The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-06

l4sitt IN Nilc hAEliJ dpLstlu ISOuAIlAIlf
for it was Captain J. w. Louthan. OF
the Seventeenth Indiana Cavairv. his
attendant and prisoner, reached his
command, about seveuty-fivc men.
who had been detailed as scouts arter
the Columbus fight. In the meantime
the Captain had said to his prisoner
that if he would promise not to at
tempt escape lie would be trcateL
properly aud be protected in camp
from any trouble. The promise made.
the young Lieutenant felt easy. When
they joined the command of scouts the
soldiers around the camp-fires eyed
the prisoner-the only one i'm camp
inquisitivoiy, and burly Pennsyl-
vanian remarked. the Captain having
turned aside:
What do you want with that little
rebel? Wen just have to kin him TO
get rid of himi"
Captain" raid the prisoner, next
morning, they are talking about kill
ing me; am to be protected?''
Who talked about itP' the officer
asked
That saan there" pointing to the
2ennsylvanian who had made the
threat.
Dang you, said the officer, don't
you know that this is my prisoner.
and | Will shoot the man who touches
him?"
sires prisoner he said: Il have
YOUR promise that you viii not try to
escape. l viii take you at your word.
We are going from here to Macon, and
may get into several skirmishes on the
march. \ horse viii be provided for
you, and when we get 70 fighting you
must keep to the rear
On toe march 10 Macon the scouts
fell into several warm skirmishes, and
Captain LouIhaa was always IN the
front. He was as brave g man e.
ever saw, said Air. Howell IL speak
ing OF him He was a hard fighter,
and always kept in front of his men.
Whenever We stopped on the march NJ
houses along the road he was as gen
tie and as kind to the ladies as any
man could be. He would say TO them
in assuring them that their fright was
Unnecessary: Madam, these men
shall do nothing that your own SOL
diers would not do. You will oblige
us with something to eat, and / trust
you viii not consider it plunder on our
part II is ono of the exiGencies OF
war;
At this time the Federals held Macon
it was the week that Lee surren-
dered-and a thousand Confederate
prisoners were under guard in a large
cotton warehouse in that city Cap
tain Louthan joined his command in
Macon, aud his single prisoner fol-
into the warehouse with the other
prisoners. A day and night he
stayed there, almost suffocated, poorly
fed, and scarcely cared for at all. On
the second day Captain Louthan, an
officer of the day, saw him through
one of the warehouse windows. near
which he was standing, and exclaimed:
why, l forgot about you. You
must get out of that?'
The Captain elbowed his way
through the jam of prisoners and
telling him TO come along led
the prisoner out and carried him TO
his tent on the bank of the Ocmulgee.
You will stay here" he said. IAN;
with the promise that you will re-
member that you are my prisoner and
will report here three times a day at
meals, 1 will relieve you of guard"
On the third day the Captain re-
marking that the trouble was about
over, " asked his prisoner if he would
accept "A parole. Il can getit for YOU.
and you can go home and Heaven
prosper you.
And thus it was that Lieutenant
Howell finished his war experienc,
and returned to Atlanta
And now for the after war part OF
the storyi
Naturally, Mr.. Howell, no longer
Lieutenant, has often wondered what
became of the brave Federal Captain
70 whose kindness he was so much ir-
debted.
-Four years ago, while on a trip
through the West he concluded to 90
TO the meeting of the Grand Army OF
the Republic at Minneapolis, hoping
TO find some trace of him there Bot
he could near nothing.
Several weeks ago, in casual conver-
sation with Mr.. Ira NJ. Swartz. with
Captain Jacobs in charge of the work
on our new army post, something
about the story was mentioned.
u think / can find him. said Mr.
Swartz, and find him he did, at Dun
kirk, O., to which place Mr. Howell
at once wrote him. A reply came as
follows:
Il received your letter some time ago; was
glad 10 hear from you. / recollecu ,he time that
Twas out scouting and picked you up. I am
truly glan that you found me out and wrote To-
me -" would like TO come down 10 your
place and see you and visit some OF the battle
fields. / would also like 10 attend a reunio..
OF Wheeler and Forests cavalry. The las
two years OF the war the principal nghiing we
did was with them l do not belong TO the.
Grand Army of the Republic, as 7 live abou,
hve miles from town, and 1t too far for me 10.
attend the meetings. ] send copy of the Kentou
Democrat with your letter TO me. My political
faith is Democratic. Hoping TO hear from you
soon, remain, yours truly,
j. w. LoUTHAS, DunlSirlS, o.
A letter has already gone inviting
Captain Louthan to come down. At
lanta Constitution.
NAsgF