The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-08-01
LOCKWOOD'S FATE
A Youth Who Knew How to Keep
the Secret Intrusted to Him.

Vic S6cISU 1nUCuSUSO 10 linn,
In the gloomy winter of 1873 General
Putnam, with his army, was stationed in
the quaint old town of Reading Wash
ington, wishing to support West Point in
case of attack, and at the same time cover
the country that skirted Long Island
Sound, commanded the irascible old war
rior to choose some place from which both
purposes could be easily accomplished and
then 90 into winter quarters. The town of
Reading was thus favOrably situated, and
"Old Put" made his headquarters at the
farm house of a patriot, Marvin by name,
who was a cousin of the General. The
venerable and messy brown house has
been for many years an object of historical
interest by reason of this fact 1t has
stood almost unchanged, save that the
rains and SHOWS Of a century have obliter-
ated the vivid red which was its color once,
excepting under the caves of the long
sloping roof, where dull patches of the
tint remain.
One stormy afternoon in March, when
the snow and sleet beat fast and furious
against the little window panes, weaving.
Putnam sat at his rude table in the front
room below. An ugly scowl indicated that
he was greatly displeased, probably with
the information that he gathered from the
reports that he was busily examining. A
young man of handsome features, and
whose tall and sinewy figure was CARRIED in
uniform that was faded and sadly worn,
stood listlessly at the window. He seemed
to be idly waiting the pleasure of his com
mander, and he found nothing better to do
than to look out upon the white Sheathed
trees and dreary fields, and upon the
rough huts of the soldiers, that stretched
away to the edge of the forest. A few
sentipels, battling with the storm with
Blended heads, and the heavily hanging
smoke that issued from the roofs of the
cabins were the only signs of life. The
young man knew that within these huts
were discomfort and anger that were fast
rlpening into mutiny, because of the scanty
clothing, poor and insufficient food and
long arrearages of pay.
The furious scratching of q Quill pen at
the Generals table was INTERRUPTED by a
sudden sharp, cracking sound. that indi-
Gated that the points had caught in de-
feet in the paper, and had thereby frescoed
the sheet with blOtches of ink. Animpatient
ejaculation, rounced off with u vigorous
oath, confirmed the suspicion.
The young man turned to the General:
Can | not help you now. sir" he asked,
scarcely able to restrain the smile that
showed in his eyes, as he saw the great
unconquered General overcome by so
trivial thing as the perversity of quill
pen.
Yes, you can mend my pen and get
light"
at grows dark early to-day, sir" said
the young officer as he mended the pen.
mot so dark here as it grows over in
that camp. This discomfort is getting very
dark. 1t threatens mutinv, but Tll have
none. III crush it, if | have to blow lem to
eternity.n
''Do YOU think the discomfort so threat
ening?" the officer asked.
"Threatening? Yes. It's getting terri
bly, hot, and the worst of it is, the men
have reason for it. | don't care so much
about their pay; they'll get that some
time; but their rations are bad and scarce,
very scarce, Whitney, and some of these
fellows are doing duty barefooted. It's q
deuced disgrace. But they're my soldiers,
and by Heaven this mutiny has got TO stop
why, the Connecticut brigade are pro-
posing TO march in n body to Hartford and
get redress from the Assembly at the
point of the bayonet. They ought to have
1t, too, but there1l be no mutiny here as
long as l command these men"
Major Whitney lighted two tallow can
dies and placed them on the Generals desk
and was suggesting that he was ready for
any further service, when the dull quick
resonance of hoofs upon the frozen earth
was heard.
"Dispatches?" said Putnam, interroga-
lively.
eyes" replied the Young officer from the
window, land the bearer has ridden fast,
for the horse steams from the TANKS and
nostrils"
''See that have them, quick" said Put
nam.
In a moment the dispatches were placed
in the Generals hands, and the bearer was
hidden to shelter his horse and then find
such comfort as there was in big fire, a
mug of hot rum, and something 10 eat, and
he Joytully went his way, first to the barn,
then TO the kitchen.
The old warrior glanced at his messages,
and then, with his sandy hair in disheveled
fury falling over his eyes and upon his puffy
cheeks, his long arms waving with passion,
so that ill would it have been had they
come in contact with anything, and with
stampings that made the oak floor trembe,
he foamed and choked, uttering the most
emphatic oaths.
"The internal British have been informed
of this threatened mutiny, Whitney, and
Washington himself sends me word that
he has reason TO think they contemplate
a sudden attack on us, taking advantage
of the discomfort. Let lem come, mutiny
or no mutiny. 'll give 'em skin full Of
lead. We haven't got much bread, but
We've plenty Of powder and ball, thank
CODY
"Why, then, do you become so furious?"
asked Whitney, who was such firm
friend of Putnam's that he feared not at
times to check the outbursts Of passion,
senior member Of his staff and secretary as
he was.
"Furious! Why, don't you see that
there's either spy or traitor in this camp,
,Vbo has been taking reports to the enemy