Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-08

fNs, I'm :. M Not so.
No W#$ M EI More love letters
I,.kKGaS1k we're exchanged
M xME~Sck during those four
%Mak sSHhykSW years, It is safe to
NN,.sSSSS.SSos say; than during
any previous four
years of the country's history. At least
three-fourths of both artfiies-blue and
gray-were composed of unmarried
men. Probably nine-tenths of them
had best girls up North and down
South; maybe some of them had more
than one. Showers of love letters were
scattered from the armies every week
while the men were in camp. Thou
sands Of matches were concluded by
these going and coming messages of
love from brave boys and hopeful, hap
py girls.
handsome young fellow In little
Mississippi town was devoting Sunday
evenings to an equally handsome young
LADY. Their joyful hours were inter-
rupted by the call for troops. The
young man wanted to volunteer, and
the young lady said volunteer the day
the message reached their town. A
week later he was in camp Of instruc-
ton. His regiment went to Virginia
and became a part of Beauregard's
force at Manassas. 1t played a prOmi-
nent part in the first great battle of the
war. ut was called great then, but
was only a skirmish compared with
many that followed) The Mssssppan
was slightly wounded but in getting
the scar had shown such bravery that
he was promoted to lieutenant. At the
end of the Peninsula campaign, in 1862,
at Malvern Hill, he was in command of
his company, captain. At Antietam
he was again wounded, and this time
fell into the hands of the Federais, re-
naming a prisoner until he was we'll
enough to return to duty. One night,
when the nurses and guards were not
very watchful, he slipped away from
the hospital at Frederick City Nd,
found his way to the Potomac River
broke the lock of boat and rowed to
the Virginia side, and two days later
was with his regiment
After Charlottesville and Gettys-
burg lie was called home to accept a
commission as lieutenant colonel of an
other regiment and given fiye-day
leave of absence.
| suppose that the young folks who
read this story will be disappointed be-
cause | do not go into details in describ-
ing the meeting between these two
Mississippi lovers. can imagine about
how matters went with them and might
tell pretty story, but that is not al
lowable in 4 strictly matter-of- fact-a
true-story. 1t can be said that the
three or four days were all too few of
hours to suit these young people, and
that the parting was more diff1cult than
that of over two years before Then, in
Septerber, 1863, they and the civilized
world knew that war between Amer
leans was no play-spell; knew that it
meant better fighting than had ever
before been seen on battleflelds; knew
the chances Of life were few. With
this knowledge staring them in the
face the young lady realized that her
soldier lover might be parting with her
fer the last time, and he felt that he
might be looking into her lustrous
brown eyes as lie would never do again.
But they parted, she waving her
handkerchief and smiling through
tears; he looking the love he felt and
the dauntless soldier that he was.
'If God spares my life until ST. Val
entine's day shall be with you and we
will be married" wrote the young col
h. bof
started back from Atlanta and Sher-
man started for the sea.
The Mississippian's command was in
the actions from Atlanta to Nashville.
At Franklin one of the most remarka-
bic battles of the whole war, where
thirteen Confederate generals were
killed or wounded (six of them killed.,
including that intrepid soldier and lead
err, Pat Cleburne, the colonel was
lia ,ed in command of brigade, and a
few days later commanded it at the
battle of Nashville In the memorable
retr 1at from Nashville he was again
slightly wounded and made prisoner.
A few days before his capture he had
received a commission as brigadier
general.
The General, with other prisoners.
was taken to Nashville. Gen. John G.
Parkhurst, who had commanded the
Ninth Michigan and won promotion by
getting close enough to the Confeder
ates to see and feel their fighting quail
ties, was provost marshal at that time.
and consequently had charge of the
y1pisn nf n
officers who were taken before him he
had met in battle. He desired to make
Ii as pleasant for them as possible; did
not want to confine them between the
walls. The second day the prisoners
were there Gen. Paikhurst Informed
the general and field officers that he
would parole them-give them an OPP
portunity to enjoy themselves within
the city limits. All he wanted 10 re-
turn was that they report to him every
evening. Each evening after that Gen.
Parkhurst's headquarters were visited
by a choice collection of Southern gen
tIemen in Uniform. When the provost
marshal WIS net too busy there would
be an early day blue and gray camp
fire. On morS than one occasion num-
Der # Federal officers were Invited In,
I'D the men who had often tried 70
demolIsh each other in battle sat al
card tables and enjoyed themselves IN
perfect peace and safety. Such was
war-sometimes.
After a please game of cards one
night young fe.iow wearing the uni
form of a Confederate brigadier gen
eral fingered after the others Lad gone.
Gen. Parkhurst saw that something
was on his mind--that he was In trou-
BILE. and asked: What's the matter,
General? Is there anything | can do
for you?"
Then the Confederate told Gen. Park
hurst the story | have told you,