The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-19
FRANK G.. CASSIDY.
4 soldier in Prison, Who sacrificed
FfIial Affection TO his Sense Of
Honor.
rATnIAE INFELICI FIDELIs.

4 soldier in Prison, Who Sacrificed
FfIial Affection to his Sense Of
Honor.
rATHIAE INFEIICI FIDELIS.
For an introduction to my hero,
must take my reuuers To q Northern prison
towards the close OF our late civil war
Among the Confederate prisoners there held
was young 1rishninn. whether All officer or
not don't know, whose name was Frank {.
Cassidy. His name | must give, for IL is
worthy TO live. He had lett his parents In
New York just before the outbreak OF The war
10 come and live with an uncle In Beaufort
district. rs II was then called, South Carolina.
South Carolina was to be his home, and when
the war began he espOused the cause of the
South with all the ardor and devotion OF the
Irish heart and volunteered In the llth South
Carolina Infantry. and at this time being a
mere boy. His Intelligence, high moral
character, wit and humor characteristic OF
his race. and kind heart equally SO and his
youth won for him the love and friendship OF
his comrades and made him Il hvorite with
all. Indeed, it was not long before he was
the pet of his company and his regiment.
y fter following the Confederate flag for near.
ly four years, and always a brave and trusted
soldier, he was made prisoner, with others
of his cOmpanyapd carried to the North and
pat In prison. But In prison he was the same
jolly. irrepressible 1rishman that he was In
cam and on the march.
Like Joseph in his Egyptian prison he soon
IaHde friends Of his fellow prisoners, and the
prison guard and the colonel commanding
the prison. with the artlessness and sim
pliciiy of child, and chidlike ioyousness
that was forever bubbling up he had an "open
sesame that unlocked all hearts to him. II
was the life of the prison as he had been OF
the camp. He was always stirring about
among the prisoners, and everyone had a
smile and good word for him as he always
had for them. One day the commandant Of
who was very quickly there. Cassidy" he
said, ~ have some good news for you. Your
father and mother have come on from New
York, and are at the prison gate waiting 10
see you and take you with them" He WAS
wild with delight. 1t had been seven or eight
years since he had left them, boy 10 come to
his uncle in South Carolina, and in all that
time had never seen them. nor did he know
whether they we're dead or living, and only
short time before that had written 10 them
that he was alive and prisoner, where do
not ernember. Loving son that he was there
could have been no more welcome news TO
him than that his father and mother still
lived, and were waiting at the prison gate TO
carry him home to see his brothers and sis
II must 60 10 my father and mother" THAT
is with you. Cassidy. You know 1t Is not al.
lowed to prisoners TO go to the prison gate TO
talk with anybody, not even TO see and talk
oath of allegiance TO the Union I'll oary you
TO them, and be next glad to you and to your
father and mother" sis taking the oath my
only chance 10 see them 2" "Your only
chance. 1t Is not with me to set aside the
strict orders under which am acting. Ifyou
are not willing TO take the oath I'll go and
seeing them" Here Cassidy broke down
and wept aloud like beart-broker child,
saying: "Oh, my father and mother, must II
be SO that you are so near me, and have to go
back without seeing your long absent son
What would be sweeter TO my eyes and to
my heart than to see my father and my
mother?"
An awful struggle was going on in his soul
between love of father and mother
side and what be felt TO be his honor on the
other side. Many OF his fellow prisoners and
were deeply moved. 1t was scene to touch
the hardest heart, and TO make eyes grow
moist unused to weep. There were other
tears shed besides his own. Take the oath,
mother is more than country" But not
more than honor" said Frank. Take the
oath, Frank" said another, "for you have
suffered long enough to quit the war now
"rhat's the very reason. said Frank, that l
have been good soldier, that 1 should con-
tinue one. 1t doesn't belong TO my blood nor
to my race. to desert friend. or my country.
In the day Of their misfortune and when they
most need me-" Others said Take the oath,
Frank, for the war wi soon be over. and
home" "Yes," said Frank, sand when 1t
does end, let that be soon or late. want II to
find me in this prison or filling soldiers
grave, or living an honored and honorable
all that could do for the cause believed 10
be right
HIS HONOR UNTARNIsBED TO THE LAST.
The agony was over. His decision was
made. Brushing the tears from his honest
face. he said Colonel, go tell my father and
mother that ! can't see them now-that l
can't take the oath: "The colonel looked at
him and said: Cassidy, you are noble
fellow and may we live TO see happier times"
and straightway went 10 announce his deci-
sion 10 his father and mother, who were all
this time waiting anxlously Rt the prison
gate.
1t matters little on which side such a man
fought. Whether his side was right or not
who can deny that he was right, and that he
was hero and unsurpassed by any OF Greece
or Rome? When the flag under which he
fought was furled to wave no more, still a
hero with a brave and cheerful heart, he
began poor the struggle OF life TO make an
honest living and to help TO build up the
waste places Of his country. 1t Is such as he,
men and women, who hold what they con-
celve 10 be their duty and their honor clear,
that constitute the true glory and greatness
OF State and ma ton. May their number be
even more In peace than in war. 1t Is said
that truth is stranger Than felton," and II
could be said with equal truth that fiction Is
more interesting and takes stronger hold on
most people than "truth"-the reality-for
which reason fear that the true stories OF my
1.-Two Heroes" which got in both cases from
eye-witnesses, will be less interesting Ii they
we're the pure creation OF Some story writer.
Over the grave of Frank Cassidy, In Barn.
well County, there ought To be monument
raised. and on 1t inscribed: Go, Colonel.
tell my father and mother that l can't zee
them now-that can't take the oath"
Alendale, S. c. John q. Williams,