The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-12-28
couRTrso foR rHE CAPTAIN.

Tstfs ~s probably 20 more yeaibf
tssrsr oi colonsl's eoumissios 10 q
Civil War then ny,eli
Bora 10 q family OF soldier ednesi'
sbd drilled from ipisscr ss . soldier
ssiasd hish rsnk |. boy so5 ss sbls
perform iis dates 10 the satisfaction Of q
sIpsriors.
Bot, ss.de from daily, | vas ss "lstk,
~ sny youns college chap in the world Y.
A boz Of goods made by the Had hsb'
oi royal women resehtd ny resimsi
through the UBi,ed States Chfisiisn Co
mission. TIE quntetmsster, wbe sop'
inteSded dlslrlbntion Of the comforts, on
evening brous ne note be hsi ioun
pioped 90 . pair OF woolen stockings.
fau-loyiug girl wrote that she voul
through charity, correspond With the sci
ier receiving those foet coverings. Th
letter sss sisned Dolly Miller aud ii
post Office address wss given.
took the Zip Of paper aud wbeu th
qusrterm sster had dspsr,ed indietes
note 10 my bsst style to the youn1 lady
The name thst plsced at the ead. tbousb b
vas not my oxr, bat that Of Capt. /. b
Reid in eommsnd OF one OF my compsnie
A tine fellow, handsome, brave aud yonna 2
vas Reid "a erest fsvorite slsu with tn
ladies He bed won bis rank by esllan
service ana was 9 soldier ell through. HI
slwsys eoald keep up his eud 10 convers,
tion, yet hiI early education had been mel
lected He wrote q villsiuous fist, and u
bis ideas frcz, before they reached th,
poin, Of bis pen.
| added 3 V TO the initials OF my con
rsde, so IS to identity the answer III ont
csme-when it reached the sdjutsnt's tent
where oil mail matter was delivered.
Three weeks after there was . note for
Capt. I. b Y. Reid from q town 10 Ohio.
OF course. the screed Was delivered into
my hands. A very sweet, modest little
letter ii vac The contents told thst some
lively girl chum haG written the originsl
and signed Miss Dolly Miller's name there
to; but the real youus lady said that 'ihe
letter she received was go gentltminly 10
tone, so interesting 10 contents. that she
patriotic 10 the extreme, could carry out
the promise made 10 her behalf, and il
Capt. Reid could fud amusement or pleas
ure in corresponding With her she was
willing to do what she conld to cheer him
in his duties and dangers"
OF course | snswered aud spread my
self No OILS letter would do for this
bright, honest Miss Dolly, and. being fat
tered by ber high estimate oi my early
work, put In my best licks.
1t was not long before letters came and
sent by each mail. was really interested
in the true, kindly maiden had never
met, and had il not been for another girl ]
might have explained my frat decep ion
snd gone 10 for myself. As il was l felt
rather consci nee stricken when | found
10 what extent my gusl AMI romance had
Lsken hold on the dear young lsdy's feel
ngs, But | kept it up oil the same.
AS | piled up the agony on the miseriss
II soldiers life aud gave utterance to
ongioe for some tender, loving woman to
ecoI cie me 10 the world and its trials,
Miss Dolly's letters became more snd
more affsctionste aud suggestive. She
Vrote that she was an orphan, had consid
rable money 10 her own right. and that
be could love a brave soldier and honest
entlemsp, such as che conceived Cspt.
Reid to be from the tone oil bis letters.
sent ber Reds photograph, taken
aken from my album, and received her
wn 10 return. A very sweet, innocent.
or6dipg face /, was; good girl" writ
70 10 every feature. Reid espied it foon
tier placed 1t among my collection. and
e admired it hugely. did not hint that
had been really sent to him, but felt
Iore ashamed than ever.
Still | contibued the correspondence.
i'd, forced to reply ip kind. l dare say
lst l wrote many words that conveyed
'es. siection and used much language
ist could easily be construed into almost
rect proposals OF marriage. though these
ere always qualified by remarks showing
w unwilips | w.s, or would be. to bring
youug wife to share the privstions and
Irdsbips Of lie in the field.
This iuterehssge Of words, growing con
nnslly more tender. was kept up until
ter the capture OF Mobile. Then my I
eiment vss sent to a poipt on the Miss
sippi river.
Daring the stirring times o! action and ,
e confusion OF change 10 station our let
rs we're 10 many cases miscsiried or fail
TO reach US. had not heard from Mise
oily Tor pesrly .iH weeks aud earnestly
'pei she bad dropped the correspon
moe, for II had grown entirely too warm
: my comfort end peace Of mind uoder
9 circumstances, q
00e day IT happened as things coinci
ut do happen 10 this world -thst was
Ting 10 the provost msrshsrs Office at
9 landing, when large steam bost came
vn the river. 1t stopped at onr poet /
sll boats bad to. 10 compliance With {
itsry orders Isaw sever.l passengers t
ID smopg them lady. These we're left
Indins on the levee while their pssses b
baggage underwent examination.
In q few moments the lientensnt com E
ndiDs the provost guard came to me
a ssid: Il
there iss young lady here ssk =
for Capt Reid Of your regiment II
Df cnufse / yss ell stttution and teti d