The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-01-14
A WAR STORY.
The Young Confederate Soldier
Who Was Lost at Gettysburg.
His Fate Mystery For Twenty
Four Years.

one OF the romances OF the war mas just
developed here, in which the only son Of
one of North Carolina's governors
figures. Governor Tod r. Caldwell dur
ins the war resi- led in handsome style at
he auiet little town Of MOrganton. OF
u old and honored family, he had but
vac object of intense affection-his son,
)ohn-a handsome lad not 90 years of
age. In the winter of 1862 this only son
begged to be allowed to go to the army.
Entreatles were of no avail, and his
father and his mother at last consented,
with tears, that he might join the Army
of Northern Virginia. He enlisted in
the 33d Regiment of North Carolina In
fantry, in Lanes Brigade, Pender's Di-
vision, A. p. Hills Corps.
When the campaign opened in 1868 no
soldier was more daring than young
Caldwell, and he was soon promoted
from the ranks. In May he was made
second lieutenant for his gallant and
meritorious conduct. His regiment
went into the Pennsylvania campaign.
At Gettysburg he was present and in the
hottest of the fight On the afternoon
of July 8, 1868, his regiment swept up
slope within fifty yards of the Federal
lines, went closer yet, and bayonets
were crossed. Suddenly the line moved
back a little. Young Caldwell was
never seen alive after that moment. He
was at the front when the backward
movement began. His father used all
the influences of money AID position to
find the lost soldier, but unavailingly.
The authorities refused to allow the
graves to be opened. 1t could not be
ascertalned whether he was dead or
alive, and the matter became one of the
most terrible uncertainties Under the
strain the minds of the father and mother
were nearly overcome. The father
grimly nursing his great sorrow, for
babe any one to mention the sons name,
and the terrible story was never alluded
to, even by the mother.
In 1871 General Caldwell became
governor of the state. Two years later,
in 1878, an exConfederate soldier
named Lucas, from Hyde county, was
elected to the Legislature, and came to
Raleigh. Some one told him one night
the sad story of the death, or supposed
death, and mystery of John Caldwell
The next day Lucas called on the Gov
ernor and told him the truth at last.
Lucas was in another regiment, and had
observed young Caldwcll's brave bear
ing, as they were near together. In the
terrible moment Of the rcpulsc he had
seen young Caldwell shot down while
separated from his men and fighting,
hand to hand, a New York soldier.
After hearing this story and the further
details of the burial of Caldwell by
Lucas. the Governor locked himself in
his room and was all day in tears. He
never told his wife of the revelation Jy
Lucas, ard told it only to his private
secretary.
\ few days AGO Major Charles W.
Cowtan of New York City wrote your
correspondent saying that he had in his
possession the commission of an officer
in North Carolina regiment, which he
had picked up on the battlefield of Get
tysburg. His regiment, the 10th New
York, held the lire at that point, just
alter a terrible charge by the North
Carolinians, in which one fair-halred
and boyish officer was brave in the cx-
IRENE. Major Cowtan had examined
some of the dead Confcdcratcs, who so
thickly strewed the grounds at the
works, and near one found torn and
bloody commission, on which was legi-
bic only "John Ca of the name
Major Cowtan expressed a desire to re-
turn this commission if any relatives of
the dead soldier could be found. The
commission was found to be that of the
long-lost John Caldwell The commits
sion was sent Mrs. Caldwell, and this
biood-stained and torn piece of parch-
ment is, she writes, all there is on earth
to remind her of the dead son. For
wars she cherish he'd the hone that her
son was alive and in some prison. In
fact, all the prisons were searched for