Smyrna times., 1899-08-23
The Majors Story.

Club room took great comfort in the
roaring tireround which they gathered.
The talk drifted comfortably from one
subject to another and finally touched
ON the drama and the innovations of
several rising actors.
why is 1t, major, that you fight so
shy of the threatres?" asked "Doc'
Despard of a trip, white haired old fell
low who had been smoking his cigar
near the chimney corner and who had
said very little. Everyone was silent
and finally the major spoke:
Il went to the theatre a great deal
when | was young-until l saw some
real acting. | have never gone since.
The major was one of the few vet
eraus of the Civil War, who were retic-
ent of their achievements; but he had
been known to tell story once or
twice-in just the right company-and
with such simplicity and vigor that he
had held his listeners spellbound. He
had had rare experiences, and when
he recOunted he emphasized the human
side and stuck to the truth. That was
the secret of his power.
The time, the company, were auspic-
ious, SO the major began:
"My regiment was part of the Army
of the Potomac. We had moved from
near Washington to Fortress Monroe,
and from there had moved, one hun
dred and twenty-One thousand strong
towards Richmond, in two divisions,
one along the York River and one along
the James.
"McClellan had kept us dawdling in
Maryland, he had taken us leisurely
down the Potomac, and now we are
dawdling again. He made us into a
fine army and then let us go to rot for
lack of use. We camped on the Chick
ihominy near Richmond, and three we
dawdled once more. Every man of us
wanted action. We would have faced
any odds, and we cursed our chiefs
everlasting caution and procrastina-
tion. He was a fortunate fellow who
got detailed for any small reconnOiter-
ing party or skirmishing expedition.
Zone day, about like this, only there
was thunder in the air and more
warmth, was called to my colonels
tent.
Lieutenant Vale he said, you
are to take squad of ten men and go
t. the Devereaux Mansion. We have
reason to believe that a Confederate
officer-a spy-has got through the
lines and is hiding there. The house
has been watched. A picket reported
that man was seen to enter. Search
the house, arrest him, and bring him
here Be quick and don't fail.
81 took my order, saluted, and was
gone. 1t was dusk as we left the camp
and rode along the road toward the
stately old mansion house indicated by
the colonel. had enlisted from a New
England town, and had seen very little
of the world, but l had found In my
self strong sympathy for the proud,
high-br Southern families. We
think of our ancestors in New England
as they do in the South, and people are
not always moving about, but live in
the same place for generation after
generation. / knew how they felt
about the destruction of their old fam
lily places I ragged at it, too.
This particular house was fine
type, and stood at the highest point of
the Devereaux plantation, the stately
home of many generations of the old
family. 1t was illumined that night
and it's lights twinkled at us through
the trees as we approached.
"For a moment the remembrance of
the great army of which 1 was part,
and the opposing force sleeping on It's
arms for our attack over in Richmond,
faded from my mind. L fancied | ap-
preached the house as a guest. that its
great, hospitable doors, were now, as
often, thrown open to the neighboring
gentry. 1 could almost hear the vio-
Inns squeak and detect the aroma OF
fragrant punch.
GAS we drew rein at the door the
cloud of fancy covering the grim truth
was dispelled, and 1 sickened at my
task. The father and son were perhaps
dying on a far away battlefield while
the wife and daughters kept their
lonely vigil at home, and well L
stood for all they despised and abhorred
AS swung off my horse 1 determined
to show them that chivalry lived In the
North as we'll as in the South. You
see 1 was not without romance Ill those
days!
''An old negro servant came to the
door. He was trembling-poor OLD
fellow / asked for Mr.. Devereaux.
"'Massa Devereaux's gone to the
wah, sah.'
50 GT u,orld lilo IN soc VOuf mistress,