Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-17
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.

Cousins who Met at a Wedding thirty
years Ago-Their Subsequent Meeting
at Old Camp Morton.
In the year 1858 handsome and gal
liant young gentleman Of Kentucky anda
member of one Of the prominent fami-
lies of the Blue Grass region OF that
State. on the occasion Of a certain nota-
BILE wedding event. with his mother
visited the city of indianapolis, ina.
This young gentleman is cousin TO the
then bride. The groom, who is now
dead, was brother OF one OF the Presl-
dents of the United States. The bride
had brother about the same age OF her
visiting cousin. The two cousins we're,
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
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 oil
Camp Morton" 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, lollin 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
Living there alone, they talked. The
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 thatstretched 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 disappointmcnts 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 a 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 not meetagain
for more than five years, and then under
widely different circumstances and sur
roundings. 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
hearthstones. Both of the young men
went forth to battle.
They stood before the eannon's mouth,
Each one rose to the rank of Captain.
The Kentuckian was captured, and as
prisoner of war was sent to Camp
Morton" While prisoner, his cousin
returned on furlough to his home in In.
dianapolis, and hearing of the fate of his
relative went out to Camp Morton" to
see him. In the course of conversation
incident to the meeting of the cousins
the Federal Captain asked his cousin Il
he remembered the ride they took wher
he came from Kentucky to the wedding
of his sister. The prisoner said he did
and also the lair castles" they bull
while lying under the walnut trees il
the shade. He asked the Confederate
Captain If he recollected the place
where they rolled on the grass thai
warm summer afternoon. He said hs
did not.
Taking him toEhe gate of his prison
the Federal Captain pointed to a tire,
about thirty steps distant and said: 81
was there, in the shade of that tree''
The wedding the Kentuckian ATTENDED
with his mother was that of Mis-,
Sheets, sister of the Federal Captai1
and daughter of William Sheets, ESQ.
of Indiana. The groom was brothel
of Benjamin Harrison. President of tn,
United States The Kentuckian i
Colonel John B. Castleman, of Louis
vile, KY, late Adjutant General of tina
State, and his cousin, the Federal Cap
tain. who rode and lounged with hin