The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-19
A Bit of. War Romance.
Detroit Free Press.

dierly bearing, when the drummer had
finished yarn, ''snd am also soldier,
or was in the late war between the
States. I was general of brigade in the
Union army, and saw some of the ro'
nance as we'll as the reality of war"
"There Was more reality than romance
about it, wasn't theref" queried the
drummer.
Rather" smiled the soldier, "but it
made the romance only the more de-
lightful. I remember on one occasion
when we were down ia Georgia, where
most of the Office seekers come from now,
was out one morning with a couple of
orderlies, riding along hillside road,
which just ahead of US met another com.
ing up from the valley. As we rode
slowly along 1 heard the sound of
horses hoofs on the road below and the
clanking of a saber. None of the enemy
in force was anywhere near that locality,
and felt sure that some stray Confed-
crate WAS riding that way, and we went
ahead till ne could command view OF
the road below, and in minute Con
federate officer in brand new uniform,
bright trappings and fine sword came
by on beautiful horse. He Was hand
some fellow, and, all unconscious of bis
danger, was whistling merry air. Of
course, We must capture him, but now to
do it was question at frat, but we soon
settled on a quiet little ambuscade, and
in five minutes more We bad him covered
and he threw up his hands. A more
crestfallen prisoner never saw than that
young fellow, and felt sorry for him,
but could do nothing but take him
along. We hadn't gone far until he got
next to me, with both orderlies riding
some yards in advance, and he gave me q
sign. recognized it On the spot"
"'We are Masons,' he said, and ]
want to tell you my story. l know I've
got no business over here, practically in
your. lines, but I'm not on mission of
war, but one of love and peace. You see
how Pm tricked out in all the best I've
got'.aud he smiled consciously and
blushed-'and expected to be married
this afternoon. The girl is waiting for
me now, and don't you think it is pretty
hard on her for me to be in this fix? I
had no idea your troops were 80 near or
should have slipped in the night and
got out again, but it's too late to talk
about that now. You've got me and her
heart will be breaking while / am shut
up in some pris56, and it won't be much
satisfaction to you, will it?'
"By Georgep' went on the general,
with moisteDed eyes. sit stirred the blood
within me as listened to that good
looking fellow and thought Of the dear
girl waiting for him.
"'Hold on minute, said [, there's
turn in the road yonder, and when the
orderlies get out of sight if you are will
ing to take risk, suppose you take it,
"He shook my hand silently and the
tears and smiles came together. As the
orderlies turned the bend the young man
turned his horse and started back down
the road on a dead run I gave him
good start and then I banged away at
him with my revolver and went after
him, but took the wrong road at the
forks, and my orderlies came after me as
fast as they could. Iguess We must have
chased back along that road for two
miles or more, but we didn't find that
confounded rascal anywhere and the or
derlies never suspected that I had any
thing to do with letting him get away.
At least, they never mentioned it in my
hearing" and the general smiled.
"What became of him at lastH" asked
the drummer.
"About four months after that was
holding town in Tennessee" continued
the general, "and in that town was the
rankest old fre.eater I ever saw. He
was courtly old chap, but bitterer than
gall, and utterly beyond reconstruction.
He wouldn't speak to bluecoat, and
there were times when it was almost
necessary to put him under guard for his
own safety. He was too old to be dan.
geroua, but occasionally he talked so We
had to threaten him. One day was
almost startled out of my wits by his
coming into my headquarters. He was
white with suppressed feeling, but he
managed to tell me that there was a lady
at his house, a very near and dear rela.
tive, his only daughter, in fact, who
wanted to see me that evening at Z
O'Clock. He had been very loath to come
to Yankee, he said, but she insisted 80
that he was compelled to do it, and then
he bowed and went out like an old king
with his crown gone. There was no e1-
planation and I told the provost marshal
about it and said I was going up myself
to see what it meant He was sure there
was q trap laid for me and did not want
me to go at all, but told him Southern
hospitality did not betray people and I
would go. I went, and as l passed
through the gate and grounds to the fine
old mansion saw the shadowy forms of
my bluecoats all about as silent as ghosts.
1t was plain the provost marshal was
ready to settle matters if anything hap
pened to nae. However, I never let on,
but went in and the old man met me at
the door, grimly directed me into the
large, old. fashioned parlor and stamped
off down the great hall. I went in and a
very beautiful young woman of %,
shosld say. met me half way across the