The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-06-09
4 MARRIAGE IN WARTIME.

A Confederate Soldiers Story-why The
Groom fastened TO the wedding.
Contribution to Louisi 'le Courier-Jou,nal
l remember very amusing marriage
ceremony which I once performed. I was
busy trying to make up some bread for INV
mess. Il was then "hig h private il 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 preacher?" Not sur.
Prlsed at the doubt implied in the question,
for neither my dress nor occupation was
very clerical, I replied; "Yes. I claim to
be-" Are you authorized to marry people
in this state?" II am" "Well. Won are
the very man I have been hunting for five
days. II am glad you have found me at
last. What can I do for your" Il want
you to marry me, sir" "When?" "Right
away, sir; just as soon az we can get there. I"
"Where?" About two miles down the
road"
Accordingly, got permission from my
colonel, "a. 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 really
did not look to ee 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 1 hold these
,Snaklng his icense) agin her, could she?"
when explained that the license was of
no binding force until the ceremony was
performed, he started off in a half run, ex
claiming. swell! come on, Parson: we
must make has!e!'
aEBeginning to suspect that there was
something wrong, stopped and said: Il
must haYc an explanation of this, sir, I 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
1s that have been sick down ct that house
or rather have been pretending to be sick
-tor several weeks, and there has been q
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 well, and I am afraid
he will send guard after me and put me
IN the guard house; that before I get out
the brigade will move away, and so may
AOS Sos !" Caauco W Oe married. at oil, and
she may then 60 and marry some other fcl-
low. Come on, Parson! Please let us
make haste!"
followed him as rapidly as could, and
on reaching the place, 1 ascertained that
the gu..rd had actually come for him before
he came after me, but had agreed to wait
for him if he could procure preacher and
hurry up the marriage. I performed the
ceremony, he saluted his bride in approved
old fashioned style, and the guard immedi-
ately marched him off to the guard house.
He called to see me several days afterward,
however, and said: "Parson, I 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 house and gavs me 40 hours
leave of Absence"
Some time afterward ! was at Louisa