Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-05-01
Thrilling Romance of War.
TnE STORY or LITTER THAT SAVED A
SOLDIERS LIFE.

1t was written by the light of burning
homes and while tho air rcsounded
with the dcafening curses of trcnzied
mob of soldiery aud the night wind
whistled around the smoking ruins of a
desolated cityl Nearly twenty years
have passed since the terrible atrocities
of that awful night and the great red
waves of the war settled down into n
perfect calm. The swords have been
beaten oploughshsres and the spears
into pruning hooks and the memories Of
fratricidal strife are dying away in the
distance like the discordant notes of
inharmonious music. 4 bit of the
drif,wood Of Revolution, it bad foated
down the quiet current of peaceful
times and there it lay on the rector's
table, little stained and discolored 10y
age. simple sheet ofpaper of the kind
used in the late Confederate States
about the close Of the war, and yet it
contained within its creased folds a story
of invincible courage, heroic fortitude,
and Christian charity for which the
world is all the better.
This letter. said the Rev. A.
Toomer Porter, d. D., to representative
of the NclcS and Courier, was written by
Lieut.. John A. Mcqueen, Of the
fifteenth Illinois cavalry, one of the
finest men have ever known, q brave
soldier. chivalrous enemy, devoted
friend, and most devout and honest
Christian gentleman. If you will sit
down here will tell you something
about the man and about the wonder.
iul history of that letter that was writ
ten by me many years ago" And this
IS about the way the story ran:
THE BURNING or COLUMBIA
10y Sherman army took place on Fcbru.
AIRY II, 1865. 1t was during the night of
that fearful conhagration that DR.. Por.
ter then n chaplain in the Confederate
army, with his wife and ch ldreu were
-ubjec ed to all the perils which be-et
the doomed city. They were staying at
The house of DR.. Reynold but in order
that they might be safer, accompanied
hy DR.. R"ynolds's party they sought
shelter in another house nearer to the
headquarters of Gen. Sherman After
the laijes and children had been slowed
away IN 'heir new qnarters DR.. Reynolds
declared that he would 60 back and see
his house burned down, and as he su1
DR.. Porter came out on the pavement
they were accosted hy two Federal
officers, one Of them young man Of
favorable appearance who said, II ai.
wise you not TO 20 on the streets" DR..
Reynolds declined to take his advice,
laying that he would GO and started off
attended by the young officer, who said
that If he would go he should not 20
without an escort, In about three
hours and half the anxiou. watchers
were relieved by the return ofthc officer,
who introduced himself as Lieut.. John
\. Mcqueen, of the 18th Illinois cavalry.
mo1estly saying, I'VE have saved the
house, and if you will take the ladies
back it will help u' very much in pre-
serving the property" When DR..
Reynolds and his gallant escort reached
his house they found it filled with
soldiers who had Broken open all the
trunks and closets and covered the floor
with rosin preparatory to the applica.
ton Of the torch. With pistol in hand
McQueen drove the men outand station.
ed "a strong guard around the premises
and on the roof Of the house. and
established
CHAIN OF SEgRoEos
with buckets az a fire brigade between
the well and the house. And there the
gallant Illinois cavalier remained from
Friday night until Monday afternoon.
On Monday, after Shermans 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 reason for remain.
ing was his fears lest his friend should be
annoyed by bummers; but finally he
was prevailed upon to leave. "Whcn he
got on his horse" said DR.. Porter, 'I
don't know what put it into my head,
but asked Mr. Porter If she did not
have some little piece of jcwelry that
might give IL to our faithful protector
rs a token Of our gratitude 10 him. My
wife only bad gold pencil, which she
gladly offered to par, with, but Lieut..
Mcqueen refused to receive it. saying
"Mf. Porter, I'm very much Obliged.