Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-12
A Plucky Boy Who Sacrificed His
Life TO Save an Army.

'Where're you going?
'N house over thar.
A mounted officer in gray uniform,
at the head OF half dozen troopers,
was speaking with boy eleven or
twelve years old, whom he had met
walking along path by the side of
the road. The time was at the close
Of Southern winter In 1856, and
the location was in a border state.
The child was small for his age, but
sturdy. On his head was an old straw
hat, through which the hair peeped
in places. He wore short jacket,
out at the elbows, and trousers rolled
up at the bottoms. Several little toes
thrust themselves through cracks in
his shoes, and his shirt vas unbotton-
ed at the collar. Despite his unsea-
sonable apparel, the child did not ap-
pear to be cold. He was ruddy as an
apple.
where do you liver asked the off,
Ger, a Lieutenant, after surveying the
little figure contemplatively. The boy
turned around and pointed to house
on an eminence in the direction from
which he had come
is your father Union or Confeder.
ate7'
Union
The officer scowied. During the
civil war the Southern troops were far
more bitter against the Union men OF
the South than toward Northern SOL
diers.
Iain't no Union man, though, add.
ed the boy thrusting his hands into
his pockets, planting his legs firmly at
an angle, and looking up at the SOL
diers, resolutely. I'm rebel
There was burst Of laughter from
the troop at his implied defiance.
What's your fathers name?'
Tom Lane, and mines Tom Lane,
too
The officer turned his head and
glanced meaningly at a sergeant who
was close behind him.
is your father at homer
NO, sir
: When will he be at homer
Il dunno The boy knit his brows.
Then, with quick change of interest
and expression, he asked: 'Whar you.
uns a-goen'?'
The officer smiled. Where are you
going, my lad?'
Over thar He pointed with his
finger.
'Oh. yes, I forgot. And what are
you going to do over there7' Tom COL
ored. ooh, amt going to do moth
ing but leave sump'n in the post Office
on the fence
The post office was box with
slit in the top which had been put up
for the purpose of children's CORE
spondence. The officer noticed that
the chubby hand grasped bit of fold
ed paper.
Sergeant said the officer, speaking
low, Tom Lanes the man we are af-
ter. This is his boy. We must try
to find out if Lane is at home, or
where he is. I've orders to take him,
dead or alive
MY little man. he continued to the
boy, will you answer some questions
for the good of your couutry?'
4 reckon 30.
Then tell me where your father is.
He amt none of us, he's Union
Yes, but where is he2'
MY pop amt got nothin' to do with
you-uns. Asst me some other things,
IN I'll tell 'em.'
The officer was baffled. Indeed, he
was ashamed of his work in trying to
induce boy to betray his father. The
lad started on. The sergeant was
about to ride forward and stop him,
but the officer ordered him back. The
troop rode on to a cross-road which |
led to wood to the right; then turn
ed down this road and entered the
wood. Finding spring of water,
they went into bivouac. A man was
detailed to ride after the boy, and
secure the missive he intended to drop
in the letter box.
The soldiers picketed their horses
and cooked their supper. While they |
were eating, the man who had been
sent for the letter came in. The off
Ger unfolded the little scrap of paper,
and read this scrawl in child's hand |
MARCH THuRD.
DERE MAGGY: I want you fur to be mi |
g soger. Mi pop is agoen to bring me a gun.
He's comen hoam to-morrer. Nav she sails
I'm to little fur gun but reckon Ill git it
any way. Yures trewly, ToM LANE JUNYER.
The officer spelled out this commun.
ication with some difficulty, and put it
10 his pocket. 1t contained all the in
formation he wanted. He had now
nothing to do but to wait in order to
capture Tom Lane, guerilla. .
The next morning the boy was play
ing in the road not far from his fathers
house. A Confederate officer, with
stars on his coat-collar, rode up, fol.
lowed by his staff and asked him some
questions about the topography of the
country, which the boy answered
Tho Ganaral nraisad him |