Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-06-10

YOU ARE GEN. -"
that locality, and felt sure that some
stray confed was riding that way, and
we went ahead till we could command
a view of the road below, and in a min
ute confederate officer in brand new
uniform, bright trappings and fine
sword came by on a new beautiful
horse. He was handsome fellow, and,
all unconscious of his danger, was
whistling merry air. Of course, we
must capture him, but how to do it
was a question at first, but we soon
settled on quiet little ambuscade, and
in five minutes more we had him COW
cred and he threw up his hands. A
more crestfallen prisoner | never saw
than that young fellow, and / felt sorry
for him, but l could do nothing but
take him along. We hadn't gone far
until he got next to me, with both order
lies riding some yards in advance, and
he gave me a sign. / recognized it on
the spot.
"'We are masons,' he said, and l
want to tell you my story. ! know I've
got no business over here, practically
in your lines, but I'm not on u mission
of war; but one of love and peace. You
see how I'm tricked out in all the best
I've got'-and 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?
had no idea your troops We're so near or
should have slipped in 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 l
am shut up in some prison, and it won't
be much satisfaction to you, will it?'
by George!' went on the general,
with moistened eyes, 1t 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 a
turn in the road yonder, and when the
orderlies get out of sight, if you are
willing 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. | gave
him good start and then | 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.
guess we must have chased back along
that road for two miles more, but we
didn't find that confounded rascal any.
pected that had anything to do witt
letting him get away. AT least, they
never mentioned it in my hearing" ant
the general smiled.
"What became of him at last?" asked
the drummer.
"About four months after that l wa'
holding a town in Tennessee" contin
ued the general, 'and in that town was
the rankest old fire-eater i ever saw
He was n courtly old chap, bat bitterel
than gall and utterly beyond recon
struction. He wouldn't speak to blue
coat, and there We're times when it wa
almost necessary to put him unde
guard for his own safety. He was too
old to be dangerous, but OCCASIONAL,
he talked so we had to threaten him
One day ! was startled almost out 0
my wits by his coming into headquar
ters. He was white with suppressed
feeling, but he managed to tell me tina
there was lady at his house, yer,
near and dear relative, his only daugh
ter, in fact, who wanted to see me tina
evening at seven o'clock. He had beel
very loath to come to Yankee, h
said, but she insisted so that he wa
compelled to do it, and then he bowe,
and went out like an old king with hi
crown gone. There was no eXplana
ton, and l told the provost marsha
about it and said was going up my
self to see what it meant. He was sur
there was trap laid for me and di
not want me to go at all, but told hin
southern hospitality did not betray pee
pie and l would GO. vent, and as
passed through the gate and grounds t
the fine old mansion / saw the shadow
forms of my bluecoats all about a
silent as ghosts 1t was plain tn
provost marshal was ready to settl
matters if anything happened to me
However, never let on, but went i
and the old man met me at the door
grimly directed me into the large, old