The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-01-13
UNDER TWO FLAGS.
An Ex.soidier Who Takes no Pride In his
Array Career.

The civil war was such big thing, il
lasted SO long, and covered such vast ex.
panse of territory, that it was an easy mat
ter for man to aght in both armies, and
escape detection and punishment as q de-
serter. A few months before Georgia seced-
ed 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 senti.
meRts than he would have been under other
circumstances. The State went out of the
Union, the trouble commenced in Garment,
and volunteer companies began to organize
and go to the front. Our New England
friend felt that the pressure of public opin-
ion was too strong to be withstood. Il was
hard to fight his own people, but if he did
not become Confederate soldier, the peo-
pie were liable in some hour of mad excite
ment to lynch him. So he donned suit
of gray and trudged off TO Virginia with a
musket on his shoulder.
The unwilling volunteer stood camp life
very well. He bore his part manfully in
many skirmish and battle, and in the
course of time was made lieutenant. He
came very near going through the war with
out spot on his record, but in fatal mo-
ment he yielded to temptation and disgrace
ed himself and his uniform.
II was cold wet day in April 1866.
The lieutenant had become separated from
a 10 aud l..
way and threw himself on the wet ground
completely worn out. His physical weak
ness depressed his mind, IND he gave him.
self up to fit of dependency. A flood of
bitter thoughts rushed over him. Why
should he, an alien, risk his life in defence
of people who hated him. Why should
he struggle on, he knew not how many
years longer, fighting against his kinsmen
and friends Following an impulse which
seemed irresistible, he rcss to his feet and
ines Before nightfall he was in the camp
If the enemy.
The poor fellow told his story afterware
With mournful pathos. He said that til,
Federi,ls wanted to treat him as spy.
When they refused to believe his tale of de.
sertion he offered to volunteer as proof OF
his good faith. The offer was accepted.
He got into blue uniform, and found him.
self once moro in active service. Two days
later General Lee surrendered at Appomnt-
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 ir
the Confederate army On the other hand,
be could not go to Georgia, where he would
be denounced and despised as q deserter
He drifted to Boston, and there he narrow
ly escaped getting into prison. His tongue
got him into the trouble. He remarked to
a 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
conversation to the Provost Marshal, and
hat officer sent file of men to march the
ieserter to his Office. The unfortunate man
1nbosomed himself to the Marshal, con.
language reported, and said that it reflected
his state of mind II he had held OUT
against temptation two days longer, he
could have returned to Georgia with proud
record MS q tried and true Confederate. As
1t was he felt himself an outcast, with no
sountry, no flag, no comrades, nothing but
blasted character. The Provost Mar.
shal was sensible man. Tie listened in
silence, gave his prisoner cigar, and said:
You may go, but don't talk that way any
more"
Sometimes this follower of the two flags
passes through Georgia on business trip
He never hunts up any of his old Exon.
federate comrades. Occasionally he finds
himself in q crowd where they are all telling
war "reminiscences. AS soon rs he can he
quietly retires. He has no war stories to
ell. During recent years this man has
done fairly well in business way. But
prosperity does not satisfy him. He seems
to be under the shadow Of that disgraceful
April day in 65. He is almost o mono
maniac ON this subject, and to day he would
give up his life, his family, and everything
if he could be resting in one of the gravei
in our cemetery under the shadow OF the
Confederate monument. What an intoler.
able torture such an existence must be -
atlanta (Ga.) Constitution.