The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-02
CHAPTER XVIII.
NEWS.

CHAPTER XVIII.
NEWS.
Those two grizzled Confederates were
knights to the core. When about to
mount for their eastward ride over the
broad swath of destruction left by Sher-
mans army, Ackers gently took the
arm of Lieutenant Oakman. and, point
ing to the horse which the Confederate
had ridden to the cabin, said:
'Leftenant, that mare is acting as if
she knowed you. If it's all the same to
you, I'll ride Miss Eldridge's Jack and
you can stick to your own"
The tears came to the eyes of the
Union officer. He had already recog
nized his mare Fanny, who whinnied
her delight at sight of him, but he reso-
lutely kept his face averted, feeling
that he could ask no further favors Of
his friends.
''Thank you, Ackers. I shall never
forget your kindness"
The next moment the officer had
reached the happy mare, who stretched
out her silken nose, which was caressed
and patted, as well as her graceful
neck, the endearment ending by the
owner giving her kiss. Then all three
vaulted into the saddles and away they
went.
| Under the escort of the two Confed-
crates and protected by the letter of
Captain Trenholm no further trouble
occurred, though the party were held
up and questioned more than once.
Winter had come, but it's rigors were
softened in that southern cline. Sher-
man was well over in South Carolina,
his columns spreading devastation and
ruin far and wide, but he had not yet
got to Savannah when Lieutenant
Oakman reached the army and reported
to headquarters.
At safe distance he bade goodby to
Ackers and Masters, the former of
whom promised to return the black
horse to his mistress, many miles away
in Georgia. The subsequent campaign
of General Sherman is matter of his
tory. All know how he telegraphed the
capture of Savannah as a Christmas
present to President Lincoln, after
which began his resistless sweep north
ward, on his way to join Grant, who
was hammering the breath of life out
of the famishing Army Of Northern
Virginia under the leadership of the
great Lee in front of Richmond, and in
the following spring the end came. The
sun of the Southern Confederacy sci
forever behind the hills of Appomattox,
and the Union was restored, mightiel
than before, to continue as long al
grass grows and water runs
Throughout those days, when Lieu.
tenant Oakman, who had been made 6
captain, recalled his experience in Geor
gia, he was frequently impressed with
a feeling that it was his duty to send ar
depression of gratitude to Miss Eldridgt
for her immense kindness to him. FL
nally he wrote the letter, though, in the
disturbed state of the country, he doubt
ed whether it would ever reach her. Il
was written in February, in NORTH
carolina, just after the battle of Ben
tonville and ran thus:
DEAR Miss ELDRIDGE-Thanks to your kind
ness in loaning me your splendid horse Jack
| was soon placed beyond all danger from pur
suit. Then Ackers and Masters appeared a
the right moment and, like the brave mel
they are, accompanied me all the way to m.
own lines. Ackers placed me under additiona
obligations by returning my own animal to mi
and by taking your horse back to you. trus
that no accident befell him or Jack, for coult
not forgive myself If you failed to have you
Ipony restored to you. II you will be goot
enough to drop me q line stating that he i
with you again, it will be vast relief to me.
The times out of joint that this not
may be long time in reaching you and posi-
bly, may fail to find you at all. give my ad
dress below, that If the spirit moves you t.
write me a few lines think they will eventu
ally come to my hands, 1t will be great pleas
ure to receive such an expression from you.
In closing beg you to express my ferven
thanks to Captain Trenholm for his chivalrou
friendship, and venture to hope that at N
distant day may have the pleasure of clasp
ing his hand. Please say to him for me tina
one reason why we are pushing the war fo
the Union SO hard is that the south is SO full
| of glorious fellows like him that we are to-
selfish to let 'em go. They We got to stay witt
us.
But there are a few things to which pen ant
words unequal. One is to express m,
gratitude to you for your acts to which m,
life is owing. Probably shall soon pass from
your remembrance. but you can never be for
gotten by me.
One hour after this missive hadspass
ed beyond his control Captain Oakma1
began series of frantic efforts to OBJ
tain possession of it again.
SIT is the most preposterous stuff
that ever was written, was his humili
ating thought. "Those last lines are
virtual declaration of lovel They are i'm
pertinent and unpardonablel They will
make her despise mel She will giv'
them no heedi l shall never dare lool
in her face againl What possessed me
Confound itP' 80.
Nevertheless, some months later, ;
dainty missive wound its way in ant
out of the wreck and remnants of tn,
Southern Confederacy, and finally wa
Opened by the trembling hands of tn,
young veteran in his faraway northern
home:
Lieutenant Ledyard Oalkman (she didn't know
of his promotion):
DEAR SIR-I thank you very much for you
thoughtfulpess in returning Jack, who
through ths kindness of Mr.. Ackers, reaches
me in due time, much benefited, think, b
the outing which he received.
I was glad to learn Of your safe arrivs
among your friends without further misha
and trust that now that the unhappy war
over you will find full enjoyment and happj
ness with your dear ones in the north
My brother, Captain Trenholm, asks me t
send you his congratulations and good wishes
He joins me in saying that If ever in the fu
t4re inclination should lead you to visit tn