The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-24

The Marriage there Was Typical OF
the Later Cemenied Marriage Be-
tween the secrtons THAT Tsad geen
Temporarily Uiyorceo for Four
Bloody Years.
FORT WARREN. Mass. Nov. 4.
THE following account of an incl
dent at Williamsburg, Va in 1862, IS
given us BY Colonel Woodrnff, Z. s. A.,
now in command at Fort Warren. The
Colonel married daughter of the late
DIR. Richard b. Haywood, and has many
friends and acquaintance here
Editor.)
During the past summer | spent in
Raleigh, n. c.. the greater part OF a
leave of absence that had been gran
ted me by the War Department, and
while there | interested myself by
scanning from time 10 time, the Ros-
ter OF the North Carolina Troops in
the late war between the States, 1861
1868
This Roster was compiled by Major
James w. Moore, commanding 3rd Bat
TALON Light Artillery, it was exceed
ingly interesting TO me. containing
much information Among the names
/ found many that were familiar to me,
names OF many that | had met, either
during or since the war.
The 9Th Regiment of Infantry, in
particular contained many familiar
names, one being the name of John w.
Lea. who - knew very we'll, his name
first appearing as Captain, then IN the
successive grades of Major, Lleuten-
ant-Colonel and finally Colonel and
commanding the regiment.
Colonel LEAFS name recalled two in
cidents of the war, that may be of in
terest. John ". Lea, | believe. was born
in CaswelI county. North Carolina, he
was appointed cadet in 1857 to the
Military Academy at West Point. from
Mississippi. ia which State he was then
residing IN the same class at West
Point were cadets who became com
spicuous during the war, one being
George A. Custer. who was a warm
personal friend Of Lea's; this friend
ship lasting as long as they lived.
After Clusters death, / received many
letters from Colonel Lea. speaking in
the highest terms of Custer, both as a
cadet. as a man and as an officer. The
class TO which these two belonged was
graduated from the Military Acade-
my, June 24th. 1861, but before this date
all of the southern cadets. whose states
had withdrawn from the Union, re-
signed from the Academy and fastened
to their homes. to offer their services
to the Governors of their respective
states Lea was OF course one OF those
to hasten to his native state and we
find him early in 1861, in service as
Captain of Company ~, 9Th. North
Carolina Infantry. The fortunes of
war did not bring Custer and Lea to-
gether until 1862 After rhe battle of
Williamsburg, Va. May 5th. fsG2, Cap
tain Lea was seriously wounded and
became prisoner Custer was at this
time on staff duty, having during the
days conflict been attached TO the bril-
ade commanded bx General w. S. Ham
cock Custer soon learned of Lea's
misfortune. FASTENED to his side, adj
miDistering 10 his wants as best he
could.
In August 1862. when the Army of
the Potomac. under General Mcclellan,
was withdrawn from Harrison's Land
ing, on the James river, Captain Lea
was still suffering from his wounds
and was visiting friends at Williams
burg, having been paroled. Custer,
in the mean time bad been appointed
a Captain on the staff of General Me-
ClelIan. and ON arrival at Headquarters
at Williamsburg. made inquiries of the
citizens concerning Lea, and learned
that he was in town. Custer immedi-
ately visited him and was rejoiced to
find him nearly recovered from the eff
fects of his wounds. Lea was surprised
to see Custer and insisted upon intro
ducing him TO his friends, who We're
all pleased to see Captain Custer. Lea
soon informed Custer that he was en-
gagged to one Of the young ladies that
Custer had just met, and expressed a
desire to have him present at the we'd
ding. and upon consnltat ton with the
prospective bride and her parents it
was determined that the ceremony
should be performed the next evening.
The whole affair was of 80 romantic
and novel nature, that all parties en-
tered into it with heart and soul. Gus
ter remained the guest of Lea and his
friends, that night and most of the
next day, going TO camp only long e.
nough TO dress for the wedding, which
took place at nine o'clock. Custer was
the only stranger present and was the
osiif SioothSIiais having titt Iltitot VI
standing up with one of the young la
dies before mentioned, a cousin of the
bride and from Richmond. Custer re-
turned 10 the residence of the bride,
long before the appointed time. the
ladies were dressed in pure white, with
a simple wreath of flowers upon their
heads, Lea WAS dressed in a bright new
confederate uniform. which he had had
made for the occasion. fine gray cloth
trimmed with gold lace, while Custer
wore the full uniform of a Captain of
the Union Army. 1t was a strange
wedding, possibly the only one of the
kind occurring during the war, Ger,
tainly never heard of one like it. Cap
tain Lea, as has been stated had been
badly wounded AT the battle of Viii
iiamsbnrg, and with hundreds of 9th
ers, left ia barns and outhouses which
had been converted into temporary
hospitals. He had never met his des-
tined wife until after the battle. She
and her mother went one day in their