Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1892-01-14
A ROMANTIC WAR STORY.
A MYSTERY SOLVED AFTER A
QUARTER CENTURY.
The Kind WashlnE ton Lady and an On.
known Confederate Prisonor-
Her Identity Accidentally
Discovered.

Mr.. George w. Dupre. OF New Or
leans had been in Washington sever
al days attending a celebrated case be-
fore the supreme court During his
visit here he had been the recipient OF
many attentions, and. one night made
one OF theater party to hear the
.Cavalleria Rusticana." Thereby
hangs curious tale. says the Wash
ington Pos.
In the party were DR.. Charley
Hagner DR.. T. Morris Murray. and
two or three other prominent men.
After the theater, sitting up with some
of Harvey's steamed oysters and laps
ing into pleasant talk, the party found
themselves discussing the war. inter-
changing stories and "reminiscences
thereof, aud indulging in that luxuri-
Gus moralizing which comes 20 easily
after an agreeable evening and .
wholesome and abundant supper. It
soon appeared that Mr.. Dupre had
been a confederate soldier in that IA
nous organization. the Washington
artillery, and that he had seen many
vicissitudes and encountered a number
OF dramatic experiences Touching
one OF these in particular he spoke at
some length on account OF the peculiar
interest it possessed for him In connec-
ton with Washington.
1t seems that In April 1865, he
was prisoner at Point Lookout hav-
ing been captured by Sheridan some
weeks before in the operations around
Richmond. He was quite boy
scarcely twenty-one and had suffered
severely not only because OF the hard
ships OF imprisonment but previously
in the stress and exposure OF a terri
bic campaign. One may imagine
therefore the Joy with which he re-
ceived from the commandment one day
the information that his release had
been ordered. How it Game about he
had then no idea He had no rela-
tives, friends. or even influential &C.
quaintances on this side OF the lines
so far rs he knew. and it was in q
condition OF bewildermeut quite as
profound as his happiness that he
came on to Washington.
Arriving here he heard the story;
learned that charming young lady OF
this district had heard Of bis sad cir
cumstances and had added his name
to list which had been recommended,
under powerful influence, for special
clemency. How he laid his gratitude
at his benefactress' feet; how, In the
illness which resulted from his suffer-
ings in the field and In prison, she
continued her kindness; how he at
last departed for home. assured that
no more gracious or good or beneHcent
or beautiful being adorned the earth
all this Mr.. Dupre related to his COM
panions in most enthusiastic periods.
but do you know" continued Mr..
Dupre. that although have visited
Washington many times since 1865.
and although ] have always inquired
for that lady, have never once been
able to fnd her. My gratitude is as
warm now as II was twenty-six years
ago when / came to Washington
ragged footsore burning with fever
and racked with pain. yet unutterably
thankful to the GOOD angel who had
delivered me- could 20 down on my
knees to her now 30 vivid is my REQ.
objection Of the misery from which
had been eaved and 90 keen my sense
sof tho obligation ! felt then and shall
continue TO feel until ] die"
Mr. Dupre had spoken with a great
deal Of feeling and his hearers were
profoundly interested. Suddenly it
occurred to one Of them to inquire:
"Qo you remember the namee"
Remember III" exclaimed Dupre.
II should think ! did Il was Davis
--Mips Belle Davis IT Georgetown. !"
Why" exclaimed DR. Charley
Hagner. springing to his feet .she's
my wife!"
It is unnecessary to say that the two
men (who, by the way. had never met
before) clasped hands with genuine
warmth. and that Mr.. Dupre lost no
time next day in making his grateful
Acknowledgements Ia person. The
episode has been much talked about
since, and is generally regarded al
one OF the most romantic coincidences
on record.