Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-10-04
A cONFEDERATE ROMANCE
What Befell alsmall Southern Fla.
Led Captive Throuob a pI,,.t lS OWne

TaA CAN'T. nj N'Atefu ldg-Its Ot,,.
Ecu captive Through Plucky Tnjon CnItf
American (Ga.) Republicsr' VIII
was rebel soldier. in ,LA
ate army four years, enioves =, toH' eaer-
took my part OF its defeets - '1.uAA phs,
, much as anyone, starved. sn9o,a leAtt IS
froze and melted in winter sr5 80 DIED,
rider the glorious cross os ~ summer
9ith q heart as full of deyotio, ' ~ south,
~ 800 nase LOT mother or leyotss =
his true and benefcent GOD. 0'ee 70
when hFst started out from the
nest town IN en- adjoining state. I've We
daughter Of the city gave mo a en ~ ttossly
ate nag, made Of silk, with bars ana ' ...'I
decorated cross, SHINING and 5las.e!ry
with gold and silver threads. Il e,u..ng
| pretty thing, and carried il biJ "as
inside pocket, for it was not larrs. - an
a gentleman's handkerchief csr.,, Ian
wherever | went, for I had proris.1 l..
plant 1t on Washington morpnrrt1 ~. 70
ever got there. III
WINE Lees army was encamuea r.,-
| Chambersburg, Pa, one June afte.a aVar
| [ strolled out with Felix G. ana .t'Dul
four miles from camp found Cos 'so'
treat il cottage inhabited by an si5a.I-
lady and beautiful young girl Of -
eighteen years. We got a good 5i1Us.
and heard the ladies deplore the war ~
they had relatives south with whom, tte-
| spent the summer every year untH ~
| war broke ont! Now this pleasnra ,-9
| debarred. While they were waIei,.'
went to q cool shade aud soon fail -
and then Felix, forgetting NV nressnalP
| left me. About two hours affsr 49,
awakened by the young girl and some ono
talking, and found that wounded fedsr.
al officer was her companion. Thew ala
not know of my presence, and when tbsT
ran upon me ! was awake and prett.
much alive; but, as the officer remartaS
'He was not in service on account os
wound received at Cedar Run. and ,,e
could exchange civilities." We had a'nrat
| ~ good talk and milk and bread vbs,a
we were. During the talk exposed ~
flag, which was snatohed by the girl who
exclaimed exultingly, l have captured
rebel flag and intend TO keep itn
begged for it, but she wilfuIly shook her
head. | told her it was present from
dear friend named Matte, and that sba
should not have it. Then she sai5
"Well, Rebel sir! My name is Matte.
good Union girl. have my hands on an
emblem of treason, traitors fac: and
I'll keep it or die, and her eyes flashed
with fire. III wish l we're mEa,u she
said, that l too might fight"
tried to snatsh the flag, but she was
too quick, and the officer said pretty
loudly, "Here, sergeant, bring your men
| quick" and it seemed as if | was sur
rounded by four or five men in blue uni
forms before / could turn around She
said, "Well, lieutenant you can keep your
prisoner in the cellar until you and your
men have tea" and led the way.
Soon l was locked up alone in cellar,
wherein there was no security and the
girl laughed as she waved the flag at me.
knew that had TO get cut before sup
per was over, and, as I pondefed over
my position, fear began to creep over
me that l was to suffer a long confne-
ment in Yankee prison. After an hour
or two an inner door opened and Miss
Matte, who had stolen my flag, stood be-
fore me, candle in hand, saying; 81 guess,
Mr.. Rebel, that you and I can come to
| terms. You have no arms and can trust
you I'll keep your flag, and for my love
of friends in the south, you shall go free.
| Cousin Robert and his men are eating.
] went through the house, found their
arms and taking off their caps, wet the
| tubes thoroughly, stole pistol that be
longed to the officer and started for the
door while the young lady was enter
tanning the soldiers. ! raa thirty or
forty steps before they discovered my
absence, when with a yell they broke
for their arms. You can bet there was
no shooting. in my race toward camp
two guards halted mt, but as they were
some distance off, replied al don't
understand" and kept running. The
Dutchmon joined the pursuers, but de-
tachment of Lomax's cavalry approached
and they ran the other way. l have 20
desire for the return of that flag now for
it has been south several times since the
var, and will come again and again.