Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-11

Known as the .'Texas rangers and COM
handed by Colonel John Wharton, came
through the Tccilc country. on their way
to the seat y. war. and George Robertson
Joined them to his aunt's great relief.
Mrs. Robertson had now more hore Of
retaining her son. and the better II do this
she encouraged his wocing, and seeing !
that Marie Del Mar loved him she urged 4
an carly marriage
Miss Del Mars family were anxious for |
such an excellent alliance, and the we'd |
ding day was fixed for the following Sep |
teInber. In the meantime Georgy Rob- |
erSton-tne Pet name still chung 10 him ]
following the example Of his neighbors, |
was sworn into the military service Of the !
Confedcracy. with the rank of lieutenant.
Lieutenant Robertson WIS attached tn q |
light battery, then known as the New |
Iberia cannoEccrs. - and they were sent to |
guard the channel ncar st. Mary's. 1t |
was believed tie artillcrymcn would he |
kept at this point till the war was over.
which would lie in Il few months. Mean
while ,ac officers ana men in gray. rcd and
gold were Tic social lioI.s of TIE Tcche
countrv, coming, and going as they pleased
and growing mere firmly convinced that n
soldiers life Was ali that poets had paint
ed il.
But one dly, Just two weeks before the
date set fer tic wedding. General Lowell,
in ca:nnand ui ;Ac Confederate forces at
New Clicans, ordered TO that point all
the troops IL TIC Icchc country. and the
New Iberia CaTLoEccrs had 10 obey.
Mrs. ,,obCi ts1n went TO New Orleans,
hoping - live her son released on the
plea that she MS :; widow and that he
WAS nS,, -,..l..- - tie management OF the
t,tsr
City she vas terrified to learn that her
son and his coz. I:ii.rad Lad been sent on to
the SCI e w. IN Virginia
Those -, knew Mrs. Robertson well
say she never get ovCr this shock. She re-
turno;. 10 the limitation ard bTavoly tried
To manage its interests, but her health be-
gan to fail
Now and ten Sic ,cl-tl from her neph-
CIV. who was with TIC Texas rangers il
Kentucky ard lcuLcsscc, and SO long as
the mails were ,.!:.r-that was up 10 the
spring OF loC!--shc heard frequently from
her son.
Tlcn care great changes. New Orleans
fol,. an cr!Ily in blue slSarIned west along
! the 1cchc. The slaves deserted or We're
freed and he. ..r.e soldiers, and black ruin
brooded over = LAID that had lately been
] the loveliest and l;:ppicst under the sun.
| and great ga. oygIsis were made under
| the Iioss draHc:. o.ls.
New and ;ncn = worn, crippled man,
| who had LETT fan Cf hope and youth, made
| his way back ~ the odd home. From these
! stories of the El;ry who had fallen On far
| Of fields were learned.
In 1868 news came down that Whar
| toms rangers, Zoo strong VIXEN they rode
| through Louisiana two years before, Were
! reduced to $50, and among the dead WIS
! George Robertson.
| Another year and n enc armed man
| made his way back 10 the Tcchc. lie
| claimed TO bc the sole survivor of the can
| noncers vino lad been wiped out by the
| explosion Of the mine before Pctersburg
This was the last blow to the poor moth
| or. Already weakened by i'll health and
anxiety, she took TO her bed, attended by
Marie Del Mar, and died 4 few months be-
fore tie close of the war.
! In the spring OF 1868 Mr.. Del Mar--hc
had lost his only son in the war-movcd
| west II near Lake Charles, where lie had a
large cattle ranch. Although the country
was almost a wilderness, Mrs. Del Man
ard her daughter were glad 10 get away
frcm surroundings 50 suggestive Of recent
suffering.
| The Del Mars had been settled in thcil
, new home but Il few months when u nc-rS
brought thorn a letter from Lake Charic:
village. 1t was from Gcorgy Robertson
the las: captain of tine cannorccrs.
After telling Of his being blown up ant
: captured and his long stay in northern
! hospitals, the letter said:
The fact that have changed so muci
that you will hardly recognize INC Will,
an sure, make me none the less wclcoin'
to the only friends I have left. / ar,
lame, my hearing; is bad and ,n- face dis
figured, but my heart is unchanged.
! hope to gather up the remnants OF the cs
tate and then take up the life battle 4
best / may"
Mir Del Mar replied to this letter b,
i driving 20 Lake Charles, where lie ,-rcctct
with tears of joy the son of his old friend
TIE EctroJhcd of his daughter.
) The letter Gid not cxaREcrite the facts
IL was difficult TO imagine this manned
l disiigurcd man, with sight and hoarin.
impaired and cruel blue powder marks q
I, his bearded face, tn lie the handsome lieu
L tenant of nearly five years before.
Tie veteran was taken to the ranch. an,
{ though shocked at TIE change Marie De
4 | Mar erected her lover with all tie oil,
4 time warmth and set about making hin
: happy.
| Captain Robertson improved rapid
, | and then set about caring fer the estate
!. which Was still the most valuable in til
Il sugar country.
Il The wonderful energy and tic changes
\ manners were attributed II his long cx
= pcriencc as "A soldier Six months after hi
| return Captain Robertson AID Marie Dc
4 Mar were married and went On I. weddin
% trip - Orange City, en- the Sabine, and o.
= 10 Houston. where they could see no rc
= minGcr of the war
;, \ few months after this Captain Robcr,
!, son rode to Lake Charles and hitchcd hi
. horse 10 tho rack before the Lake hotcl
Here, il is said, h net man who ha
q been Il member Of the cannonecrs, and tn
p landlord reported angry words, so that b
!, feared = fight.
,e Without tTansactirg any business, Rot
l. crtsOn rcmountcd ard gallCpCd to ~
ranch. Saying to his wife ard to he
: mother that he WAS not feeling WELL h
l. went 10 a room used as an Office ard loci
l. ed the door. A few minutes after the r,
f. port Of pistol was heard. The door wa
-. hurst OMEN. and Robert son WAS found a