The National tribune., 1897-07-22

and failed. he felt reconciled and resigned to
his fate. He said he was incapable of doing
any thing more to help himself, and only
regretted that his death could not in some
way be instrumental in saving Us, his COM
rades He counseled us all against the
. fallacy of hoping for an exchange or for any
mercy from those into whose hands We had
fallen.
He said his doom foreshadowed our own,
and entreated US to prepare for the worst.
and when the time came TO prove to them
that we were as brave in confronting an
ignominious death for our country's sake as
we had been fearless in doing service for her.
l shall never forget the solemnity of that
distressing period of our imprisonment nor
the deep impression the words of our poor
comrade and leader made on US. Their sad
echoings fill my ears now as sensitively as
| theu--almost Is years ago-whie my utter
ance chokes and my hand trembles as il that
poor, miserable, forlorn man was now before
me in the dark prison, speaking words Of
encouragement and advice.
As have, since those dark hours, thought
over many of the incidents of our two or
three months OF prison confinement, while
Andrews was with MS, can see many rea-
sons for believing that, from the first, he
|
never to return from this expedition. He
was not by any means superstitious man.
in the sense that word is used, nor was he
| given to whims, nor did he fear death, yet
something in his manner, from the first
time held any conversation with him ex-
pressing my concern because we were one
day late, leads me to think that he was
! either iataiist in belief or that some
mysterious, unknown and unaccountable
agency whispered to him that he never
should return.
He conided to me, and perhaps to several
OF his comrades, something of his history.
He had been spy, or secret service agent,
and made several trips into different parts
of the Confederacy. obtaining much useful
| information, and invariably succeeded in ac-
comprising whatever he was sent to do.
This was, probably, why Gen. Mitchell re-
posed so much confidence in him as TO entrust
him ms the leader of oar expedition. He
told me, too, that this was to be his last ex-
pedit on if he got out alive hit he should
| never undertake another trip. But, alas,
poor elbow, he went once too often.
There was, too, a sad romance connected
with Andrews's tate, which l have not re-
ycried TO, and which was not, I think, gen.
orally known among our band. He was en-
gagged TO be married TO an amable. worthy
Young lady of highly-esteemed Kentucky
family. Whether she knew of the perilous
service he was engaged in, do not know.
If she did not, so much heavier must have
been the blow to her when she heard of his
fate.
That ne was chivalrously devoted to her
| am certain, though it was subject he sell
dom alluded to- | am certain, too, thai
1 4 1. T.
perilous situation, that she, through hel
kinsmen, could have brought strong infu-
ences in his favor, though whether his life
could have been saved / very much doubt
Their marriage-day had been fixed, and
would have taken place few days previous
to the reception of his death sentence.
think this melancholy end of happy court
ship and the thought of her bighted life
more than anything else, saddened the last
days of this heroic man.
ITO be cOutitiuedD