Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-12-28
J Counting for the Captain.

There was probably no more youth
full bearer of a coloners commission liz
the Civil War than myself.
Born in a family of soldiers, edu-
Gated and drilled from infancy as n
soldier, I gained high rank as boy
and was able to perform it's duties to
the satisfaction of my superiOrs.
But, aside from duty, l was rs
''larky' as any young college chap in
the world.
A box of goods made by the kind
hands of loyal women reached my
regiment through the United States
Christian Commission. The quarter
master, who superintendent distribu-
ton of the comforts brought me one
evening note he had found pinned
ON a pair of wooden stockings. Some
fun-lOving girl wrote that she would,
through charity, correspond with the
soldier receiving those foot coverings.
The letter was signed Dolly Miller"
and the post Office address was given.
took the slip of paper and when
the quartermaster had dc Srted in
dited a note in my best style to the
young lady. The name placed ut the
end, though, was not my own, but
that of Capt Il. b. Reid, in command
of one of my companies. A fine fell
low, handsome, brave and young, was
Reid-a great favorite also with the
ladies. He had won his rank by gal
liant service and was a soldier all
through. Though he always could
keep up his end in conversation, yet
his early education had been neglect
ed. He wrote villainous fist, and all
his ideas froze before they reached the
point of. his pen.
/ added V to the initials of my
comrade, so as to identify the answer
Qf one came) when it reached the adj
jutant's tent, where all mail matter
was delivered.
for Capt. II. b. V. Reid from town
In Ohio. OF course, the screed was de-
livered into my hands. A very sweet,
modest little letter it was. The con-
tents told that some lively girl chum
had written the original and signed
Miss Dolly Miller's name thereto; but
the real young lady said that 1.-THE let
ter she received was so gentlemanly in
tone, SO interesting in contents, that
carry out the promise made in her be-
half, and If Capt. Reid could find
amusement or pleasure in correspond
ing with her she was willing to do
what she could to cheer him in his du-
ties and dangers"
OF course, l answered and spread
myself" No fools letter would do for
being fiattered by her high estimate
Of my early work, put in my best
licks."
1t was not long before letters came
and went by each mail. l was really
interested in the true, kindly maiden
l had never met. and had it not been
''for the girl left behind me- might
have explained my first deception and
gone in for myself. AS it was, l felt
rather conscience stricken when
found to what extent my gush and ro-
nance had taken hold on the dear
young lady's feelings. But l kept it
up, all the same.
As l piled up the agony" on the
miseries of a soldiers life and gave
utterance to longing for some ten
der, loving woman to reconcile me to
the world and its trials, Miss Dolly's
letters became more and more affec-
Tomato and suggestive. She wrote
that she was an orphan, had consider
able money in her own right, and that
she could love brave soldier and hon.
est gentleman, such as she conceived
Capt. Reid to he from the tone Of his
letters.
] sent her Reid's photograph, taken
from my album, and received her own
In return. A very sweet, innocent,
confiding face IL was; good girl writ
ten in every feature. Reid espied il
soon after / placed it among my COL
lection, and he admired 1t hugely. l
did not hint that il had really been
sent to him, but felt mole ashamed
than ever.
Stin / continued the correspondence,
and, forced to reply in kind, dare say
that wrote many words that convey.
ed great affection and used much Ian.
guage that could easily be construed
into almost direct proposals of mar.
rage, though these were always quail
ified by remarks showing how unwill
ing / was, or would be, TO bring q
young wife to share the privations
and hardships Of n life in the field.
This interchange of words, growing
continually more tender, was kept M
until after the capture of Mobile Their
my regiment was sent to point on
the Mississippi River.
During the stirring times of actor
and the confusion of change In station
our letters were in many cases mis-
carried or failed to reach us. l hat
not heard from Miss Dolly for nearly
six weeks, and earnestly hoped she had
dropped the correspondence, for II hat
grown entirely too warm for my com
fort and peace of mind under the cir
cumstances.
One day II happened--as things co
incident do happen In this world-tha
was sitting in the provost marshal,