The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-09
A MARRIAGE IN WARTIME.

A Confederate Soldiers Story-Why The
Groom fastened To tho Wedding.
Contribution to Louisvi 10 Couricr-Joulnal
l remember very amusing marriage
ceremony which once performed. was
mess. Il was then ,"bigh private j.. the
rear rank" of the old Thirteenth Virginia
Regiment,) when bright young fellow of
the Maryland line" hailed me with: II
say, mister, are you a preacher?" Not sur
prised at the doubt implied in the question,
for neither my dress nor occupation was
very clerical, 1 replied; Yes, claim to
be-" Are you authorized to marry people
in this state?" Il an" "Well, you are
the very man have been hunting for five
days. II am glad you have found me at
last. What can l do for your" Il want
you to marry me, Sir" "When?" fright
away, sir; just as soon as we can get there. "
"Where?" About two miles down the
road"
Accordingly, got permission from my
colonel GA. p. Hill, } satisfied myself that
tie license was all right, and started. AS
we were going along, the little fellow (the
license stated that he was 21, but he reilly
did not look to BE over 16) pulled out his
license and said: Look here, Parson;
suppose anything should happen SO that we
could not get married to- day, she could not
marry any one else as long as hold these
Shaking his license) agin her, could she?"
When explained that the license was Of
no binding force until the ceremony was
performed, he started off in half run, ex-
claiming. "Well! come on, Parson; we
must make haste!'
Beginning to suspect that there was
something wrong, stopped and said: Il
must have an explanation of this, sir, 7 do
not mean to do anything contrary to law
and right. Did you not tell me that you
had the full consent of the young lady s
parents, and that there was no obstacle in
the way of your marriage?" yes, it is all
right, Parson, come on and I'll explain it
all to your satisfaction. The whole truth
is that have been sick down at that house
Or rather have been pretending to be sick
for several weeks, and there has been a
little girl down there who has been so kind
to me that want to marry her forit. Now,
my colonel, (his colonel was George H. Sc
ward, an old West Pointer, and one Of the
most rigid disciplinarians in the army has
found out that am we'll, and II am afraid
he will send a guard after me and put me
in the guard house; that before 1 get out
the brigade will move away, and SO may
not get chance to be married at ill, and
she may then 60 and marry some other fell
low. Come on, Parson! Please let us
make haste!"
followed him as rapidly as I could, and
on reaching the place, I ascertained that
the gu I'd had actually come for him before
he came after me, but had agreed 10 wait
for him if he could procure preacher aud
hurry up the marriage. I performed the
ceremony, he saluted his bride in approved
old fashioned style, and the guard inmedi-
ately marched him off to tho guard house.
He called to see me several days afterward,
however, and said: "Parson, have been a
very happy man since saw you. I took
your advice, and made clean breast of it
to the Colonel, and he released me from
the guard-h house and CAV, me 48 hours
leave of absence"
Some time afterward I was at Louisa
Courthouse on furlough, and being at the
depot when the cars came up, whom should
see but my young Maryland soldier, who
jumped off the tram and rushed up to me,
excla,ming: "Parsou, T am the happiest
man in the Southern Confederacy. l have
gotten discharge from the army. I have
work in Richmond at Which I can make
plenty of money. ] have rented a nice lit
tie house there and furnished it very COM
fortably, and now I am going up after my
wife" was very much gratitied to see
the ma rriage turning out SO we'll, for un-
fortunately, these army marriages did not
nj ncy11f