Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-03-20
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.

Years Ago-TheIr Subsequent Meeting
at Old Camp Morton.
In the year 1858 handsome and gal
liant young gentleman of Kentucky and
member of one of the prominent fami
lies of the Blue Grass region of tina
State, on the occasion of certain nota
bio wedding event, with his mother
visited the city of indianapolis, Ind
This young gentleman is cousin to the
then bride. The groom, who is now
dead, was brother of one of the Presi
dents of the United States. The bride
had brother about the same age of hel
visiting cousin. The two cousins were
and are now, uncOmmonly well-statured
and handsome men.
After the wedding and during the
visit of the young Kentuckian to his
cousin, the two were out riding on a
warm summer day, and, driving along
the country road, saw an inviting grove
of walnut trees in an open field where
the fair ground is now located, and
which, during the war, was the site of
Camp Norton" so named in honor of
Oliver Z. Morton, the war Governor of
Indiana.
One of the gentlemen proposed to the
other that they drive into the field,
hitch their horses, loll in the shade of
the trees, and enjoy the cool breeze. 1t
was agreed, and they pulled down the
rail fence, making gap wide enough to
drive through, entered the field, hitched
their horses, and stretched themselves
on the green grass in the shade OF the
trees.
Lying there alone, they talked. Tho
fine fancy of young and vigorous man
hood was given free rein. Both young and
handsome, of splendid physique, with
good prospects for the future, life lay
temptingly spread out before them, fad
ing in the distance, as did the undulat-
ing landscape that stretched in beauty as
far as the eye could reach. They built
"air castles" in turn that doomed up be-
fore the minds eye in all the splendor
that cloud-castles spring into shape to
the natural eye, when sight is subject
to the fervid imagination of Joyous
youth.
Each speculated upon the future with
the other, forecasting what they were
going to do and be in this great world of
change, OF appointments and disappoint-
ments. They talked of their sweet
hearts, Of love, and fame and fortune.
They had not reached that philosophic
period of life when they could accept
their disappointments as their appoint
ments, and their appointments as their
disappointments.
That pleasant hour of hopeful chat
beneath the wide-spreading trees passed.
They returned to the home of the bride,
who is cousin to one and sister to the |
other. After some pleasantdays, mother |
and son left the home of their kindred |
and returned to the "Old Kentucky |
Home"
The two young mendid notmeetagain
for more than five years, and then under
widely different circumstances and sur
War clouds gathered, and in
the shock of many bloody battles the
leaden hail carried with it death to
thousands and desolation to too many
Both of the young men
vent forth to battle.
One for the North, one for the South,
They stood before the lannon's mouth,
Each one rose to the rank of Captain.
The Kentuckian was captured, and as
! prisoner of war was sent to Camp
Norton" While prisoner, his cousin
on furlough to his home in In
annapolis, and hearing of the fate of his
elative went out to Camp Morton" to
ZEE him. In the course of conversation
Incident to the meeting of the cousins,
he Federal Captain asked his cousin if
e remembered the ride they took when
10 came from Kentucky to the wedding
f his sister. The prisoner said he did,
nd also the 'air castles" they built
yhile lying under the walnut trees in \:
he shade He asked the Confederate !
aptain if he recollected the place
here they rolled on the grass that
arm summer afternoon. lie said he
id not.
Taking him to the gate of his prison,
ne Federal Captain pointed to tree
bout thirty steps distant and said: 1T
as there, in the shade of that tree"
ghe wedding the Kentuckian attended
it'll his mother was that of Miss !
heets, sister of the Federal Captain {
nd daughter of William Sheets, Esq, 9
Indiana. The groom was a brother
Benjamin Harrison, President of the .
nited States. The Kentuckian is s
,lonel John B. Casueman, of Louis d
lie, KY, late Adiutant General of that P
ate, and his cousin, the Federal Cap P
in. who rode and lounged with him Z
lder the shade trees, near indianapolis, L
Captain Harry Sheets, of ''Gunston
ALL" on the Potomac. near Mount s
ernon, the home Of Washington.-e
ashington Post C
MAJOR JOSEPH F. DENNIsToN, who was :,