Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-30

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my own government"
"And you dared involve mef'
'sWaitl l beg. My brother would never
shirk an honest doom. He was innocent and
have proved it.
"Bnt where is he now, and they, the fam
ilyr' At the last word Andres softened he
could not think harshly OF Eva, and 1t flashed
upon him that for all love goes where It's sent,
and her feelings may have been for him what
sometimes they seemed to be, tender as well
as friendly Mother and Eva and all are
away to the north, and my brother has re-
joined his army, under Lee. spared from the
fate that hung over him.
ssIt was this: You remember how, last
spring, party Of Confederates dashed into our
camps near Alexandria at night and seized
some officers Afterward our men overlook
the assailants, finding two of their captured
comrades dead and three missing, supposed to
have been foully murdered. My brother led
that night attack, a fair act Of war, and he
was put in Union prison as hostage for the
return of the missing men, and was charged
with the murder Of all"
Andres was in a SILVER, thinking that he
was surely implicated in a most detestable
crime Seyton continued:
"But my brother, on his part, had simply
taken his prisoners unframed toward bis own
ines-a long ride off-and- on the way had
been overpowered by band of partisan
rangers, notorious outlaws from the moun-
tains. These men, always scenting plumber
and living by robbery and reprisal, insisted
upon stripping the helpless prisoners and
holding them as hostages to buy the release
of some of their own crew who were lying In
Union prisons for crimes. My brother and
his followers resisted this outrage in vain In
the melee two Union prisoners had been killed
and the others taken away to the haunts of
the rangers, my brother and some others be-
ing finally overhauled by Union troops in
pursuit War is stern. He was sentenced to
death, and the verdict was sanctioned by hi,
own government, which repudiated the MUIR
der of captives in war. I''It is not admissible
in civilized warfare to take life with no other
object than the destruction of life. decision
of G. w. Randolph. Confederate secretary Of
warl
''All his proof was in the hands of his enc
miles, the outlaws, and they were in disgrace
with both governments, and to screen their
own crimes would, if appealed to, swear
away an honest soldiers life. By desperate
flight he escaped, swan over the broad Poto-
mac, and was intending to reach the noun
living witnesses of his innoconce lie reached
home ami was hemmed in Just as our army
and his own came % the neighborhood. If
seized by us he wSdld hang; if by his own
people he would bs returned to a Federal
prison. because, on his escape, the son of a
Confederate leader had been sentenced as a
hostage to die in his stead on the appointed
day. The only hope was in friend who, hav
ing aid from our government, would be pro-
tected in a visit to the mountains. Once
there, by force or parley he might get the
Kissing men. This | did while on my fur
Tough. That leave of absence, comrade, was
granted because of long and faithful ser
vices Thus armed went to Washington,
secured aid, entered the Blue Ridge fast
nesses and released the men, who confirmed
all. Their dead comrades fell in a common
fight against the outlaws, and my brother
had fought to save his prisoners. Proofs were
sent to the enemys camp and on my last visit
home handed my brother his pardon and
papers of honorable exchange, which made
him free and honest"
81 see how it all could be-" said Andres,
thoughtfully. ''But why deceive me and put
me in such riskf
Would you have trusted me had you
known how was related OF tside the hnesf"
No, would not
Then all would have been lost The day of
execution was near A reprieve had spared
the life of the innocent hostage standing for
the principal, and had he been found by
either army he would have found no mercy"
The story ended, Seyton smiled and said,
"But, comrade and friend, have here word
from one who can add to the thanks | eve
you"
With this he gave a note TO Andres, who
opened and read: Miss Eva Ellwood begs
that Sergt Andres will give her an oppor-
tunity to apologize in person for the breach
of faith practiced outside the lines. Her
home in future will be her brothers, at
-, Pa
The Old negro, Patrick Henry, followed the
Union camps to be near his master" as he
persisted in calling Edward Seyton-pro-
NOTED captain iii his own regiment. At the
end of the war the comrades, Seyton and
Andres, went home together, and the romance
of the outposts ended in the marriage of the
sergeant-now captain-with Eva Enwood.
Capt. Henry Seyton, the Virginian, left the
disbanded Confederate army broken down in
health and found an asy lum with his kinsmen
at the north Now both he and his brother
lie near each other in death, and Decoration
day brings guerdon of flowers from tender
hands to mark their graves But one grave
only, that of faithful Edward Seyton, is
haliowed with the true memorial emblem,
the silken banner of our Union That is
placed there by his friend and Grand Army
comrade, Capt. Everett Andres
Ponds Extract has won a great repu-