The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-20

came through the Teche country, On
their way to the seat Of war. and
George Robertson Joined them, to his
aunt's great relief.
Mrs. Robertson had now more hope
of retaining her son, and the
better to do this she encouraged his
wooing, and seeing that Marie Del Mar
loved him she urged an early marriage.
Miss Del Mars family were anxious
for such an excellent alliance, and the
wedding day was fixed for the follow
ing September In the meantime
Georgy Robertson-the pet name still
chung to him-following the example or
his neighbors, was sworn into the mill
tary service of the Confederacy with
the rank of lieutenant.
Lieutenant Robertson was attached
to light battery, then known as the
New Iberia Cannoneers," and they
were sent to guard the channel near
st. Mary's. 1t was believed the artil-
lerymen would be kept at this point
till the war was over, which would be
in a few months. Meanwhile the Off
GERS and men in gray, red and gold
were the social lions of the Teche
country, coming and going as they
pleased and growing more firmly con-
WINGED that soldiers life was all that
poets had painted it.
But one day, just two weeks before
the date set for the wedding, Gen.
Lowell. in command Of the Confederate
forces at New Orleans, ordered to that
point all the troops in the Teche coun-
try. and the New Iberia Cannoneers
had to obey.
Mrs. Robertson werst to New Orleans,
hoping to have her son released on the
plea that she was a widow ard that he
was necessary to the management Of
the estate, but when she reached the
Crescent City she was Mortified to learn
that her son and his command had
been sent on to the seat Of war in Vir-
ginia.
Those who knew Mrs. Robertson well
say she never got over this shock. She
returned to the plantation and bravely
tried to manage it's interests, but her
health began to fail.
Now and then she heard from her
nephew, who was with the Texas
rangers In Kentucky and Tennessee,
and SO long as the mails were regular
that was up to the spring of 1S62-she
heard frequently from her son.
Then came great changes. New
Orleans fell. An army in blue
swarn1ed west along the Teche. The
slaves deserted or were freed and be-
came soldiers, and black ruin brooded
over a land that had lately been the
loYeliest and happiest under the sun.
Great armies met along the sleepy
bayous, and great graveyards were
made under the moss-draped oaks.
Now and then, a worn, crippled man,
who had left full of hope and youth,
made his way back to the old home
From these stories of the many who
had fallen on far-off fields were
learned.
In 1853 news came down that Whar-
toms rangers. 1900 strong when they
rode through Louisiana two years be-
fore, were reduced to $50, and among
the dead was George Robertson
Another year and a one-armed man
amde his way back to the Teche. He
claimed to be the sole survivor of the
cannoneers who had been wiped out
by the explosion Of the mine before
Petersburg
This was the last blow to the poor
mother. Already weakened by ILL
health and anxiety, she took to her
bed, attended by Marie del Mar, and
died q few months before the close Of
the war
In the spring Of 1866 Mr.. Del Mar
he had lost his only son in the war
moved west to near Lake Charles,
where he had large cattle ranch AL
though the country was almost a will
derness. Mrs Del Mar and her daugh-
ter were glad to get away from sur
roundings SO suggestive of recent
suffering
The Del Mars had been settled in
their new home but a few months
When negro brought them letter
from Lake Charles village. 1t was
from Georgy Robertson, the last cap
tain Of the cannoneers.
After telling of his being blown I'D
and captured and his long stay in
Northern hospitals, the letter said:
The fact that I have changed so
much that you will hardly recognize
me will, am sure. make me none the
less welcome to the only friends have
left. / am lame, my hearing is bad
and my face disfigured, but my heart
Is unchanged. / hope to gather up the
up life's battle as best may"
Mr.. Del Mar replied to this letter by
driving to Lake Charles, where he
greeted with tears Of joy the son Of
his old friend, the betrothed Of his
daughter
The letter did not exaggerate the
facts. 1t was difficult to imagine this
MANNED, disfigured man, with sight
and hearing impaired and cruel blue
powder marks on his bearded face, to
be the handsome lieutenant of nearly
five years before.
The veteran was taken to theranch.
though shocked at the change, Marie
Del Mar greeted her lover with all the
old-time warmth and set about MAX
ing him happy.
Capt. Robertson improved rapidly
and then set about caring for the es-
tate, which was still the most valuable
in the sugar country
The wonderful energy and the
changed manners were attributed to
his long experience as soldier. Six
months after his return Capt Robert
son and Marie Del Mar were married
and went on a wedding trip to Orange
City. on the Sabine, and on to Hous-
ton, where they could see no reminder
Of the war.
A few months after this Captain
Robertson rode to Lake Charles and
hitched his horse to the rack before the
Lake hotel Here, it Is said. he met a
man who had been a member of the
cannoneers, and the landlord reported
angry words go that he fearnd q fUb+