The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-03-07

J. H- MARSHALL
S2r THE SENTINEL

devoticn-afer an hundred glorious
victories and 3 few no less honorable
defeats they returned to make one last
struggle for their own and their coun-
try's liberty within the borders of
their native State. Lee with his rag
ged band of her.,es had-laid down his
sword at Appomattox, and still John
ston with a weary troop of patriots
continued the utterly hopeless csn-
test.
"Such," said Mr.. Strong whose eyes
had filled with tears as he spoke of
the last agonies of a gallant nation,
"was the condition of affairs on the
10Th of April, 1865. Having sur
rendered with Lees army two weeks
before, and unwilling 10 witness the
many painful scenes which were un
avoidable after that event.
had hurried back to CHAPEL Hill,
arriving just in time to become the
spectator of more sprrowful spectacle
than that left behind me in Virginia.
Johnston with handful of men, hope
lessly broken down and famished,
without rest, food or sleep, foot sore
and dropping from exhaustion by the
roadside at every step, was retreating
before Sherman's army.
"The pursuit was relentless and un-
tagging. The Confederate troops
with nominal headquarters at what
was then Durham's Station, were
struggling over the whole country.
Terms of surrender had been agreed
on by the opposing generals, which
were rejected after the assassination of
Lincoln. Hosti1ities were resumed.
Bands of cavalry belonging to the
different armies were securing the ad-
joining country. My home in Chapel
Hill having been broken up, I was
staying with my old friend, Thomas
Stile, who lives just over there in that
clump of trees by the New Hope"
said Mr.. Strong, pointing to a slight
hill off to our right from which the
chimneys and roof of an old farm
house could be seen peeping out from
a circle of oaks y"and who was likewise
the father of the very young woman
about whom the Dramgoole duel was
fought. She was now grown into
handsome, sad faced woman, known
the country round for her sympathy
with poverty and suffering.
"Though she never said as much, l
have always thought that she knew
more than she chose to tell concerning
the fate Of her two lovers. She had
nursed IN the hospital, at Richmond,
and at the time Of which I speak was
preparing to go down to Durham, to
aid in caring for the sick aud wound
ed. Trouble makes many good wo-
men in this world 1t is the only way
of making third of them good. Miss
Lucy Stile was one of them. l left
her giddy school girl and returned
to find thoughtful, virtuous wo-
man.
GAS I have said it was the Goth of
April. We had been wondering
around the old house all the morning
listening to the distant firing off to
the South, and fearing every moment
to receive news of Johnston's surren-
er and the downfall of the last hope
for the Confederacy. Near the mid
die of the day squad of our boys
came dashing down the road and
drew upon the lawn in front of the
house. They were preparing to dis
mount, when long line Of blue
coats were seen riding up the New
Hope Valley. Within ten minutes
the guns and pistols were cracking on
every side. 1t was not for long, how
ever. There could be no battle where
the odds were On hundred to one.
"The Confederates soon disappeared
in gallop the way they had come,
leaving one Of their number appar-
emily dead at Mr.. Stiles very door.
Lucy and myself ran out of the house
to see if anything could be done for
the wounded man. She was slightly
in advance of me, calling out to me
to 60 back for the bandages, we had
been hastily preparing whilst the fir
ing was going on. l did so. On re-
turning what was my surprise to find
Lucy seated upon the ground with
the soldiers head in her lap, rocking
herself backwards and forwards, cry
ing as though her heart would break
!. "She l,,ked up at me when | stood
by her with er proud, beautiful face
all wet with tears and the golden hair
blowing about it, saying: "It is my
old sweetheart come back to me again,
and he is dead" ] bent down tender
ly and reverently over the Grey Jacket.
1t was Pillan show enough, with a
bullet hole through his chest. Gently
taking him out of her arms, carried
him up the steps and laid him on her
own soft bed With the first move
ment shudder had passed through
his body which led me hope that
things were not 81 bad as Lucy had
said. It proved to be so. After an
hours anxious waiting his eye lids un
closed, aud with groan he gazed uf
at the loving faces bending ovel
him.
.Lucy !" In another instant, re
galdless of my warming voice, they
were locked in each others arms
The scene vas not meant for others, sc
we left them together for short time
It would not interest you to know O
the weary hours we spent in nursing
him back to lite It would neveI
have heen done exceDt for T,ucv'a mn