The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-02-25


months. then wandered over the coun.
try lecturing for some months, and then
went out in one Of those strange disap-
pearances which cloudad his life and
perplex his biographers. He had periods
OF total disappearance, absolute lapses,
as it were. from the world Of the living.
During these disappearance nothing
whatever could be learned OF him. At
this time he was seemingly blotted out
for almost two years. When he again
rosc 10 the surface and cast shadow
amongst living men, he enlisted in the
Union army. His military career was
brillisnt. His name was recorded sew.
eral times in eulogistic general orders
for high personal heroism during the
two years Of mighty fighting in which
the army Of the Cumberland bore 30
large part. His bearing Of the colors
to the front at Missionary Ridge has
been splendidly described by his biogra.
pher, Colonel r. j. Hinton;
The dark winding line climbed ever
up and Up, one regiment moving eagerly
to the front. Tho heavy fire from tho
enemy's rifle pits belched forth. and the
blue line, yet uniformed, momentarily
broke. The flag rose, and then suddenly
fell to the ground, for the bearer had
been shot. 1t seemed minutes. but it
was not really second OF time, when
clearly against the hazy autumn sky q
slight, 1.-the figure, sword 10 hand, was
seen to dash out from the swsying
ranks. The flag was raised and swung
aloft az the soldier faced the command
behind. Cheers were borne to the
strainips ears Of appreciative generals
and then the whole line swung swiftly
forward to bayonet point under ter.
rife rife fire. At the forefront was
seen the soldier with pointing blade and
waving colors ieadirg the way. A mo.
ment more and the rifle pits were
reached. A seconds clash and the flag
was there above the low line Of rifle pits.
Over the works went the Eighty eighth
Illinois,"
In lS45, while Realf was still serving
as soldier. he contracted his first legal
marriage with Sophie E. Graves. whom
he met in small western town. Whom
he was ordered south be left her IN In.
diana, apparently with every intention
OF returning to her. His letters to her
were warm and frequent. But while he
was serving in the south fancy seized
him for society woman who lived in
Washington, and when he received his
discharge he fastened to that city
agsiIst the promptings Of bis own res.
son, swayed by one Of those violent and
apparently irresistible csprices which
governed and wrecked his lite, and led
his eager feet through such weary wan.
derings in despair and night. OF bis
latter marriage bis biographer says:
1.-THE marriages Of Richard Realf have
been much discussed. use the plural.
though legally there was but one mar
riage. The second ceremony was biga
nous in character and Realf had no
knowledge whatever Of his being free
from the wholesome and honorable rela.
ton that he fist entered upon. The
third relationship entered upon after he
} had obtained from one state court q
} divorce from the woman he contracted
marriage with at Rochester. N. Y, was,
il any validity could attach. OF the com
. mon law order. His partner in this
} third union was the mother Of children
} by him, and everywhere in his latter
years he spoke OF her as my wife" Hi