The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-05-24
A Brave Young Confederate.
alexandria Gazette.
The bravest are the tenderest;
The loving are the daring.

The loving are the daring.
I'm memory OF Major Charles o.
Hume, o. s. A., son of Charles and
Frances Virginia Hume born in Onl'
peper, Va February 2, A. ID 1912 died
May 20, 1868, in this vicinity, in the
line of duty-A brave young hero in the
army of Northern Virginia. "
The foregoing inscription on q stained
glass memorial window in Pickewaxen
Episcopal church. Charles county,
Maryland, preserves at once the record
Of the close Of gallant young life. and
Of the fidelity and tenderness Of friends
who valued it because 1t was heroic.
In the centre Of the window is broken
column. Above this is Maltese cross
bearing the legend, Faithful Unto
Death, and below, q medallion holds
the words, PRO Dio, Pro Patria, Pro
Libertata.
Death came to the young Hero" in
the beginning Of the first year Of bis
legal manhood yet when he was al
ready an old soldier upon whom the se'
we're exactions Of the most perilous serv'
ice 10 which the Oonfederaoy could de-
vote its children had wrought their
mysteries Of manhood s thoughtsulness,
skill aud oonstsnoy The service In
which he met his death was one that
had long and successfully engaged him
that Of passing through the lines OF
the enemy confronting the army of
Northern Virginia; gathering infor-
nation Of his position, numbers and
purposes ;and then, repassing to commu-
nicate the results Of his observations to
his immediate chief, Gen. J. Z. B
Stuart This line of dangerous duty
led him more than once in the very
capital Of the enemy and always in the
rear Of the grand armies that were
moving ION to Richmond" II involved
the necessity Of immediate and frequent
personal contact and intercourse with
Federal soldiers, when not only his ute-
fulness as q scout but his life depended
on his art 10 ooncealing his identity.
Every step be took was perilous yet for
years his fortune maintained the as.
cendent. Uncommon health, strength
aud courage dexterity and self-Posses-
sion under conditions however sudden,
unexpected and seemingly hopeless, to.
gether with thorough knowledge Of the
country and people, fitted him for his
difficult part in the grim tragedy OF
war.
The last chapter Of the life Of this
ideal soldier Is gathered from the pro-
saio offioial reports which neither praise
nor blame. but yet cannot conceal the
psthos of the closing scene.
Captain Joseph Croft, commanding
Company B. 18Th Regiment, Maryland
Volunteers (Union), was on guard duty
on the Maryland side of the Potomac,
at Chapel Point. Charles county. on
May 20, 1868. On the evening Of that
day a detail from the company was pa
trolling the river. The detail consisted
Of Latimer and Sylvester Stockman,
brothers, and Charles Keeler. They
discovered three men In fodder house
and demanded their surrender Two,
Simpson and Brown, surrendered the
third, Watt Bowie, escaped.
The patrol, with their two prisoners,
proceeding toward the company's
quarters, were joined by another mau.
who seems to have mistaken the party
for friends, the hour being almost
twilight. He discovered his mistake
at once, but too late to escape arrest.
The march was continued, the, now,
three prisoners in front The last pris-
oner was Hume. Beginning q conversa
tion with the patrol, he asked the name
of their command, and suddenly fac
ing them, said: "You are Harper's s
Ferry prisoners and have not been ex'
changed /" This was denied by the
men, who asserted that they had been
regularly exchanged. Hume repeated
his charge, and added: II will kill
you all. He instantly fired his pistol
at Sylvester Stockman. wounding his
hand but the fire was promptly an.
swered by both of the guards and
Hume fell dead at the muzzle Of their
muskets The other prisoners threw up
their hands, making 40 resistance, and
were marched mp to the company 9
quarters. Hume's body was left until
q detail, sent for that purpose. convey
ed it to camp. At the time Of his
death. Hume wore an cvercoat,
aud under il full Confederate uni
form, rank of major; and on one hand
was large plain gold ring. Besides
quite large sum Of money, and papers
of great value to the Confederate gov
ernment were found on and taken from
bis person.
Citizens of Charles county who had
been friendly to Hume were permitted
upon request. to give his body burial
and all that remainded Of the valiant
and faithful scout was consigned BY
gentle hands to mother earth at Picks.
waxen church, the Rev. J. M. Todd
officiating.
This is all The soft sky bends
Ger him Tapped In earth away;
Her benigntest influence lends
Dews and rains and radience sends
Down upon him night aud day.
| Over him the springtide weaves
All verdue OF her May;