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

rade and his little family group-two graves
with a history
The Union army had driven the Confeder-
ate invaders from northern soil i'm the Gettys-
burg campaign and followed their Hying
eolumns across the Rappahannock and Rapi-
dan rivers One day, while passing along
the turnpike among the rich farms of Orange
county. Sergt. Everett Andres, of the
Twentieth, was stationed with a guard at the
entrance to farm lane-common in the
south-leading from the road to the house
Around the farm there were signs of life, a
thing unusual in Virginia whenever the
Union army passed by When the sergeant
and his men took the post they saw young
woman sitting under a tree near the road,
and two children playing near. To these
spectators the army moving past, horsemen,
footmen, heavy cannon, drawn by stout,
sleek teams, was a holiday show, but what
ever their thoughts, they looked on In silence
The general had given Andres guard or
ders to permit no soldier to go to the house
The tedious tramp of the army went on for
hours, and sometimes the soldiers, chatting at
their fatigue and privations, tried to pass at
the gate or to climb the fence above or below
the guard. When they were stopped they
gave surly retorts for the interference.
'Humphi You're afraid we'll take some
thing from these 'secesh,'" one would say
Another would add: "Serves 'em right n we
do" But the guards would motion them
sternly to move on Sometimes these rough
words, though aimed at the guards, were
meant for the young woman, and through
her the people of her class. But the keenest
sallies passed unheeded by the one whose
watching as the hours dragged seemed to be
. weary vigil for curiosity must tire out at
last Could the long lines Of soldiers hold
some special attraction for herr
At last the sergeant, through pity for the
defenseless maiden and her wards, and to
spare the temper of his men, walked along
the road opposite the watcher, touched his
cap In salute, and said:
"Pardon me, miss, but think you ought
to leave this spot You are exposed here"
A gentle lifting of the eyes was the only
dgn that the words were heard. Another
silly from some soldier whom the guard put
away with force gave point to the warning,
and Andres repeated it In the same friendly
tone, adding: "You will be called a-a-
rsbsl, and, perhaps, a spy" Still no answer,
other than nervous turning of the face to-
ward the speaker and quick withdrawal,
for her eyes at the instant had been flxed
sharply upon the ranks in the road. The reg
iment passing was the - Pennsylvania The
men rolled and jostled along, giving vent
In aRllies of repartee, or song, or complaints
ct the days long march. But there was one
q the number who did not join In the rail-
lgy or the complaints. Could he have been
ssO before the column reached this point
marked changes would have been noted in
his actions Now, his eyes would roam over
the country, and again rest in the thick
dusty wool under foot. When his rank came
abreast of the lane, this soldier, private in
TIE line, held his head bent like the weariest
Of his fellows, but at the moment the guard
was wrangling with some burly ruffian, who
struggled to get IN at the gateway, and when
The dleut marcher looked up on the outcry,
hi eyes met those of the young woman. Both
hlushed, and be turned and hurried on.
ouickly now the other called the children
20 hsr and led them to the house. Andres
supposed the last scene between the guard
and the would be forager had shown the
Stubborn miss that the roadside was no place
for her.
An that happened here was unusual.
Whme the army marched or camped the cit
issns asked the commandersfor house guards,
Or ono was sent unasked. But this young