New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-21
a Deserter's Fate.

~ ~ Q
a Deserter's Fate.
An old resident of Nashville relates
this romance to q writer in the Nash.
v1Ile American: Gin the town of Lin
coin, ILL.,, before the war; there resided
a. young man namedJ.J- Starlight,
WHO for sometime engaged IN the gro
Gerry and provision business in part.
nership with William. B: Harlow, I'M
der the firm name of Harlow & Sea-
right 1t was one Of the largest and
wealthiest firms in that section, and
the members thereof were both popu.
lar. leaders in the social and political
circles of their country. When the
war broke out both partners decided
on volunteering in the Union army,
but as Harlow was aman of family,
a. mutual compromise was affected,
and Starlight alone donned the garb
of a soldier. Heenlisted in accompany
forming in Logan county for the Thir-
ty-second Regiment of Illinois infantry,
and received lieutenant's commits.
sion. Generally esteemed an excel
lent officer, he seemed to have a bril-
liant career Of military. service Just
before him. At the batuleof Belmont,
Mo-, he was with General Grant, and
was noted for conspicuous gallantry.
"When Grant fought the battle oil
Shiloh he again distinguished himself,
and soon after was promoted to
captaincy. In this latter engagement
he was quite severely. wounded, and
by permission went back to his Illinois
home, on furlough. Meanwhile his regi-
ment had been attached to General
Buels army, and was then on duty
either in middle Tennessee ornorthern
Alabama, and Captain, Starlight, after
q few weeks at home, came through
Nashville to join his regiment at the
'front.' In an unluckY hour he. met a
young lady of rebel proclivities,'' but
extremely beautiful, at her home near
Nashville. She was, reputed to, be- i'm
mensely wealthy, and was in full pos
session OF her property, having year
Or two before attained her Majority"
"Would it be proper to,tell the name
OF the fair rebel?" inquired the. anxi-
Gus listener.
"No." responded the old gentleman,
'Nbut on the other hand quite improp-
er, as subsequent events will prove.
Suffice it to say, they met and loved.
All the time that the captain could
spare from his duties, and he frequent
ly importuned his colonel for leaves
OF absence, every moment he could, he
spent in the society OF the charming
secesh siren, as his brother officers
called her, and she as eagerly returned
his burning passion, Captain Starlight
time and again offered his resignation.
He wished to leave the tented fields
and dwell in the rosy bowers
OF love, but, unlike his love, it was
not accepted. Love at length, how
ever, conquered all his scrupulous
opinions Of duty to the flag OF his
country. He grew desperate He de-
serted, and succeeded in escaping be-
yord the federal lines with his fair en-
shaved. She leaving home and friends
and property for his sake, and he sur
rendered honor and loyalty to the
cause he had sworn to protect. Ar
rived within the contederated lines the
seriousness of the situation began to
dawn upon the mind OF both Of them.
1t the fortunes of war should throw
him into the hands ofthe United States
authorities. he would certainly be
hanged as a traitor, and his wife would
possibly suffer as a participant in his
crime. They determined to leave the
country. From Atlanta they went
to Charleston. From the blockade
to Nassau, where they took British
vessel hound for Havana.
But their happiness was short-lived,
and in the end turned to bitterness.
And now you will see why it was best
to suppress the lady's name, for the
following extract, published in the,
Lincoln (nl.) Herald in July, 1886,
and which pasted in my scrap book,
gives the sequal to the sad romance:
'sBy a letter to this office we learn
that Captain Starlight, whose daser-
ton from the army and elopement
with secesh belle we published last
winter, was lately killed in q duel by a
Spanish officer, near Havana, in Gu
ba. 1t appears that this woman, for
"AOHl lAC CbOCtiloOllCu ldiIlC ttllu lOEUUIIC,
had, IN turn, deserted him and fled
with a captain in the, Spanish army.
Captain Starlight shortly after met the
destroyer OF his happiness in a coffee
house and knocked him down. OF
course the proud Spaniard could
not brook this insult; he challenged
Starlight, who gladly accepted, as he
was weary of life. They met on
the seaside, about two miles from the
city OF Havana, and there Starlight
fell, pierced to the heart by his adver-
sary's bullet. Thus untimely has fall
Ell one who fought well and nobly for
his country, till in an evil hour he met
one who seduced him from the path
of honor and duty, and through her
agency the star OF his life has set in
blood. The Spaniard and the fair false
one with a demons heart have fed to
the Isle of Pines"