Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-09-02
LIEUTENANT CHARLES MONTEAL.
BY CAPT. JAMES MoNTFoRD.

"My closest associate and friend in tn
war was Lieutenant Charles Monteal, sait
the Colonel, "and rs my niece is to leave III
in the morning, l will relate his story. II
may convey moral TO her."
Il will give attention to your story, un.
Gle, and not neglect the moral, returned
the young lady; and the Colonel prepared
to begin.
| The lieutenant was several years younger
than myself, being about twenty six Mt the
time. He was tall, and straight as a dart
his face was handsome, but wore q rather
mournful expression, usually quite Byronic,
the ladies said.
! II would occupy too much time to relate
the manner We became acquainted. He did
me several signal favors during the time OF
| our intimacy.
| "Charles had formed an unfortunate at
tachment for young lady, the daughter of
Southern planter, whom he had met in
| New York prior to the breaking out of the
war.
He told me all about it in one of his
! melancholy moods, and l recollect the Cir
cumstances very WELL
"He had seemed successful at first, and
although Miss Angel, as l shall call her,
had made no engagement with him, they
understood each other we'll enough; and
her father did not seem averse to their
union. Monteal was wealthy, and his morals
unobjectionable.
"But suddenly "a change came Ger the
spirit of his dream so be told me. There
was to be fighting. Charles was interested,
as all young men should be. Unfortunate
ly, Mr.. Angel was also Interested, and the
young lady inclined toward her fathers
faith.
"One evening Monteal allowed himself
to be drawn into an argument with the old
upon the Government, and both gentlemen
became warm.
at was violent time, and before the in
terview was over Mr.. Angel had given the
young man to understand that his acquaint-
ance was no longer desired.
Charles told me the two days that fol-
lowed were the most miserable of his life,
and. knowing his disposition, believed
him.
"The Angels were preparing to return
home; Monteal sought and obtained an in
terview with Miss Angel during her fathers
absence from the house.
Before he left she admitted that she did
not hate him; but he was assured that her
fathers consent was necessary to obtain
her for his wife, and this he despaired of
gaining.
"While he was endeavoring to see Mr..
Angell he suddenly migrated, carrying his
daughter in his train.
"Then the young man wrote letters; but
| the replies he received were not pleasant.
| He learned that the lady's brothers were
collecting regiments, and when the war
broke out in earnest Charles joined the
"Soon afterward made his acquaintance,
and gained knowledge of his story.
"One day in May, 1862, he saw the young
lady once more. She had come to the res
idence of friend dwelling fifty miles or
80 from our station. Charles had requested
this, and she cared enough for him to con-
sent.
"He never told me what passed at the
interview, though, as he had been so frank
| in the former account, / expected it.
"He was very melancholy the next NOM
ing, however, and l could guess how mat
ters we're going, and my ideas were con-
frmed by the following song and its ex-
planation:
"'Our women have hung their harps away,
And they scowl on your brutal bands,
While the nimblo poniard dares the day,
In their brave, defiant hands
why do you sing that?' demanded.
1T was sung to me last night he re-
piled, and will haunt my memory until
my dying day. Isn't this a terrible state of
affairs'
"Then he left me, with sorrowful shake
of the head.
II saw very little of Monteal for the
next three weeks. Several times / tried to
rouse him from the state of apathy into
which he had fallen, but all in vain.
AT last our duty carried us into the
neighborhood Of Mr.. Angel, and / saw
that his proximity TO the woman he loved
made decided impression upon the Lieu
tenant.
Fearing some accident, / scarcely knew
what, l watched him closely. In the
meantime we were skirmishing continually
with separate bands of Confedemtes, and
slowly gaining ground upon them.
AT last the time fated for the end of
Monteal's romance came.
"We were surprised during the night,
several pickets killed, and some horses
captured. The morning following l was
ordered out in pursuit of the band, which
was small, and was supposed to have been
raised in the neighborhood.
"Monteal requested leave to accompany
me. would have refused IL l could have
done so; for l suspected that he had some
plan in view.
"But there was nothing for il but he
must go, and We started, with a negro in
the train, who was to guide ms upon our
search.
"To be brief, we found the trail of the
marauders, followed 1t for several miles,
and at last came upon their encampment.
"Their band was somewhat less than
ours, and after brisk skirmish we re-
captured the horses and put the foes to
fight.
"I had been ordered to exterminate the
band, IL possible, and Immediately began
the pursuit. The leader of the band was
beardless young fellow, with considerable
spirit. MOnteai seemed to recognize him,
for his eyes had been fastened upon the
fellow continually, and his face was very
pale.
"I demanded IL he knew him. as Nc rode
along in hot pursuit, but Monteal only