Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-04-25
4 ROMANCE or THE WAR.

THE STORY OF LETTER THAT SAVED A SOL
DTR's LIFE AND HELPED TO FOUND ONE OF
THE LEADING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF
THE SOUTH.
IFrom the Charleston Is. C.) News and Couricr.l
IL was written by tho light of burning
homes and while the air resounded with the
deafening curses OF a frenziod mob of sol
diery and the night wind whstled around the
smoking ruins Of dosolated city Nearly
twenty years have passed since the terrible
atrocities Of that awful night and the great
red waves of war have settled down into a
perfect calm. Tho swords have been beaten
into ploughshares and tho spears into prun.
ing hooks and the memories of fratricidal
strife are dying away in the distance like the
discordant notes Of inharmonious music. A
bit of the drftwood OF Revolution, il had
floated down the quiet current Of peaceful
times, and there it lay on the rector's table.
a little stained and discoored by ago, a sim
pie sheet Of paper of the kind used in the
late Confederate states about the close Of the
war, and yet it contained within its creased
folds story of invinciblo courage, heroic
fortitude, and Christian charity for which the
world is all the better.
"That letter." said the Rev. Dr. A. Toom-
er Porter, president of the Holy Communion
Church Institute, Twas written by Lieut.
John A. Mcqueen, Of the Fifteenth Illinois
cavalry, one Of the finest men have ever
known, brave soldier, chivalrous enemy,
a devoted friend and a most devout and hon
est Christian gentleman. II you will sit
down here l will tell you something about
the man and about the wonderful history of
a letter that was written by me many years
ago." And this is about the way the story
ran
The burning of Columbia by Sherman's
army took place on February II, 1865. 1t
was during the night of that fearful conila-
grafton that DIR. Porter, then a chaplain in
the Confederate army, with his wife and chill
dren were subjected TO all the perils which
beset the doomed city. They were staying
at the house of DR.. Reynolds, but in order
that they might be safer, accompanied by
DR.. Reynolds's party they sought shelter in
another house nearer to the headquarters Of
Gen Sherman. After the ladies and chill
dren had been slowed away in their new
quarters DIR. Reynolds declared that he would
go back and see his house burned down, and
as he and DIR. Porter came out on the pave.
ment they were accosted by two federal off.
GERS, one Of them young man Of favorable
appearance who said, II advise you not TO
go on the streets" DIR. Reynolds declined
to take his advice saying that he would 20,
and started of attended by the young officer,
who said that il he would go he should not
go without an escort. In about three hours
and half the anxious watchers were reliev-
ed by the return of the officer, who intro
duced himself as Lieut.. John A. Mcqueen,
of the 18th Illinois cavalry, modestly saying,
1--WE have saved the house, ana if you will
take the ladies back il will help us very much
in preserving the property" When DR.. Rey-
nods and his gallant Escort reached his house
they found it filed with soldiers who had
broken open all the trunks and closets and
covered the floors with rosin preparatory to
the application Of the torch. With pistol in
hand Mcqueen drove the men out and sta
toned strong guard around the premises
and on the roof of the house, and establish
cd chain of negroes with buckets as a fire
brigade between the well and the house.
And there the gallant Illinois cavalier re-
mained from Friday night until Monday after
noon. On Monday, after ShermAn's army
had all gone, DIR. Porter went to Lieut.. Nc.
Queen and told him that If he did not follow
his army he would capture him, as it would
be unsafe for him to fall into the hands of
the Southern soldiers after the burning OF
the city. Mcqueen replied that his only rea-
son for remaining was his fear lest his friends
should be annoyed by bummers but finally
he was prevailed upon to leave. when he
got on his horse" said DR.. Porter, 81 don't
know what put it in my head, but asked
Mrs. Porter if she didn't have some little piece
of jewelry that might give it to our faith
full protector as token OF our gratitude to
him. My wife only had gold pencil, which
she gladly offered to part with, but Lieut..
Mcqueen refused to receive it, saying Mr.
Porter, am very much obliged, but can't
take that pencil couldn't persuade any one
that had not stolen it,. Al, he was splen-
did fellow! then ran into the house and
wrote this letter:
COLUMBIA, s. c., Feb. IS, 1865.