Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-07

say that her brothers regiment was now almost constantly fighting and that she had not heard from him for weeks.
 Before mailing Herbert's letter Miriam had inclosed one from herself giving a more full account of his condi- ton and assuring his mother that he should not want for anything; but on the fifth day thereafter Mrs. Leslie her self arrived to take charge of her boy, and she and Miriam became at once great friends. Many a poor fellow far from home and kindred, looked towards Leslie's cot with longing eyes as the two women hovelsed about him in low ing ministration; but none of these for lorn ones were in any measure neglect ed, though it was impossible to supply what they most pined for-the tender care of their very own flesh and blood. Of all places in which to study the pathetic side of that ghastly evil, war, a great military hospital, filled with wounded men, is surely the best.
 When Mrs. Leslie first arrived, and saw her only son stretched helplessly upon his bed, she gave way, in spite of herself, to Q flood of tears; but the young soldier was so bright and hope
 
 except in so far as it kept him out of the field, so sure of the speedy triumph of the union army and, withal, so genu- inely rejoiced at her presence, that she soon ceased to feel aught but pride and joy in her hero and his brave comrades, for each of whom she had Q cheerful word and that sweet sympathy which the daughters of America have ever shown to her patriotic defenders.
 In less than a week Herbert was re- moved to the convaBescent ward and from under Miss AinsHe's care; but it was astonishing how often in the course of each day the young lady had occasion to consult her new-found friend, his mother, and how much her visits seemed to aid in the youths re- covery. Indeed, this progressed so very rapidly that Herbert feared it was ''too fast to be wholesome" and he felt sure of the fact when, a fortnight after wards, he received ln unlimited fur tough and was obliged to leave with his mother for New York. But there was no help for it. Mrs. Leslie was well able to maintain and care for her son in her own home and was too conscien- tious to allow him to occupy, longer than absolutely necessary, place more urgently required for another. Both took leave of sweet Miriam Ainslie with something more than regret, but those were days when the women of our land had to steel their hearts to suffering, and strengthen the hands of fathers, husbands, brothers, lovers, sons by their own sublime example of endurance.
 August 7, 1864, an oEder was published appointing Maj-Gen. Philip H. Sheri- dan commander of the new middle de- partment, composed of the late depart ments of West Virginia, Washington and Susquehanna, and September 5, our friend Herbert Leslie, now restored to perfect health. once more left home, with his mothers blessing, to rejoin the army. But having been all his life ac- customed to horses, and in fact a su- 1 perb rider, he now made application to i be transferred to the cavalry corps which, under Wilson, along with Tor. bert's division, had lately been sent by Grant to Sheridan, who was then con, fronting the southern forces under Gen Early. This request was readily granted and Herbert joined in time tc see his first service in this branch al Opequan Creek, where, September IS Gen. Wilson, in brilliant reconnois sance, struck the flank of Kershaw'l division and captured nearly two hun dred men of the Eighth South Carolins regiment.
 In this little affair our lately joined trooper behaved with conspicuous gal lantry, and here a most singular incl dent occurred. The enemy's Eightl South Carolina had been pretty wei broken up and many of it's men, al stated, made prisoners, when Herber saw, at short distance away, Q tai . young officer standing alone and de lending himself with desperate cour , age against the combined attack o three federal norsemen, whose sum
 mons to surrender he answered only b. , a shout of defiance, while with his swor, flashing around his head like circl' l of living light, he had, so far, parrie' } the blows of his assailants, who hu
 namely seemed more intent upon dis l abling than staying their gallant foe.
 But when the fierce southerner, b
 sudden thrust, had hurled one of hi
 enemies to the ground, the other tw t spurred savagely on, and the unequs - fight must have resulted in the speed + death of the rash confederate, had nc e something familiar in the peculiar, hgh d ning-like play of his weapons attracte s the attention of Herbert, who dashe s up just in time to ward off a blo' t which would have cleft his skull i y twain. Then, for the first time gettin
 fair view of the young mans face, |
 almost dropped his own saber l. astonishment as he shouted: 'M B, GodI Sydney Temple, is it really you
 Surrender, man, surrender to your ol 5. friend. Further defense is mere su t, eide"
 And who, sir, are you who ca n yourself my friend?" said the pantir a