The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-12-23
A RECRUITS FATE.
BY ] y. MACKNIGHT.

| SSSibo INV q oi4 10 lNiidS
and gentle towards all the world a
she was long years ago, before he
life was thrown into an eclipse from
which it seemed for time that sh,
could never emerge.
You ask Why she never married
She is SO charming in person anc
manner, her eyes light up with sucl
sweet benevolence towards all man
kind, and she is so bounteously
supplied with natures and fortune s
choicest gifts, how comes it that she
is paragon, yet lives without a mate
and while peryading all about hel
with spirit OF sunshine and peace
seems hedged about by barrier
which none can pass?
You suppose it is love story
the old one Of deception or incon
stancy. Well it Is love story, bu'
not the old one, because there was
no voluntary wrong committed She
lived here on The Hill," where
she lives now, and was sixteen. She
was the only child, and her father
became rich after the war, so the
great mansion of which she is now
sole mistress is not the house. in
which Dick Harper won her heart
and got the promise of her hand
Dick and l had been chums and
school mates from childhood, and in
January, 65, we both passed for
active service, and were sent to the
Army of the Potomac with our com
pany. We had seen service in the
Guard, and he was first and | second
lieutenant of our company. 1t is
thus that | came to know the story
as if it were my own, and to know
Dick Harper about as well as my
self.
And he was, without exception
the noblest boy ever knew. He
had a face like some Of those the
great masters have dreamed of when
they were trying to paint the Christ,
and heart as pure and true as ever
beat in a mans breast. He vas
1.-THE and active, but by no means
an athlete, and | always thought he
was not fit for the hardships of war.
In fact | tired to induce him not to
go; but it was just after Murfrees-
borough, when patriots were sorely
needed, and he said he felt he could
not take shelter under the stars and
stripes unless he did his part in say
ing the flag from its Toes. He was
only boy, just twenty, but as full of
ardor as an old Greek, and brim-
ming with patriotism to his lips.
He was cheerful enough about it
all, after his mother gave her reluct-
ant consent, until it came to the
hour of parting from the beautiful
girl who loved him as no man better
than he ever deserved to be owed,
Then he completely broke down,
because she clung to him and de-
clared she would not let him go. i
was a strong man myself, five yeasts
his senior, and had been married. g
year. My dear little wife said, '"Gc
and may God watch over }you H'
And though l knew her heart vas
breaking, | was sure THAI back ot
her grief was sljf1f which would
enable her TO shoulder a musket
and fight by my side If need be.
Fighting Joe" Hooker had
rec Emily been placed i'll command Of
G6f the Army of the Potomac, and a
good many of the old regiments
were in frightfully bad condition.
Hooker's presence had begun to
restore confidence, but the disasters
o! December all along the line had
cast a gloom over the Union army
which 1t was not easy to dispel. To
check desertion, President Lincoln
gave up reviewing the decisions OF
court martials, and the first shots
we heard were for the execution of a
couple of poor fellows who were to
serve as examples to the rest OF US il
we trIed to desert
After Charlottesville we began to
feel like old soldiers because we saw
plenty OF hard fighting, and came
off without a scratch. As it hap
pened, our regiment was not in
action again until the second day
at Gettysburg. But how we wonder
ed what was the meaning of our
hurried flight northward during the
latter part of June! We soon found
out that Lee had started to invade
the North, and that we were after
him. Nobody needs telling about
the first three days in July, and least
of all that lovely woman on "The
Hill" in whose dear heart wound
was made that only death can
heal
A good many OF us received letters
from home while we were waiting
at the Potomac. Among the lucky
ones was Dick Harper, who seemed
to get letter or two whenever a
mail came into camp, and wrote one
whenever he got chance no matter
how trying the circumstances.
On July Ist we were marching al
day, and got into position in the
Union line late at night. We heard
on all sides gloomy tidings. Some
SAID there was very fair chance o
the whole army being wiped out
next day. 1 was tired and disgustec
but poor Dick was cheerful anc