The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-11-30
A BRAVE CAROLINA LAD.
His Parents Never Knew of HIS Tragic
Fate Till Years after.

ltlSAlllOlN lCJNltiLSLl CciuNihtii~ 49, ''S
told the following sad story:
';Ouc IF the rorlances Of the war
has just Developed here. IN which uns
Of North Catolina's Govetnurs tigttras.
Governor Tod r. Caldwell during the
war resided III handsome style III the
quiet little tow1l Of Morganton. Of an
cid and honorcd family: he was proud
and hal but ollc object Of intense al
rccjiou his son John, handsome lad
not twenty yca!s Of asc. In the VIII
ter Of 1862 this pnly son begged to be
allowed ~ go t. the army. Entreat1es
were nf nc avuiI: and hi7 father and
mother at ]ast consented with tears,
that he might Join the Army cf North.
ern Virginia. lie enlisted i'll the Tb1r-
tv-third Regiment of North Carolina
Infantry, in Lanes Brigade, Pcndcr's S
Division; \. P. Hills Corps. Compa-
ny j.
"Wheu the campaign opened i'll 1868
no soldier was more daring than Young
Caldwell, and he was SOON promot, 4
from the ranks. In May he WAS maj
u second lieutenant for lis gallant al /"
mcritorious conduct. his regime !
*ent into the Pennsylvania carnai; -.
at Gettysburg nc was present a-d
In the hottest Of the fight, On tho
afternoon Of July Sd: 1868, his regi r.
ment swept up ill slope within fifty
yards Of the Federal lines. went closer
yet, and bayoncts were crossed. Sud
denly the line moved back IL little.
Young Caldwell vas never seen alive
after that moment. =. He WAS at the
front when the backward movement
began. His father used al the intiU-
ences Of money and position to lind the
lost soldier, hut uravailingly. The
authorities refused to allow the graves
to be opened. It could not be uscer-
tained whether he was dead or aiiye,
and the matter became one OF the mos4
terrible of uncertainties. Cnder the
strain the minds of the father ard
mother were nearly overcome. lhe
father, grinly nursing his great sorrow,
forbade any one to mention the sons
name, and the terrible story WAS never
alluded to, even by the mother.
In 1871 Mr.. Caldwell BECAME Gov
crnor OF the State. Two years later III
1873, an ex-Confelerate soldier named
Lucas, from Hyde county, was elected
to the Legislature, and came to Rai-
cigh. Some one told Linn one night
the sad story Of the death. or supposed
death, and mystery of John Caldwell.
The next day I4reas called on the Gov:
ernor and told HIM the t-uth at last.
Lucas was in another regimentand had
observed young Caldwell's brave bear
ing as they were near, together. In
the terrible moment Of TIC rcpu!se he
had seen young Caldwell; shot down
while separated from Liz men and
fighting, LaDd to hand, New York
soldier. After hearing this story and
the further details Of the burial OF
Caldwell by Lucas,-4he Go1crnorl lock
ed himself IL fnis room and vas all day
in tears. H. never told his wife Of the
revelation by Lucas. and told it only
to his private secretary.
Il Few days ago Maj. Charles y.
Cowtan, OF New York city, wrote Eour
correspondent, saying that he had III
his possession the commission OF an
officer in Il North Carolina regiment,
which he had picked ilp OF The battle
field Of Gettysburg His regiment,
the Tenth New York, held the line Mt
that point just after Il terrible charge
by the North Caroliniaus, il which one
fair haired and boyish officer WAS brave
in the extreme. Maj. Cowtun had OK
anincd some Of the lead Contedcrates
who so tLi:kly strcwcrl the ground Al
the works, and ncar uilc found torn
and bloody commission, on which was
leeible only john Ca Of the name:
Mai. Cowtau expressed Il desire to re-
turn this comrnis1'oll if any relatives
Of the dead soldier could be found.
The commission was found to be that
OF the long. lost. John Caldwell. Yes
terday the commission was sent tc
Mrs. Caldwell. and this blood-staine1
ind torn piece of,parchment is, she
writes, all there is oil earth to remind
her Of the dead son: foF-years she
cherished the hope that her son wa:
alive and in spnc priselI. =. in fact, al
the prisons were searched ror him
through tho Influence OF Gorerno1
now Scnatrrj Vance. It has required
twcuty-Gour wears to ascertain the true
stcfv. At the same time the commits
sion was sent her she wns first 1raG'
ACQUAINTED with the facts toll Govern
or Caldwell in 1878.
tIn.n Nn,,fh Kills AEOf her and !WOuN0S