The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-12-26
A NEWsBOY'S ROMANCE.
A Bright Page In the History Of Iibbv pr,sox,

A Bright Page In the History of Libby PrIso<k
So many acts of heartlcssness and
cruelty during the great civil war
have been recorded that it is real
pleasure TO have an opportunity to
record an act of manly kindness on
| the part of a gallant confederate SOL
der to a Yankee boy.
In the town of Bennington, in the
Green mountains of Vermont, in the
spring of 1861, there lived a pox
widow with six children, five boys AND
one little girl, the youngest of the
former STRIPPING IA years old. When
the wires flashed the news from Wash
ington all over our land that the rebels
had fired upon the old flag at Fort
| Sumter, the four older boys responded
to the country's call, and hurried to
the seat of war; The younger lad, his
heart fired with genuine Green noun
tain patriotism, ran away from home,
and, eluding pursuit, made his way to
the camp on the Potomac. But6lis
ardor was somewhat dampened by The
discovery of the fact that he could not
in consequence of his youth and
diminutiveness, enlist as q soldier.
Determined to remain at the front,
and having, as the saying is, to
scratch for living, he went to selling
newspapers to the soldiers. Leaving
the camp between New Baltimore and
Warrentown about the 10th of Novem-
Der, 1862, he went to Washington for
a supply of papers. Having aefRm-
plished his object, the young ladtset
out ON horseback for the camp, hay-
ing to travel a distance Of thirty miles.
A change of position by the army
during his absence had occurred, and
as a consequence he ran into the rebel
picket line and was taken to Gen. j.
Z. B. Stuart's headquarters at hotelin
Warrenton, and from there sent to
Libby prison, in Richmond, arriving
there Nov. Is. Maj. Turner was in c,kn-
mand of the prison, and when
young prisoner was brought into b.
presence, observing that he was a mere
boy, the major spoke kindly to him,
and after his name had been enrolled.
asked him the customary question, if
he had any money or valuables about
his person. The frightened boy had
to conceal his money, $3.50,
in his boots, and in answer to the ques-
ton put his hand down, and, while
glistened in his bright eve
and his boyish lip quivered, he brougt..,
t forth and handed it to the -
major, and, trying hard to choke DOM
he swelling in his throat, he told of
lis widowed mother at home, his four
'rothers in the army, his having made
lis money selling papers, and saving
t to send, with his brothers wages.
o his mother. The major folded the
'oy's passes around the money aad
aid to him: "You shall have CHS
gain, my boy, whenyou are permitted
o 60 from here"
Six weeks afterward the lad was
aroled, and repairing to Mai. Turn
RS office, the kind officer, Handinr
i'm the package of money and the
asses, just as he had received them.
nd: Here is your money, my brlG'
nth again trembling hands, but ioy-
us heart, the little fellow took the
ackage. He was sent to Washington.
nd few weeks afterward was going
q his old rounds selling newspapers.
he boy was doc" Aubrey, aTbe -
ewsboy of the Iron Brigade" VIZ
DIV resides in Milwaukee, and he gece
these facts during the late reunion
the Iron Brigade in this city.-Gran
'1nty WIS., Herald.