Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-05-28
f Tale OF the Civil War.
Part ]

northern home was suddenly dis
turbed by tidings of the firing on
Fort Sumter, in 81, Massachusetts
call for troops. Prominent among
the enthusiastic patriots were John
/ Humphrey and his three sons. The
| old gentleman was one CT tie old
school type. Honor was the Alpha
| and Omega OF his creed and tEere was
a question among even his intimatas
as to which ranked first in his af-
fections, his country or his sons.
Mr.. Humphrey could in TO wise be
accused of partiality; he had given
everything exactly alike to his boys.
| They had been educated at the same
college, clothed by the same tailors,
and on their eighteenth birthday had
each received exactly similar gold
watches, with their names engraved
on the eases.
Henry, the eldest. though not yet
thirty, was very serious in disposition,
but capable of warm affection when
his heart was reached. which his
youngest brother, George, had so eff
fectually done as to be Henry's idol.
Lester, designated as "the middle
son" was very different from his
brothers, too given to sport and self
indulgence to inspire any really
warm affection in those who knew
him best, and too frivolous to view
| anything in life seriously He had no
taste for business. Athletics by day
and society by night, madaa him a
prime favorite among his companions,
while the ladies, who alas! are too
easily caught by gallantry of manner
and fine appearance, thought him ir-
resistible'
Henry, with his habitual phlegmatic
temperament, prophesied san early
| peace with bat slight fighting" to all
the rumors CT war, but George, en-
thusiastic and country-loving to the
hearts core; vowed ''to do mis- all in
the defence of the good cid flag" so
much beloved before, so dee12y in
suited now; ard a sentiment akin to
envy possessed him as he viewed his
brother, Lieutenant Lester HuraShrey,
of Company e, I'd Massachusetts, in
fantry, every irch a soldier mlrch
away amid cheers and praye-s for his
safety.
It was difficult for the Humphrey
family to resume the Tranquil routine
of their daily life. so filed We they
With sad misgivings ard uncertainty
regarding the future Of son and
brother. At last the battle of Bull
Run was fought, following, which
came lengthy, cheering letter from
Lester, telling them Of the minor part
he had played in that engs nent,
and closing with the assurance that
all was not yet lost. This was the
last letter they were destined to re-
ceive. Soon followed news Ct Testers
wounding, possibly his death, in a
mere outpost skirmish; his men
driven back; his body left upon the
field; his fate mystery.
As weeks and months passed and
no tidings OF their dear one came to
the family, hope gave place to despair
Surely had Lester been living they
would have heard ere this. The
grief they suffered gave birth to a
yearning for vengeance, an all-con-
Stunning desire to avenge the death of
the brave young soldier who had
given his life thus early in the strug-
gle of a nation at war within itself
squadron of cavalry then re-
cruiting in their city gave the broth
ers the opportunity they sought.
Henry was offered the captaincy of a
troop, which he gladly accepted, de-
claring: 81 now realize the north in
deed requires the services OF all her
sons George, who, up to this time,
had only been restrained from joining
the army as volunteer by his elder
brothers counsel and example, in
sisted upon going with him, to which
persistence the father and brother re-
luctantly yielded, and George as sec
ond lieutnant in his brothers troop,
marched hopefully awey from the sor-
roW-stricken parent who found it hard
in the magnitude Of his sacrifice to
say, 9sThy will be DONE
Part II.
Along a winding dusty Georgia
road some two months later, their
horses tagged from hard riding them
selves suffering from fatigue and the
oppressive hest of a southern sun,
rode Captain Henry Humphrey, his
brother George, Sergeant Jennings,
ard some dozen of their men9 return
ing from a dangerous scouting expe-
dition in the enemy's country, but now
fortunately within few miles Of Gen
eral Sherman's lines, to whose army
their squadron was attached
'.By the gods,' cried the sergeant,
as they rounded an elbow in the road,
rebels, as I'm Living man! Who
would have thought of seeing them
here?" simultaneously his few COM
| nani0ns looked GA ger1v forward and