Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-06-22
AFTER MANY DAYS.
BY JOSEPH E. HARRIS.

Captain Edward Ford, of the Cal
ifornia Battalion, of the Second Mass
achusetts Cavalry, will be remembered
by every officer in the Army of the
Potomac, and particularly by those
who served with him in the valley oi
the Shenandoah, as a scholar, kindly
hearted gentleman, and gallant sol
dier. At the battle of Chancellorsville
the captain was detailed from his regi-
ment for temporary staff duty, SER
vice which he did not at all enjoy, for
he was one of those men who liked to
be with his boys"
As we have to do with the captain
and not with the battle, it is unneces-
sary here to attempt any description
of that sanguinary struggle. The cap
tain was sent with au order to General
Howard, but when he reached the
command of that officer, he found the
Eleventh Corps broken, demoralized,
and in full retreat before Stonewall
Jacksons 4 men.
''.s. nss~ ~. Ws4 es.s-: 3, VI = ~
the officer for whom he had .ne mes
sage, his horse was shot down, and
before he could untangle himself from
the stirrups, he saw poised above him
the cleaning blade of swarthy Con-
federate soldier. The captain had no
time to think, much less to act few
seconds more and all would have been
over with him but before the blade
could fall upon his head, Union sol
dier leaped from behind tree, and a
well-aimed shot sent tho horsemaa
reeling from the saddle.
ga mighty close call that, captain 7"
was all the soldier said, as he drew the
young officer away from the dead
horse, and moment more and both
were rushing after the retreating
corps, with the enemy in hot pursuit.
1t was no time to make inquiries, to
express thanks or to ask for names,
but in the few minutes, during which
they ran on side by side, the face of
the man who had como to Captain
Fords rescue was indelliblv impressed
on his memory. He felt that the sol
dier had saved his life, and after the
battle was over, he made every effort
to find him, but without success. That
he was an American he knew from his
voice and appearance, but his name,
the number of his regiment, or even
the corps to which he was attached,
though he believed it was the Eleventh,
were alike unknown to him.
The captain served with distinction
through the war, coming out with the
full rank of colonel. He settled down
in Boston, where he engaged with
success in manufacturing, and few.
years afterward took to himself wife.
His married life was quite as happy as
his military service was distinguished,
and his business career prosperous.
The colonel was and is prominent
member of the Loyal Legion, the
Grand Army of the Republic, the So
ciety of the Army of the Potomac and
other veteran organizations, in all of
which he was well known, not only for
his hearty camaraderie, but for his
ability to sing song or tell story.
Not once, but hundred times, and
always with the hope of finding the
man who had so Unexpectedly come to
his aid at Charlottesville, the colonel
told the story of his gallant rescuer.
But the years wore on, and his dark
hair and whiskers became streaked
with gray, and still no one could give
him light as to the identity of his pre-
server.
Just ten years after the close of the
war, on account of his children, the
colonel moved from the city of Boston
to beautiful rural home near Somer-
vile. In the adornment of this place
he took great delight, and there are
soldiers of every State in the Union
who will remember, with pleasure, the
happy times spent there as Colonel
Ford's guest.
One night, just before Christmas in
1876, the colonel stayed up in his Ii
brary long after his usual ss,.e for re-
tiring. 1t was one o'clock when he
went to bed, but the matter ON his