The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-08-12
famous Union general, was superlntend.

somely for the nephew of his dead son-in-
law, but the bulk of his property was left
to his grandson, the will providing that
his daughter should have a life interest in
the estate.
Early in 1851, when Louisiana seeded.
SuperintendentsSherln resigned his post
! and went north This broke up the
school, and the cadets FASTENED home to
join regiments which were then being
raised for the Confederacy all over the
south.
Although southern in her sympathies, as
were all her slaveholding neighbors, Mrs.
Robertson was bitterly opposed to having
her son go into the army But there was
no resisting the earnestness of the young
man or the fervid enthusiasts of the hour.
AS it transpired afterWard, Mrs Robert
son was quite willing that her nephew
should go to the war The cousins had
been like brothers up to their return from
the military school Now they kept apart
The mothers quick perception soon dis
covered the cause-both young men were
in love with Marie Del Mar a beautiful
girl whose parents lived to the east near
st. Marys.
In April the Eighth Texas cavalry,
known as the "Texas rangers" and com
manded by Colonel John Wharton, 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 we'd
ding day was fixed for the following Sep
TENDER. In the meantime Georgy Rob
erston-the pet name still chung to him
following the example of his neighbors,
was sworn into the military service of the
Confederacy, with the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant Robertson was attached to a
light battery, then known as the New
Iberia cannoneers, and they wer&gsent to
guard the channel near ST. Marys. 1t
was believed the artillerymen would be
kept at this point till the war was over,
which would be in few months Mean
while the officers 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- need that
soldiers life was all that poets had paint
ed it.
But one day. just two weeks before the
date set for the wedding, General Lowell,
in command of the Confederate forces at
New Orleans, ordered to that point all
the troops in the Teche country, and the
New Iberia cannoneers had to obey.
Mrs Robertson went to New Orleans,
hoping to have her son released on the
plea that she was 8 widow and that he
was necessary to the management of the
estate, but when she reached the Crescent
City she was Mortified to learn that her
SOD and his command had been sent on to
the seat Of wax In Virginia
Those who knew Mrs. Robertson well
say she never got over this shook. She re-
turned to the plantation and bravely tried
to manage it's interests, but her health be-
gan to fail
Now aud then she heard from her neph-
ew, 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 swarmed west along
the Teohe. The slaves deserted or were
o.
brooded over land that had lately been
the loveliest and happiest under the san.
Great armies met along the sleepy bayous,
and great graveyards were made under
the moss draped oaks.
NOW and then 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 1858 news came down that Whar-
tons rangers, 200 strong when they rode
through Louisiana two years before, were
reduced to $50, and among the dead was
George Robertson.
Another year and one armed man
made his way back to the Teche He
claimed to be the sole survivor of the can
noneers who had been wiped out by the
explosion of the mine before Petersburg.
This was the last blow to the poor moth
er Already weakened by i'll health and
anxiety, she took to her bed, attended by
Marie Del Mar, and died few months be-
fore 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 Although tbs country
was almost wilderness, Mrs Del Mar
and her daughter We're glad to get away
from surroundings so suggestive of recent
suffering
The Del Mars had been settled in their
new home but few months when a negro
brought them letter from Lake Charles
village. 1t was from Georgy Robertson,
the last captain of the cannoneers.
After telling Of his being blown up and
captured and his long stay in northern
hospitals, the letter said:
The fact that 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 I am
laune nv hearing Ia had. and nav faro diS