Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-08-18


herself, to a food of tears; but the
4 young soldier was so bright and hope
full, so perfectly content with his lot
I c--c~-' IN GO far IS i kept him out o1
the field, so sure Of the speedy triumph
of the union army and. withal, so gena.
h inely reioiced at her n ascnce, that she
soon ceased TO feel augIt but pride and
JOY in her hero and his brave comrades,
for each of whom she had a cheerful
word and that sweet sympathy which
the daughters Of America have ever
shown 70 her patriotic defenders.
In less than a week Herbert was re-
moved to the convalescent ward and
from under Miss Ainslie's care: but it
was astonishing how often in the
course Of each day the young lady had
occasion 70 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, fortnight after
wards, he received an 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, a 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 Z, 1864. an order was published
appointing Maj-Gen. Philip II. Sheri-
dan commander of the new middle de-
partment, composed of the late depart
ments of West Virginia, Washington
and Susquehanna, and September ;, our
friend Herbert Leslie, now restored to
perfect health, once more left home,
with his mothers blessing, to reioin the
army. But having been all his life ac-
customed to horses, and in fact a SUI
perb rider, he now made application to
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 to
see his first service in this branch at
Opequan Creek, where, September 10,
Gen. Wilson, in brilliant reconnois-
sance, struck the flank of Kershaw's
division and captured nearly two hun
dred men of the Eighth South Carolina
regiment.
In this little affair our lately ioined
trooper behaved with conspicuous gal
lantry, and here a most singular Incl
der occurred. The enemy's Eighth
Sonth Carolina had been pretty well
broken up and many Of its men, as
stated, made prisoners, when Herbert
saw, at short distance away, a tall
young officer standing alone and de-
Tending himself with desperate cour-
age against the combined attack OF
three federal horsemen, whose sum
mons TO surrender he answered only by
a shout Of defiance, while with his sword
flashing around his head like a circle
Of living light, he had, 50 far, parried
the blows of his assailants, who hu.
namely seemed more intent upon dis
abling than Staying their gallant foe.
But when the fierce southerncr, by
a sudden thrust, had hurled one Of his
enemies to the ground, the other two
spurred savagely on, and the unequal
fight must have resulted in the speedy
death Of the rash confederate, had not
something familiar in the peculiar, light
ning-lillc play Of his weapons attracted
the attention of Herbert, who dashed
up just in time TO ward off Il blow
which would have cleft his skull in
twain. Then, for the FIRST time getting
a fair view Of the young mans face, he
almost dropped his own sabcr in
astonishment as he shouted: MY
God! Sydney Temple, Is it really you?
Surrender, man, surrender to your old
friend. Further defense is mere sui
eide"
"And who, sir, are you who call
yourself my friend?" said the painting