River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-03-23


Spouse, but when let so OF his hand
and crept back to camp | somehow
went with feeling that had bid good
by to my own brother.
II never saw or heard of my 'Yank'
during the war, but | often thought of
him When the war closed at Apo
mattoX | was captain, and went home
after my parole broken man. The
old farm had run down from neglect,
and my old parents were in need. BY
energy and economy ! in time sue
ceedeG in clearing the old homestead
of debt and building up our fortunes.
II was years before ! could breathe the
free air of independence.
Ten years ago | concluded to take
trip out west. My eldest son, Henry,
who had worked faithfully, accom-
panied me. 1t was in the spring that
we started. While crossing broad
prairie in one of our new western states
our engine jumped the track many
miles from the nearest station to which
we could apply for help. We were in
formed that at least seven hours would
elapse before assistance could possibly
reach rs. About three miles 10 the
south we could see large rancho build
ing. with the usual string of stables
and little houses about it. We arrived
at the rancho gate, where an old. griz-
gled herder or cowboy invited US in.
after we had explained our situation.
"'Who is the owner of the ranche|
inquired.
Maj Henry Vance, sir, and he will
be glad to entertain you, gentlemen,
was the reply.
The name somehow struck me as ia
miliar. but 1 had known so many
Vances that l thought but little it.
AN hour or so later, while seated
at dinner with the major and his fam
lily, his good wife happened to remark:
You are a Nirginian, sir, are
your
"'Ies. madam. we live in sight of the
Blue mountains, in what consider the
prettiest part of the old state
THE major often talks of that part
of Virginia. she replied. He served in
the union army under Mcclellan and
Grant. You look like a soldier yourself,
sir. Were you one, may ask?'
IL was, madam; a soldier for the
lost cause. and served during the war
under Lee and Jackson. l replied
Indeed! Did you hear the gentle
man. maior?' she Intercepted.
"'Were YOU there?' l inquired. now
deeply interested, although not in the
least anticipating what was coming.
eyes. | was, and one night, the one
after the second days battle, while
wandering about in search of some
thing to eat, got outside our lines and
was taken prisoner by young confed-
crate vidette-'
What I exclaimed rising 10 my
feet, struck with establishment. You
are not the young Ohio soldier | took
that night. and afterward slipped out
OF our camp back within his own lines =
''My host had risen and stood staring
at me with establishment, blended with
anxiety. on his frank countenance.
Can il be possible said he, his voice
fairly quivering, that the man | have
most wanted and least expected ever o
see. stands before me? Thank God!
my friend, that | once more can look
into Your face and thank YOU" Mary
addressing his wife, Kitty! Hattie!
This gentleman. Capt. Raines, is the
man Of whom ] have so often talked.
He was the confederate soldier boy who
gave me. a half-starved enemy. all his
rations. and afterward ran the risk of
his life at the hands of his friends by
conducting me through his camp back
into my own lines. He is the man I
would rather see than any other man
on earth
''By this time everybody was excited.
Mrs. Vance and both the girls were
shaking my hand and embracing me as
affectionately as they could have done
a long lost relative. Dinner was lest
sight of. No one thought of anything
to eat. and for an hour there was moth
ing talked of except the story Of that
night at the front. "-Cincinnati En-
,,,;,.nr