Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-05

me tell why the date 10 one Tor memOr-
ial observances, consecrated as an "All
Saints Dayp In the calendar of every
member of n0urs" while he yet may
live, aud is still day Of bitter grief, hu-
initiation and prayer To one stricken
soul who hungers for the death that
comes not. q EktE
Ned Douglas Joined "Oursn in '63
while we were serving IN Louisiana.
Right from "The Point" he came, re-
fuslng the few weeks furlough granted
on graduation, 30 fearful was he that
the war might end before he could
make record In that grand strife. A
knightly young soldier was he, tender
and true as his namesake of the loving
song-the soul Of lion for fight, the
heart of q loving girl for all that was
poor, pitiful or weak. The blush came
often to his fair cheek at rude remark
or unkind jest, and he would toss his
long blonde hair from off his brow with
hasty hands whose nervous action
showed how he longed to resent un-
worthy thoughts or deeds in those he
considered should be soldiers in all
things-souls of honor.
"Beauty" and "Beau" were the first
names suggested for him; but his neat
ness, the feminine tact he showed in
ruling his men and gaining the friend
ship of even the rougher officers, to-
gether with the really womanly traits
that seemed to be more than fairly pro-
portioned in his character. caused some
one to dub him, "Nellie," and
"Nellie" he was from the day the name
first sounded for him,
1t was at certain point on the Miss
issippi, below the mouth of the Red,
that we had laid in camp for two
Notwithstanding was stirring, but stag
nations and the troopers, as Corporal
Putt put it, were getting "blue moldy
for want of baitin'."
Hovering about our lines. just outside
and continual in annoying little hornet
like attacks, was body of Confederate
partisan rangers. Well mounted, know
ing the country perfectly, having coop
Grafton of all the inhabitants, and brave
daring fellows withal, the little troop
of Captain Carman kept US continually
on the alert, and when we sought him
he was, like the traditional Paddy's
flea, never there. His success embold-
ened him, dozen times he sent chal-
lenges to me daring me to send out thir-
ty of my best troopers to meet his band
of that number, in fair fight
in open field. Such preceding, by
would have been so gross
ly irregular" that headquarters would
never have sanctioned it. But Nellie
heard of the boast and brought all the
power of 'pester" upon me un-
til 1 allowed him, "unbeknowst to me-"
as it were, to accept the challenge and
for the fight.
Twas beautiful May morning as 1
the gallant band, from the
closed flap of my tent, file out and move
down the road behind the grand levee.
Nellie was at the head of picked twen-
ty-five; no more would he take. 1--WE
will give them the odds and will lick
'em, too, old manW he said, as he
shook my hand before mounting. A
little scout, as all the men remaining
behind in camp thought the expedition
was, but every "bOyn of that twenty
five knew the work that was cut out
for him, and to do or die was the re-
solve within his breast.
Seven miles down the river road was
the noble plantation of Mr.. Villiare.
Its rambling, low, piazza-surrounded
house stood in the midst of great wide
open space. The porches were filled
with young maidens and old ladies
now; there were troop horses tethered
close by, gallant fellows with broad
much-be-plumed hats and
gilt-laced gray uniform were there.
The Captain of that band, Emile Car
man, devoted himself especially to one
dainty, quiet, beautiful lass, who
seemed not to appreciate the honor
thus thrust upon her. Carman was a
brave man, handsome and a great fa-
vorite with the ladies, but to this
young maid he seemed utterly distaste-
full.
A sound of hoofs upon the hard road
"a gray-coated pickett dashes up and
signals: "They're comingp
Then there is a hurried mounting
and formation, quick words of caution
and command.
It was for no holiday show that these
of the South had gathered
there. In dread. yet with intense long
ing to witness the strife of real war,
they had been gathered to grace this
duel, to see the invader" receive the
justly deserved.
There comes in sight a thin thread of
blue, each man and horse picture, and
the young leader beautiful as god.
Soon they deploy into line, SO close
that the expression on each face can be
read by the breathless spectators, who
now would have given the world to fly
the coming scene, but yet, spell-bound,
Firmly, as men should. stood the
force in Gray, waiting.
The boys in blue rode on; trot; gal
lop! Charge! A fence was between-no
stopping for that. Over! Lift 'em! and
the fine cleared it and landed without
break,
Charge! and they thundred on against
the foe that as bravely rushed to meet
them.
No need for me to have been there.
Twas gallant fight, know, and a
fair one. And fortune favored the blue.
No shame to the Southerns that they
broke and were driven, and all honor to
our Nellie that, as soon as the first flush
of his first victory was over, he recalled
his pursuing force and returned to the
opening field to care for the wounded
foe and friend, impartially. ga
Women's kindly hands had forestall-
ed him in that and all the late specta-
tors were inside the house, on Christian
deeds intent, when he dismounted at
its front and stepped upon the porch.
Just then, from the open doorway,
L. kon 4.