only just learned
where | was. l exclaimed Why
Copleston, when were you sent in:' and
tried to rise up and shake hands with
him, | could not move, somehow.
'Copleston looked at me sadly for
moment and then said. No, | was not
brought here; don't yoi remember our
ageemenr'
Great heayensl.' l exclaimed. Were
you-:'
Yes, he SAID, L was killed to day.
He then went on and told me all about
it. One day he and another one Of our
men were surrounded in a house near
Luray, in Page county, Va, bya squad
of Federals, and after a little fight, in
which Copleston was wounded in the
leg, the two were captured and taken
into the enemy's camp. They were
held for a few days, and were then sen-
fenced to be shot as an act Of retaliation
for some sins laid at Mosby's door. A
sergeant's guard took them into the
woods, and with some touch Of pity Off
cred to let them run the gauntlet, Indian
fashion. The other man accepted his
slight chance to escape, butwas shot as
he ran. Copleston refused 10 move, ,and
was killed where he sat on the ground,
'All this, sir, assure you, was told
me by this strange visitor.s AS he fin.
ished: Should there ever be any Other
occasion for me to see you, | will come,
and then disappeared, not going out BY