The Portland daily press., 1881-09-06
A ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
Reunion of an Auburn Soldier Boy and
His Old Nurse.

| Among the romantic, and the hearties
greetings exchanged at the great gathering o.
Maine veterans at Portland fortnight ago
was that between an Auburn gentleman ant
Massachusetts, lady, the wife of formel
Maine soldier who came down to meet his ole
comrades, as told by the Lewiston Journal.
In the spring of 1862 Mrs. c. f. King, wht
| is daughter of r. B. Dunn, Esq, of Water
vile, went to Winchester, Va, and Joined
Gen. Banks army, in one corps of which hel
husband was an acting quartermaster. Mrs
King witnessed the hostilities ensuing upon
the approach of Stonewall Jackson's Confed-
crate force. and participated in Banks great
retreat. While in Winchester, Mrs. King was
untiring in her attentions to the sick and
wounded in her army One, whom she
snatched from the jaws of death, was SOL
dier boy from Auburn, only eighteen years of
age, by the name of Charles T. Burr. Mrs.
King took motherly interest in the boy, and
left nothing undone for his care or comfort.
She regularly informed his parents of his pro-
gress, by letter. When the retreat commenced,
the nurse and sick soldier were separated. At
his prime, met Mrs. Kings husband, and upon
learning that his old nurse was in the city, he
lost no time in presenting himself to her Mrs.
King has since been visiting friends in Au-
burn, and there was a touching meeting be-
tween her and Mr.. Burns parents, few days
ago. They were overioyed to see her and said
they had sacredly preserved every letter she
had written them. They had always had
desire to thank her in person for her kindness
to their sick soldier boy.
Mrs. King has had an experience youchsafed
to few women. A journal reporter called Oh
Mrs. x, in Auburn, Friday, and met pleas
ant, matronly-looking lady. She had this
very interesting story to tell.
~ went from my Northern home to Virginia
to join my husband, and arrived at Winehes-
ter on the 25th of May, 1862" she said. with
several other officers and their wives, we oc-
cupied the house Of the famous traitor Mason,
who ran away from his country. 1t was in its
day, an elegant country mansion upon large
plantation. But it had been first occupied by
the rebs and then by our army, and bore
marks of much ill-usage. I'll did for Charles
Burr what would do for any one in similar
circumstances, what any other woman would
do, and what a great many did. He was very
sick and very young, and took great inter-
est in him. He and his parents are very CRATE
full When Stonewall jackson drove Banks
in, and the word came for us to move, Charles
was sent away in an ambulance to hospital,
and lost him. | was extremely sorry he had
to go, as feared he would not receive suffice
lent care.
'sStonewall Jackson came up on Saturday
and we heard the roar of the fight outside the
city, all Saturday night. We ladies had re-
moved to the house of a Union lady, as the
traitor Mason house was thought dangerous
place for u.s. On Sunday morning at six
o'clock the word came for us to get ready to
leave, and Banks famous retreat commenced.
/ was packed into q wagon. l had hardly
seated myself when shell flew over my head
and lodged in the house where / had been
stopping. My boy George, then eight years
old, was with me- We kept with the army in
its retreat to the Potomac. The rebs followed
us twenty miles. My wagon was next the last
one in the line. Our retreating army kept up
a constant fire on the rebs Every once in
while they would come rafting up with the
big guns, and our carriage would be thrust
aside into the ditch. There they would plant
the cannon in some field, and fire at the enc
my. 1t was brilliantly damaged movement.
Everything was orderly. The cavalry did
splendid work in protecting our retreat. But
was surprised when our orders first came to
move backward! / had thought of nothing
but victory. I had been planning how ]
would care for the wounded after the battle.
A defeat or retreat had not dreamed OF. We
got down to the river at eleven o'clock that
night busted myself in giving medicine to
the sick soldiers. A great many would call
for me. The next morning crossed the river
with my little boy. We crossed part way in
boat and part way by stepping on the rocks
where the water was shoal. remained at
Williamsport that day, and then went to
Hagerstown, where / remained three days.
Hagerstown was an awful secesh place. wa s
the only Union woman in the house where l
was quartered. You can imagine how felt.
L went to bed with my little boy, but |
couldn't sleep any. Early in the morning,
heard the guards who had been sent over
from our army, calling out. and oh, how glad
felt! I then went to sleep. From Hagers-
town came home. l heard a report that
Burr was killed by the burning OF hospital,
but it wasn't true. He was off his bed and in
the ranks His parents told me they heard
the same report. 1t is great privilege to me
to recall the experiences Of those days"
Mrs King IS 5norougnay INFORMED meet ~ r;ran;tr
the nanmuvres of Banks retreat.