Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
'LittIe Lieutenant" FrieIl; A story,
Most Truly.
CWrltten 10 &c DIsp8tch)

CWritten for the Dispatch)
The soldiers in the war between the
States soon became strongly imbued with
kind of romantic superstition. Miracu-
lous escapes from death; tho accom-
plisrment Of heroic feats; the sublime
tests of human endurance: the ever-hap-
pening Of the unexpected, outstrippins
the most ingenious fiction. caused them
10 attribute much 10 the supernatural.
1t was a war full of romance, from the
beginning to the ending.
In the summer Of 1864 1t will be re-
membered that the army commanded by
General Jubal A. Early invaded Mary
land and menaced the Federal capital.
Having left the enemy in his rear at
Harper's Ferry. heavy demands were
daily made upon the Confederate cavalry
20 do duty, both I'm rear and front The
day before the battle Of MonOcOcy juno
ton, a brigade of cavalry was stationed
near Burkettsville, a Maryland hamlet,
in the heart OF the enemy's country.
That day Lieutenant Samuel Wallace
Thompson, Of the Sixteenth Virginia
Cavalry. was ordered to take squadron
from his regiment and make recon
noissance IN tho direction Of Maryland
Heights. Thompson was noted and
trusted officer Of his command; a typical
cavalier; young. stalwart, cool. and
brave: swarthy, and he had grown SOM
bre-looklng, as many poor soldier did
I'm that trying hour, burdened with cares
and dangers; but the tenderness that
never fails to belong to his type Of man
hood was shown in his devotion TO NAL
colin Friell-a very shadow Of Thomp-
soma boy Of 16,years; modest TO shyness,
but so reckless in battle IS to sorely grieve
his chivalrous friend The soldiers called
Friell the Little Lieutenant" AS usual,
he accompanied Thompson, who set out
with his men about noon; and. after
marching a few miles, deployed them
some distance apart. keeping only Frien
with him. Very soon thereafter an armed
horseman was seen coming from the
woods near by. and Friell, boy Ike, set
out 10 capture him. Shortly after his sepa-
ration from his cOmrade Thompson was
shot from an ambuscade and MORALLY
wounded, and hearing the report Of the
gun, Friell sought the Iieutanant and
found him unconscious and dying. His
soldiers gathered about Thompson at once
and carried him to the house Of Mr.. Vail
near by. Arrangements were made for his
burial early next morning, and, night
drawing close. the soldiers prepared TO
rejoin the main army; but Frell refused
to leave his comrade. Seeing his determi-
nation to remain, and knowing his danger
amQng a people enraged by invasion, il
was concluded that the squadron should
return and report the death Of Bieute
nant Thompson and have a company OF
cavalry sent back at once TO conduct the
burial of Thompson ana 10 return with
Friell.
The family Of Mr.. Vail tenderly cared
for the dying officer. but seemed TO have
a premonition that Mr.. Vail would be ac-
cused Of killing Thompson. and were al
=. ost crazy with fear Of violence from the
turning Confederates. They assured
Frell that they were southern sympa
thizers. and once slave-owners, and as
sembled their slaves to verify their asser- /
tons. There was in the family a frail /
quiet stranger, who appeared TO shun the
excitement, but became interested in I
brave little Friell, and in conversation /
with him assured him that he, too had /
been a Confederate soldier In the western /
army, and belonged 10 regiment COM 4
manded by Colonel Slack, raised in and I
about Chillicothe. Mo-; that he had been l
captured by the enemy In the battle OF I
Pea Ridge; confined In prison at st. Louis; /
hat he there lost his health; was then en-
gagged in teaching school, and that Mr.. /
Vail and family were, as they represented /
themselves, and had no hand whatever In
he assassination Of Lieutenant Thomp-
son.
The promised company came. and the
soldiers, sure enough. were savage at
he loss OF their favorite officer. and
we're bent on revenge. Friell held
nasty interview with the officers, re-
ated the information he had obtained,
md especially the conversation with the
Frieil suggested that he
lad two uncles by the name OF Melon
Id who were members also of Colonel
,Iack's regiment, and from the town OF
,hillicothe, and who were, likewise, cap
lIred at Pea Ridge and imprisoned In
n Louis. Friell described to the officers
he personal appearance OF his kinsmen.
md IL was decided that, II the school
eacher could identify those men. no
arm should be done Mr.. Vail or his
,ronerty. The man was taken TO a
Iosed room and told the conditions OF
he interview. The hectic flush came
nut on the frail mans cheeks. He even