The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-01-15

serve Corps was composed of mel
who had been disabled for active du
ty by wounds or disease, but VIII,
were retained in service and assigne,
to such duty us that which they pei
formed nt the camp. BY this plar
able-bodied men could be sent to tn
front, where they were most needed
and the Reserve Corps be detailed
upon other work. Notwithstan ding
the fact that these men were collect
ed from all parts OF the country
were from every branch of the service
and mostly invalids, their manuvers
and department upon dress parade
were so assmilated by careful drill
ing that they were pronounced by
all who saw them at the Barracks to
be in appearance as fine body oil
men as could be found in the Regular
Army.
| Many of these men had interesting
and romantic histories. During the
| IL months that served as Surgeon
in charge of the Barracks, | hap
pened upon much personal history
around some of which, it might be
said, "fell the twilight which sur
rounds the borderland of romance. "
One of these men whose fortunes are
the subject Of this sketch, particu-
larly excited my interest.
first saw him in January, 1863,
shortly after his transfer to the Re
serve Corps, when he was sent to me
by Col. Stevens, who saw his unfit
ness even for ordinary duty. | en-
tered into conversation with him.
aud what passed produced q favora-
Die impression upon me. He was
evidently well educated, and used to
good society, but the expression on
his handsome face convinced me
that some great sorrow weighed up-
on him. His name, he said, was
Charlie s.. Igave him some light
duty Mt the hospital where he soon
became a favorite with the men. To
Father Eddy, the post Chaplain and
myself he became an interesting
study; his pale face would so often
rise before us that we felt an over
powering curiosity to learn some
thing OF his past life, wishing that
we might tighten the burden under
which we wore sure ho was suffering.
From n comrade | found he had
been badly wounded at Pittsburp
Landing, where he rushed forward
and grasped the colors from the
hands OF the falling color bearer
and was shot in turn. The wound
incapaciated him for further active
service, but he refused to go home
again. He said he had none. We
tried III vaious ways to find out
something about his past. but as nil
questioning seemed to painfully af-
iect him, we forbore. But at length
we learnt that he received n good
many letters from town in Mas
sachusetts, and later discovered that
these came from his sister. THROUGH
mutual friends in the same CITY we
managed to open n correspondence
with Jennie, as she was named. and
she acquainted us with Charities
history. 1t seems that the young
mans father had been n seafaring
man, who lost his life while on n
whaling expedition, and his loving
vile surviving him but n few months
on her death-bed exacting a promise
from her son, then lad of about Ia.
that he would not adopt the life of n
sailor. Charlie and Jennie were piven
good educations; but their guardian
had proved Enthusiastically, and had
lost most of their money in rash
speculations. Now, before he reached
his majority, Charlie fell desperately
IN love with Kate, the daughter of
his fathers former partner and dear
friend, an old sea Captain named
Rogers.
The two young people loved each
other with all the warmth OF their
deep sympathetic natures, and the
old man, having his own plans
about Charles future, did not OBJ
pose a possible marriage between the |
two. When Charlie reached his ma /
Jorlty the Captain one day expressed
to him the wish that he put himself
under his direction and follow the
sen for his livelihood. What was
his surprise when Charlie, after con.
siderable evasion, at length emphat-
llcally refused, and when pressed for
his reasons, told Capt. Rogers of his
mothers dying request. He pur-
posed, however, entering the Union
army to fight for his country.
The Captain was n blunt. harsh
man, who seldom respected the feel.
lngs OF Others, and cared nothing
about Charities socred promise. Be,
',des tins, he was a bitter opposerof
ne abolition of slavery, being in
strong sympathy with the slave
raiders, and regarding slavery as n
iivine institution. When he realized
nat Charlie was firm in his decision
le became enraged at what he called
ngratitude. Hevowed Charlie should
lot goto the war, only TO come home
r,ippled and with his prospects ruin.
q, ana to marry his daughter and
epend on him to support both. Hot
lords followed, and the upshot of
nematter was that the Captain, see