Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-07
UNDER TWO FLAGS.

A Pathetic Story of a Young Soldier Who
Served in Both the Union and Confed-
crate Armies.
The civil war was such big thing, it
lasted so long, and covered such a vast
expanse of territory, that it was an easy
matter for man to fight in both az
mics, and escape detection and punish
ment as deserter. A few months be-
fore Georgia seeded a bright young
New Highlander settled in one of our
country towns. His Northern birth
caused him to be suspected, and on this
account he was probably more out
spoken in the expression of secession
sentiments than he would have been an
der other circumstances. The State
went out of the Union, the trouble COM
menced in earnest, and volunteer COM
panies began to organize and go to the
front. Our New England friend felt
that the pressure of public opinion was
too strong to be withstood. 1t was hard
to fight his own people, but if he did
not become a Confederate soldier, the
people were liable in some hour of mad
excitement to lynch him. So he donned
a suit of gray and trudged off to Vir-
ginia with musket on his shoulder.
The unwilling volunteer stood camp
life very well. He bore his part man
fully in many a skirmish and battle, and
in the course of time was made lieu
tenant. He came very near going
through the war without spot on his
record. but in fatal moment he yielded
to temptation and disgraced himself and
his uniform.
It was cold wet day in April, 1865.
The Lieutenant had become separated
from his command on the march. He
LOST his way and threw himself on the
wet ground completely worn out. His
physical weakness depressed his mind,
and he gave himself up to a fit of de-
spondency. A flood of bitter thoughts
rushed over him. Why should he, an
alien. risk his life in defense of people
who hated him. Why should he strug-
gle on, he knew not how many years
longer. fighting against his kinsmen and
friends! Following an impulse which
seemed irresistible, he rose to his feet
and set his face in the direction of the
Federal lines. Before nightfall he was
in the camp of the enemy.
The poor fellow told his story after
ward with mournful pathos. He said
that the Federals wanted to treat
him rs a spy. When they refused
to believe his tale of desertion he of
fere,i 10 volunteer as proof of his
good faith. The offer was accepted.
He got into blue uniform, and
found himself once more in active
service. Two days later General Lee
surrendered at Appomattox. In an
other month the deserter was mustered
out.
The man was in quandary He
dared not 60 back to his New England
home. The people there all knew that
he had been in the Confederate army.
On tic other hand he could not go to
Georgia, where he would be denounced
and ticspised as a deserter. He drifted
to Boston, and there he narrowly es-
capped getting into prison. His tongue
got him into the trouble. He remarked
to n lady at his clearinghouse that
he would rather lie in an honored
Confederate grave down in Dixie
than own half of Boston. The lady
was furious. She reported the con-
yersation to the Provost Marshal, and
that officer sent file of men to march
the deserter to his office. The unfortu-
nate man unbosomed himself to the
Marshal, eoncealing nothing He ad.
mitted using the language reported, and
said that it reflected his state of mind
If he had held out against temptation
two days longer, he could have returned
to Georgia with proud record as a tried
and true Confederate. As it was he felt
himself an outcast, with no country, nc
flag. no comrades. nothing but blasted
character. The Provost Marshal was q
sensible man. He listened in silence,
gave his prisoner cigar and said ''You
may 90, but don't talk that wa.7 any
more"
Sometimes this follower of the two
flags passes through Georgia on a bust