The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-07

heard Henry say to Charles in the
language they had always used at home:
"Charles, have decided to enlist"
81 have already done So"
"Thee can't mean it. Do father and
mother lSnow?"
81 promised Ruth to tell them tonight.
It's more terrible TO me than the dread
of war"
"rhee is nearer to them than L, Charles.
I win break the news TO father when
we get back. No one can soothe mother
or break the news so gently as he. ]
am more than sorry that thee has taken
this step, for | came home to prevent
it. wanted to make sure that one son
and one brother would be left. But 1t
is too late / have consented to com
mand a regiment of sharpshooters and
cannot honorably disappoint them.
will have gallant lot of boys at my
| back"
Here | broke away so full of impor-
| tance that ran at top speed. | was go
ing to tell Grandma Waterson. l would
not have those two handsome fellows
stopping bullets. But met Lydia, as
pretty maiden as ever donncd drab
dress or dropped a modest pair of eyes
and called all her friends by their first
names.
Lydia" l shouted between breaths,
"Henry and Charlie are going to enlist.
1t must be stopped but by that time
the girl was pale as ghost and leaning
against the nearest tree.
Don't thee say another word" she
commanded, in determined voice.
Not another word. This must come
from brother Henry or brother Charles.
But it will break mothers heart and
l joined Lydia in hearty cry just out
of sympathy.
Only in after years did learn what
followed. Henry, in his manly, straight
forward way, told his father all. Plead
ing, argument and persuasion on the
part of the afflicted old man were in
vain. 1t was contrary to the doctrine
of non-resistance, tenet of the church;
it was raising the hand of the son
against the relatives who were left in
the south; but the brothers firmly clung
to their irdetermination, gently persisting
and doing all possible to settle the poign.
ant grief they inflicted Grandpa Water.
sons lips quivered as he bade Henry
good-by, and the brolSen-hearted moth
er clung to the neck of her eldest born
until Inconsistencies released her from
the pangs of actual parting.
A few days later Charles rode forth
on his own horse, gallant black, OF
Kentucky lineage, and everybody
agreed that no finer, braver boy would
do battle for the union. He joined the
Ringgold cavalry. Early in the war he
was left wounded on the field and was
kindly cared for by a southern family.
| His chief nurse was Il pretty little rebel
with ssft, wavy hair, great brown eyes
inviting lips and a disposition as CHEEKY
as the clear sunshine after an Apri
shower. No woman had right to re
sist that big, brave, handsome fellow
and there the union soldier was be
trothed to the bewitching champion o.
secession. Then Annie, for that wa.
her name began to correspond with
Ruth, and through this intangible link
of connection the whole family fell ir
love with the little confederate.
Charles rejoincd his troops as soon as
able. After desperate engagement
his company was scattered and he was
hemmed in on every side except where
the rugged mountains of Virginii
lowered up behind him. Boldly ht
turned the black, went flying over foot
paths, leaping chasms and forcing hi
way where few could follow. Blu
there were bold mountaineers in the
chase and when they brought Charlie.
to bay, the gallant stand he made
drawing his saber when his revolver'
were emptied, saved his life for tho
time. His desperate courage won the
heart OF the southerners and they per
sisted until he was taken alive.
He was sent to Libby, made his es
cape, went for days without food, anC
when at length he found it, ate 81
much that death followed quickly upol
the pangs Of starvation.
Henrys record was as brief as glori
Gus. His regiment worshiped him. NJ
man of them. westerners though the,
. were, could outride or outshoot him. H
led wherever he asked his men to go
A giant in strength, he was hero il
courage.
, At Pleasant Hill La, he was sho
t from his horse but still fought on, and
| after being fatally wounded, three O
: the enemy bit the dust before his han
| dropped senseless to the ground Hi
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