The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-19
ROMANCE OF TWO WARS.
Story Of Two Rejected Maryland
Lovers Who Fought
TO FORGET DISAPPOINTMENT.
One Of Them Served with Credit In the
Mexican and Civil Struggles and Is
still single-The Other Lies Buried
Near Where He Fell In Battle.

Samuel McCurdy was a merchant In
Grantsville, a beautiful mountain village
In western Maryland, with declining
business and without the perseverance to
restore 1t to its former condition OF pros
perity. 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 re-
ciprocated. He was bright, intelligent
gallant, with fine presence, yet his
charmer held him aloof. She respected
him, did not disdain him, yet she had fears
for the future and rejected his suit.
Then came chance for the disappointed
lover to enlist, win glory on foreign field
and return to claim attention with the
halo OF a warriors deeds about him.
Oddly enough, there was another case
like this in the neighborhood. Samuel Nc
Cleary, sturdy, handsome young stage
coach driver, had likewise found an unre-
sponsive 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 direc-
tion Of the fair daughter of a wealthy hotel
keeper, we'll educated and cultivated. She
was the acknowledged belle of the neigh
borhood. McCleary, of course, was of
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 circum-
stances.
GOING TO WAR.
II was in the middle Of March, 1s47, that
the gallant Captain Walker came riding
through the Cumberland region in search
of recruits for the Mexican campaign. Nc
Cleary was ripe for adventure and he
joined. IL had been agreed between him
and McCurdy, they being fast friends. that
they should enlist together, but McCurdy
was away from home at the time, and on
his return, hearing of the enlistment of his
friend he followed the command across the
country to Newport, KY, where he, too,
joined the company.
McCleary was u great favorite with the
commander, a good fellow in every way,
the soul Of honor, and one of the bravest
soldiers ever under fire. He was always at
the front with Walker, and when they fell
they were together in the van.
tered places in the campaign. They were
there for fighting and for glory, and they
knew that it must be sought at the fore.
Walkers rangers gave them ample oppor-
tunity for active work, for this gallant
band was the first to dash forward into
dangerous places and do desperate deeds
They went into the battle of Humantls
together, and but one of them came out
r(s I'd Uh
the numbers were small on each side
McCleary 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 a wound, beyond a scratch from
one Of the peculiar copper covered balls
used by the Mexican forces.
M'CURDY's PROPOSAL.
He was present at the final capture OF
the capital, and then, with a company OF
300, he volunteered to go down to Vera
Cruz with the first train of sick and wound
ed. On his return to the city he was Sc
lected by the commandant of the City
Guard as his clerk, being an excellent pen
man. 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
is great coat of arms emblazoned at it,
read. One Of these letters was important
Accompanying the letter was a hand
,ome ring, sparkling with diamonds, and
he directions were that B., to whom il
vas sent, should place it upon the appro
pirate finger of Miss Chat" rs McCurdy's
iistant sweetheart was called among her
friends. This was to be with the under
.tanding that when the soldier returned
rom the war she was TO become his wife.
Unfortunately the lady objected Though
he proxy was well sustained and the mis-
ion was attempted with skill and tact she
efused to accept the ring and with it the
conditions. The prototype of John Alden
urged her TO give reason why she should
not take the token, and she replied, 81
think you know the reasons" Cnhappily,
he did not, and never did know why il was
that NcCurdy was not favorite with her
The ring, however, was not returned to
Mexico for fear that McCurdy might, in
ais desperation, give it with its meaning to
a native beauty.
THE VETERAN TO-DAY.
The war over, McCurdy came home, ex-
pecting to be greeted by his promised bride,
out though she joined in the demonstra
tions Of welcome that the town made, she
remained as distant as ever. For several
years he remained in old Allegheny county.
lie tried politics; but though he had hosts
Df friends, he was too ardent a Whg to ne
,uccessful, and he went out TO California,
where he was more successful in his politi-
cal aspirations. He was finally elected TO
the legislature. AT last he returned To the
States" but for some years his where
abouts were quite unknown to his old
friends in the Cumberland region.
When the war of the rebellion broke out
he was awakened into n new life, and he
enlisted aud served throughout the contest
rs n private soldier from Pennsylvania,
from the first gun TO the final surrender.
lie 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
three years Of age, at the home for disabled
volunteers at Hampton, Va, drawing
pension of eight dollars 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 Che H. also living sixtv.fye wears of