Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-11-13
The LANDsTREETs.
A STORY OF THE PEACH COUNTRY,
OSCAR DALE.
Copyrighted by rhs Every Evening Publishing 90
cHAPTER XII.
rHs ooLosRL's STORY

When Tom Lsndssseet, In obsdieno,
TO Mr.. Csrswell's suggestion took Mr.
Curtis and Colonel Butler up to the i'm
provised smoking room there was nj
intention on the part OF the trio to sbssn
themselves permanently from the festivi
ties down stairs, but slipping whisky and
water and smoking some fine cigars wal
naturally more to the taste Of elderly
gentlemen than standing about waton onina
the dancers. Col. Butler was soon
deeply interested in the we'll garnished
narrative Of the military interference
with elections In war time into which
Mr.. Curtis had lured old Tom. Relieved
Of the restraint imposed by his pledge 70
his wife not to swear In the presence oil
ladies, Tom damned the Radicals and the
soldiers with hearty gustc, and with q
vigor Of temper and originality Of ideas
and expression that often caused Colonel
Butler to shout with laughter.
The conversation from this naturally
turned toward the war and unoonsciously
guided by Mr.. Curtis, who was master Of
the art Of max ng his friends talk at
their best, Colonel Butler gave some
interesting "reminiscences Of his own ex
perienoss in the Confederate army. He
had been an ofioer at the battle Of
fredericksburg and told graphically the
sad story Of the useless sacrifice of so
many gallant northern soldiers hurled
against impregnable positions in that
terrible battle which he denounced as a
senseless slaughter Of brave men by an
incompetent commander. As he warmed
In the narration he waxed strong In
indignant speech and declared that when
history came to be finally written, who
ever was chiefly responsible for the
blunder Of those fatal days would be
charged with an awful responsibility
towards the widows and orphans Of the
northern soldiers then and there saori.
hoed. Whoever that might be, he said,
IL was not poor Burnside, who had pro,
tested in vain against having the COM
mand thrust upon him.
= "By the way,n continued Col. Butler,
"there was an incident In that battle
which was sad one to me at the time,
and which caused me good deal OF
ever tell you," he asked, turning to Mr..
Curtis. ''of the young northern officer l
saw die there ~
"No," replied Mr.. Curtis, ''I think
pot.'
"Psrhaps not" said the colonel, "for
! have mot thought much Of the incident
ior long time, though 1t was once pretty
constantly In my thoughts. Well, III
tell you about It now. After the northern
army had Withdrawn across the Rapps.
hammock numerous scouting parties were
sent out by Lee to watch the movements
Of the enemy aud pick up any stragglers
that might have been left behind. was
q lieutenant then and had charge Of part
Of company engaged In that service. As
we were passing gully we heard faint
"hello ~ and stopping to investigate
found young northern captain lying on
his back helpless from bullet wound
that had paralyzsd his legs. II Appeared
Afterwards that q bail had grszed his
spinal columa. The poor fellow was
nearly famished and was given some
water and then carried by my orders on
litter improvised ont Of blanket to
the shade of some trees where subse
quently found him as soon as was al
liberty to do so. got friend OF mi 20, a
surgeon, to 60 with me-"
"The Yankee oaptain," continued the
colonel, "was q handsome young fellow
and pluoky to the Jast. As soon as the
surgeon had examin the wound he
shook his head in way that knew
meant that the young fellow had no
chance, q fact Of which the wounded man
himself seemed to be fully aware, for HE
frat question was, How long will / last,
doctor p The surgeon besitAted and the
young officer said, Don't be afraid to
tell the truth, doctor, and tell It qliokly
ior time is precious to me. ! have much
to say to you gentleman
".You might die IS You are being moved
TO the hos pital,' said the surgeon.
Then let me speak now said the
Yankee.
",our regiment was In New York but q
little while ago. he said, and We were
hurried to Washington and sent straight
to the front. left my wife In Brooklyn
and have had no chance to send her a
letter, but / have one written ready to
mail In my pocket. also have her mar
riags certificate which l carried off by
accident. AZ our wedding was . secret
one It Is very important that she should
have this. Won't You see that these
papers get to her with an account OF my
death
"Hers the young man had to stop from
exhaustion, and the surgeon discov ,red
that thu slight movement hs had made
in trying to sit up to talk had started his
wounds to bleeding afresh, Some time
was occupied in stanching the f,w o.
blood but it was evident that the life o
the man was to be counted by minutes
now, rather than hours, A little liquol
from my flask revived him however, and
said Il will attend to the matter fol
yeu captain
"'God bless youl' he gasped, and ther
continusd,-'Her address will be found
on the letter which is in big envelope
containing also the marriage certificate
wouldn't like It to get lost, so you'd
better write her first and send the pack
age afterwards. There's q letter frou
my father in my pocket with his address
on Il. Send II to my wife and tell her h,
will take care OF her.
"Here the voice already weak aut
broken died away and we waited in 81
lenos thinking the end had come, bu
presently the dying man revived for
moment and whispered, Write Msggi
saying that died loving her and pray I'M
her forgiveness for taking her from
good home.' Then all was silence an,
the poor lad was no more. was deepl.
Affected, for this was the first death II
the battle field had actuslly seen, an
hired some negroes to bury the youn
captains body In an old grave yar'
where could even now find 1t IL 1t wer
worth while, for 1t was exactly in th
corner, touching the wall, in 10
belonging to me.
"I thought that as the certificate nigh
be If value to the widow 1t might b
better to follow the dead mans advice, 8
kept the package and wrote an accoun
Of the death OF the captain in which
enclosed the letter from his ia her an
addressed IL to the widow. thought
should at once get this over into th
enemy's lines, but was suddenl
ordered away on special duty ana IT wa
more than q month before l got chsn'
to send off tho letter by an officer aoir
10 the enemy under flag of truce
make some arrangements about the e.
change Of prisoners. l never heard an,
thing from 1t and as was myself bad
wounded shortly afterwards the matt
passed from my mind, and having give
the dead captains papers to my wife
Richmond for safe keeping had nothir
TO remiud me OF him. In fact had
many experiences In the alternate perio,
Of suffering and fighting from the time
was first wounded till the end At Ia
came at Appomattox that Iactuslly forg
sll about the young officer and won
probably never have thought Of hi
again, had 1t mot been that after my po
wife's death after tn. close Of the wal
came soross the package again smoI G
her papers. Ny heart was then We
sore over my own loss and felt mo