Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31

I'VE Maryland Men Who Served Witl
walker In the MEXICAN War.

ONE GAS KILLED. TIE orHra oAnr OUT us-
HARMED AND roueHr THROUGH rHr VAR or
TIE REsELLIoS-Ax xSeAsxxESr 1T rRoxr
phcLNkD-ALIvr AND UNMARRIED.
from the regions Of western Maryland there
ofVss to Tus SrAR the details Of romance In
reea NE The story has come to light through
= sAsement made in . recent issue OF TIE SrAn
IN one OF Mr.. John r. Coyle's chapters upon
oid times and old people. which attracted the
notice ola reader in Cumberland and inspired
MIN 70 write the record Of one Of the men
mentioned in the article.
Mention was made Of Capt ssml n. Walker.
one OF the most intrepid and heroic cavaliers
on the American side in the Mexican war, and
INST OF his men was given. It was among tina.
tst that the resident Of Cumberland found the
names OF two Of his old friends whose experi-
ences form the basis Of his entertaining remin-
iscences- These men we're Samuel NcCurdy
and Samuel McCleary.
When the war with Mexico was declared
McCurdy was . merchant in Grantsville q
beautiful mountain village in western Mary
land, with declining business and without the
perseverance, to restore il to its former condi-
ton OF prosperity. He was fond OF the gay life
OF the towns, and had contracted debts, and
had, moreover. fallen in love without any ap-
parent chance Of his affections being recipro-
Gated He was bright. intelligent. gallant with
fine presence. vet his charmer held him
aloof. She respected him. did not disdain him,
his suit
Then came . chance for the disappointed
lover to enlist, win glory on q foreign field and
return to claim attention with the halo of .
warriors deeds about him.
Oddly enough there was another case like
this In the neighborhood Samuel McCleary. a
I'm NJ -.
had Likewise found an unresponsive object Of
love He drove on the old National road
which was then the thoroughfare over the
mountains. and his was familiar figure in the
country round about. His aspirations ran in
the direction OF the fair daughter OF a wealthy
hotel keepsr, well educated and cultivated. She
was the acknowledged belle of the neighbor-
mood. McCleary, of course, was of a humber
station IN life, but true to the adage that love
knows no bounds, he did not despair, but
made his advances. which were not met with
any degree OF response. There was no repulse,
but the siege was raised, to be renewed under
other circumstances.
BOTH ENLISTED UNDER WALKER.
1t was in the middle Of March, ls47. that the
gallant Capt Walker came riding through the
Cumberland region in search Of recruits for the
Mexican campaign. McCleary was ripe for ad-
venture and he Joined. Ii had been agreed be-
tween him and McCurdv, they being fast friends.
that they should enlist together, but McCurdy
was away from home at the time, and on his re-
turn, hearing Of the enlistment OF his friend.
he followed the command across the country to
Newport. KY, where he, too, joined the COM
pany.
McCleary was a great favorite with the COM
mander. good fellow in every way, the soul
Of honor. and one of the brayest soldiers ever
under fire. He was always at the front with
Walker, and when they fell they were together
in the van.
The two Marylanders did not seek sheltered
places In the campaign. They were there for
must be sought at the fore. Walkers rangers
gave them ample opportunity for active work,
for this gallant band was the first to dash for
ward into dangerous places and do desperate
deeds. They went into the battle of Humantla
together, and but one of them came out-Mc-
Curdy. 1t was a fierce fight, though the mum.
bers were small on each side. McClesry fell
with his captain, pierced by many Mexican
lances, and was buried on the field
McCurdy went on and passed through all Of
the battles Of the Valley Of Mexico without
wound beyond a scratch from one of the pecu-
liar copper-covered balls used by the Mexican
forces. He was present at the final capture Of
the capital, and then, with a company of 3OO
he volunteered to go down to Vera Cruz with
the first train OF sick and wounded. On his re-
turn to the city he was selected by the COM
mandaut Of the City Guard as his clerk, being
an excellent penman. The capitol building
was made the headquarters of the invaders and
from there McCurdy wrote at times to his old
friends in Maryland on the magnificent letter
paper OF the fallen government with its great
coat OF arms emblazoned at its head. None Of
these letters have been preserved but they
told OF interesting incidents of the occupation
One Of them was important. 1t went TO The
STARS informant, asking him to do one Of the
most delicate acts that one man ever did for
another.
AN ENeAGEMENT BIZ PROXY SOUGHT.
Accompanying the letter was Q handsome
! ring, sparkling with diamonds, and the direc-
tons were that B should place IL upon the
appropriate finger Of Miss "Chat," as Nc
Curdys distant sweetheart was called among
her friends. This was to be with the under
standing that when the soldier returned from
the war she was to become his wife
Unfortunately, the lady objected. Though
the proxy was well sustained and the mission
was attempted with skill and tact she refused
to accept the ring and with il the conditions.
The prototype OF John Alden urged her to give
reason why she would not take the token and
she replied: Il think you know the reasons. IS
Unhappily. he did not. and never did know
why it was that McCurdy was not q favorite
with her. The ring, however, was not returned
to Mexico, for fear, says the writer to The
STAR, that McCurdy might in his desperation,
give it with its meaning to a native beauty
The war over, McCurdy came home, expect
ing to be greeted by his promised BRIDE but
though she Joined In the demonstrations of
welcome that the town made she remained as
distant as ever. For several years he remained
in old Allegheny county. He tried politics,
but though he had hosts of friends, he was
too ardent a WING to be successful, and be went
out to California, where he was more success
full in his political aspirations. He was finally
elected to the legislature. At last he returned
to the Estates, but for some years his where
abouts were quite unknown to his old friends
in the Cum berland region.
ENLISTED IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
When the war Of the rebellion broke out he
was awakened into Q new life and he enlisted
| and served throughout the contest as a private
| soldier from Pennsylvania, from the first gun
to the final surrender. He kept his shoulder
for the musket and not for the strap and he
was mustered out with the same rank that he
had at first
McCurdy is still living, nearly seventy-thres
years of age, at the home for disabled volun-
teers at Hampton, Va. drawing pension Of So
| month for his services in the Mexican war.
He never married or wished TO do SO unless
Chat" might change her mind, which she did
not do. She is also living, sixty-ive years of
age, near New York, unmarried.
The girl whom McCleary left behind him in
time married q clergyman from Alabama,
where she went to live but in a few years she
returned to her home a widow with a daugh-
ter, who has since grown up to beautiful wom-
anhood and is now the wife of a successful
merchant in one Of the prosperous new cities
of the northwest.
McCurdy is cheerful and resigned to the lot