Evening star., 1898-10-26
DAN CUPID AND MARS
Musty Pension Records Reveal a Sweet Ro-
nance,
A Northern Soldier Weds the South
ern Lassie Who Nursed Him
Back to Life.

III the cOnlpllatlou OF STATISTICS, dAy Iepoi 10
from Cupid, but it is known that the little
boy god played a most important part in
the struggle. and even brought happiness
where nothing but despair was expected
Every now and then the pension office
brings to light a romance. Such love
story has recently been unearthed in ex-
amining the application of Annie Lee for
a pension as the widow of Francis Lee. late
Of Company B, 124th New York Infantry.
Hers is a real romance-a genuine Held
by the Enemy love story.
The story Of Francis Lee Is generally
that of a score of other Union soldiers
who fell in love with bonny lassies from
the south and married them. The details
are different.
Francis Lee enlisted from Newburgh, Or
ange county. NY. August H. 1852 After
the battle of Charlottesville he was taken
prisoner and paroled His company was
ordered to report May 16, 1863. and when
the confaderates started on their march
from Culpeper. Va, to the parole camp In
Maryland Lee was sick. He had contracted
pneumonia and had some heart ccmplica-
TONS He foprd it expedient to linger in
Virginia, an dropped out of the ranks, too
company until the prisoners arrived at
camp parole and the roll call was not an
SWered.
OF Course. They Fell in Love.
He was considered a deserter.
Lee wandered through Virginia, and final
ly sought admittance al the house of WASH
ington Pritcrard at Delaplane.
The soldier was quite i'll and the gener-
Gus Virginian took him in and nursed him
back to health. He stayed at the home of
his benefactor during the summer because
of his weakened condtion, and in the fall,
when he was better and ready to so, Col.
Mcsby. with his daring band of guerllas.
located in the vicinity, and he was forced
to remain for fear of being captured. This
was evidently one of the features Of
Cupids campaign, to hold the boy in blue
until he had declared his love for the
daughter of his friend 1t seems that Annie
Fritchard had been already won by the
horrid Yankee, for her devotion to him
during his sickness remarked by the
family. Then came the sweet dove of
peace.
The surrender of General Lee at Apo
mattox became known, and the soldier.
home in New York. But he came back.
and, as the records show, married Miss
Annie one beautiful spring morning. He
took his southern bride to his New York
much for the undermined constitution of
the soldier. and they returned to Virginia
within the year.
Recorded as a Deserter. -
On September 15. in the centennial year,
the soldiers health was so bad that he ap-
piled for pension. 1t was discovered
then. for the first time, that the War De-
partment had never given him a discharge
from the service.
AS this is one of the necessary links in
the chain of evidence before pension can
be granted. the pension office refused the
claim until the proof was forthcoming. The
records of the War Department were
searched in vain to find anything to show
the soldiers whereabouts after May 3, 1864,
and he was regarded as a deserter from
that date. The soldier made several at
tempts after this time to establish the fact
that his absence from his company was due
to severe illness, but up to the time of his
death he was unable to supply the necas
sary proof! His own captain was found
and appealed to, but refused to aid him,
believing that he deserted his company Tor
the beguiling influence of the southern las.
sic. The captain pointed out, in support of
his belief, that the soldier had even af
filiated with the south by moving to Vir-
ginia. w u.s..
Justice Done at Last.
After the soldier died the widow con-
tirued to prosecute the pension claim.
knowing full well the circumstances, and
believing it was only a question of time
before her husband would be righted.. The
case was brought to the attention of Com
missioner Evans. and he took a personal
tailed to inquire into the facts and to re-
port everything he could learn In the SOL
dier's favor. The special examination re-
suited in the collection of such indispu-
table testimony as to the soldiers illness
and his inability to rejoin his company
that the War Department gave him an
honorable discharge from the service.
Then followed the allowance Of the invalid
claim filed by the soldier. well as the
claim of the widow.
The invalid claim having been filed prior
to July l. 1880, the allowance carries ar
rears back to the date Of his discharge
from the service. May 4. 1864. The widows
pension commences January IS. 1891, the
date of her husbands death. The accrued
pension which she will receive amounts
to 100, and the check for this amount
will be sent during the week.
Value of Special Examination
The outcome of this case clearly indicates
the tremendous advantage accruing to any
honest claimant by reason of the special
ANIMATION instituted in al doubtful cases
by the pension bureau. The pension bu-
reau could not take favorable action upon
this case until the charge of dasertiOn was
removed After this was done it was plain
sailing. The special examiner visited the
vicinity. took the testimony Of the persons
acquainted with the case and clearly show
e1 to the satisfaction of Commissioner
Evans that the soldier was not only en-
titled to pension, but that the cha rye of