Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-04-06

slhall uclachnlent embracing his com
pany, would start on the morrow for
scout in Lincoln county he letter
closed with assurances of his love anC
"A promise To write again as soon "A
opportunity offered
There was one letter i'm this mai
which attracted the particular attention
OF Maj. -mith as well as myself. II
was addressed to John Noland, and
appeared TO have been written at
Columbia Tenn, and mailed at Nash.
vile. The suspicious character of The
letter, and the threatening allusion to
the 'Yanky soldier" induced me to
take copy of it, which was as follows:
COLUMBY, Aug tn 1868
DEAR JACK; ! am out of the frying
pan into the fire. left Wheeler 2
weeks ago, and am now in the Yanky
lines. Bill Thompson and about 4
more was took prisoners last week
am now with old man Godfrey. but
Will leave for Lincoln county next week.
Jake goes with me. Tell the old lady
| will be along in October, if not sooner.
i see Bill Stuart last week rite from
Shelbyvile, and he herd Su Lacy had
got married 10 Yanky soldier. | don t
beleave the story, but if it is so he had
letter 81 his praers before | get site on
him. think Tom had better stay at
home; he Is too young to fife and knock
around, as he would have to do if he
come with us. | send this letter by
Bill Thompson to Nashville. No more
From one you know who. JIM.
| don't remember. if ever | knew,
what dispOsit on al. Smith made of
this letter. | know that both of US
were pretty well satisfied that it wa
written by a rebel guerrilla, who was
cheating the gallows of its due every
day that he lived.
Punctuaily on Saturday the pretty
little wife OF the ankee sold er called
at the postoflice for her letter. Her
heart beat with delight Is handed her
the missivc. and she gazed with pride
and satisfaction at the superscripton
Mrs. Susan Sitton. 1t was probably
the first time she had ever seen the
name written, and She pondered over it
as if TO realize that she was indeed a
wife, and that the superscription was
her own proper address
She soon observed that the letter had
been opened. and this she did not seem
to like very well. told her that al
though il was not the custom OF post
Offices generally TO open the letters re.
ceiyed it was, however. the custom of
that Office, except the person addressed
was a - tied states soldier then
showed her the letter from jim al
dressed To John Gland. and ca'l Id her
attention to the threat aga rs, e Yam
kee soldier who had MARI Ell sue acy.
In q moment the color can e to her
checks, and her eyes sparkIed with an
ger
II know who that is I'll bet dol
lar its i'm Wyatt. He a good-f for
nothing, sece,h rebel, and ined COM
pany that WAS got up for Wheeler
cavalry He stole two horse, from
Squire aldwell last ,pring. hope
he'll get bullet in MS head before he
ever come, ach TO >helb Y Tie "
perhaps he was an old beau of
yours. remarked.
80, be wasn't but he wanted to be
thou IN, and would have nothing to do
with HIM. Good d9s, T, and the
young Ia v dartcd q and was oit OF
sight before had tm- 30 ask furthe-
questions, leaving nae alone to relecl
upon the uusophi-t Gated simplicity of
In about q month after the events
above narrated our regiment was or
dercd 10 Brdg, por;. Ma, and | was
obliged TO turn over the postoilice TO
other parties Then followed the bat
ties of Chickamaugf and Mission Ridge. |
the siege of Knoxville and the famine of |
Stringer's Ridge. ! he winter passed. |
the spring daw ed, and then anne the |
teri. bly, severe { gloriouslv successful |
campaign against Atlanta. lust as we |
reached the "a e' of that unfortunate |
city. and the glistenhg spires of her
steepieS had become visible, | was TAX
en- down with fever and was sent back
to Chattanooga. \ few days thereafter
| was favored with a 30 DAYS furlough
for home. Passing through Louisvi lie
was obliged TO stop at the Quartermas-
ter 5 office for transportation. There was
a crowd OF furlOughed and scharged
soldiers present on the same errand as
myself Our papers were handed in
and examined, and then clerk called
Off the names and handed back the
papers, accompanied with the order for
The name called next
after mine was that of Robert Stton.
! he name appeared familiar to me,
but J could re ognize no ac luaintance-
ship in the COuntenance of the soldier
who responded to the name. As we
passed out of the Office my comrade
was joined by a pretty and well dressed
young lady with babe in her arms.
lad seen that lady before. She was
my old patron at the Shelbyville post
office. | felt that | needed no introduce
ion to her. and accosted her at once
She was prompt TO recognize me, and
yave me Il formal introduction to her
reminding me of my former
iistrust of him, and adding: al told
-ou he would take me home with him
o Ohio as soon as he was discharged,
md we are on our way now.
$50. then YOU are discharged from {
he service?' interrogatively remark.
ID to Mr.. Stton !
ayes. sir; my three years were up
more than 81 weeks ago. hut didn't :
ret mustered out and paid off until last i
week ,
"Well, Mr. Sitton, | congratulate {