The National tribune., 1881-09-03

| stalwart specimen of manhood, with blonde
complexion, light-brown hair and roguish, twink
ling eyes, which were always upon the lookout
for something to laugh at, besides which he had
frank, hearty manner of meeting folk that was
continually making new acquaintance and win
ming him new friends.
His companion, on the contrary quite
small for one of his apparent age even, with dark
curly hair shading features perfectly regular, yet
inclined to thinness of the brunette order; and
such eyes! No one ever succeeded in getting near
enough to them, save the Lieutenant himself, to
determine their color, but the Judgment generally
rendered was that they were rich, dark brown.
There was a shy, retiring disposition manifested
by their owner that prevented any advances to-
ward an intimate acquaintance being attempted,
and hence it came about that we knew as little
of the Lieutenant's brother in October, we had
in the early part of August preceding, when he
first made his appearance in our midst.
The battle of Balls Bluff was fought upon the
Doth or DIST of October and during the night sue
ceeding that event the greatest confusion pre-
vailed. All the troops that could be spared from
the fOrtitcatOns were ordered up in the direction
of Chain Bridge, and those upon guard myself
included, were forced to remain on duty for more
than fOrty-eight hours.
About midnight, or shortly after, Lieutenant
C. came to me at the ferry landing, stating that
he had been ordered out with his regiment, and
was to start at once and requested me to so inform
his brother when he should arrive next morning
from the city, whittier he had gone the day pre-
viouS on business. He also suggested that his
brother should re-cross to Washington, and there
remain at their ~ old stopping place" until the
return of the troops Receiving my promise to
see his wishes carried out, he departed.
The next day | was much occupied hy the
throngs of troops, citizens and teams crossing the
ferry and it was not until evening that | remem-
bered my pledge to the Lieutenant; and then,
when | came to think of the matter soon sitis-
fed myself that his brother had not come over.
To make sure | interrOgated the man stationed
at the wharf, and who examined the passes in my
absence, and corroborated my belief.
Supposing that the youth had entered Virginia,
if at all, by way of the Aqueduct or Long Bridge,
| gave the subject further thought
The next evening Lieutenant G-s regiment
returned to camp, and he i'm Immediately sought me
ont Il was still on duty at the ferry; and upon
learning that his brother was yet in the city, i'm
mediately crossed over.
In about two hours he returned in high state
of excitement with the information that his
brother had left for camp the morning previous,
and had not since been seen by any of his a:-
quaintances.
He questioned myself and the men closely. and
then went to the post on the Aqueduct, thence to
Long Bridge, and about three a. m. returned to
me- looking so haggard and broken down that |
scarcely recognized him.
About nine a. m. was relieved from duty and,
through the agency of the Lieutenant, secured a
pass to the city for forty-eight hours.
We Immediately crossed by way of the Aque-
duct and beginning in Georgetown entered upon
a most exhaustive search for the missing one. We
visited every known place of resort inquired at
the prOvost-marshal's office, of the guards sta
toned throughout the two cities of every soldier
we met and of citizens most likely to have OBJ
served the young man, but trace could we
obtain of him after he left the hotel where he
had temporarily put up.
On my way back we began at the Arsenal and
followed along the wharves, making inquiries at
every step, but without avail, until we had nearly
reached the foot of Twenty-sxth street. We had
Just passed the Naval Observatory when we en-
countered cOntraband, who, in answer to our
questioning, informed US that the evening before
he had seen small boat, containing three men
and boy, put off from the grounds south of the
Observatory toward the Virginia shore. His de-
scriptiOn of the boy tailed exactly with that of
the missing party.
Our informant was evidently cOncealing some
thing, and to make him tell us all he knew the
Lieutenant threatened to put him under arrest
and take him to the prOvOst-marshal as q suspici-
Gus character. Thereupon he admitted having
occasionally done little business with the sol
diers on the sly by taking over whisky and other
good things in his boat; that the evening previ-
Gus, when it was quite dark two men had come
to him and offered five dollars for the use of his
boat an hour This he refused, unless he could
90 with it, Then they offered ten, and as the
boat was an old one at the best, he let them have
it, himself taking it down opposite the Observa-
tory, where he found the two who had hired it
with the two others indicated Neither the men
nor boat had returned.
One of the men lit his pipe before starting, and
by light of the match he was enabled to gather
the description which he had given us of the
Lieutenant's brother, We're now convinced
the boy was. But why was he in such company?
After these details hastened to the ferry and
embarked without delay. When about half way
across | caught CLEAN of light, which seemed to
come from the basement of the old Mason House,
and called my companions attention to it. At