Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-22
Written for the oxford Democrat.
A REBEL WIFE.
BY MRS. H. E. NJ. ALLEN.

A REBEL WIFE.
BY MRS. H. E. NJ. ALLEN.
PART THIRD.
The disaster at Bull Run was extreme
ly depressing to the loyal men every
where; but especially to those who were
living among more or less active enemies
of the federal government. In addition
to their gloomy forebodings of the final
disruption of the Union, they had to bear
the humiliating taunts and the exultation
Of their adversaries over the defeat and
disgrace of the Union arms. So great
was the general depression, the CON-
mander of the little camp of Home
Guards who met for drill at point not
far from Waterloo, resorted to unique
experiment to hearten up his men. A
week or more after the battle, he called
them up in line with the announcement
of glorious news from the front. Then
holding up a newspaper before him, he
read them glowing account of second
battle at Bull Run in which the triumph
of the Union arms was so complete as to
wipe out all the disgrace of the previous
disaster. The ruse did not succeed with
all; but possibly there may be some liv-
ing now who still believe there was one
great Union victory at that historic
locality.
BY this time it might almost be said
that Missouri, larger in extent than all
New England, was one vast battle
ground. Two great armies were moving
through the central portions, smaller
forces operating in other parts and, out
side of these, small guerrilla bands scour-
ing the country to harass, rob and hunt
down Union men. The class that suf-
fered most severely were the labOring
men, especially later comers from the
free states and Europe.
Quite early in the summer, the state
government passed out of the hands Of
Gov. Jackson, an avowed and audacious
rebel who, after having done all in his
power to drag the state into secession
and civil war, cast in his lot with the
rebellion and entered the rebel army
under General Price. But loyal men,
especially of the class above named,
found their condition not much bettered
by the change. The government was
now administered by the conservative
wing of the slaveholding aristocracy
who, although clear headed enough to
see that secession for Missouri, with
free state on each of her three sides,
meant ruin of her interests, were still
dominated by Southern ideas and South
ern preiudices. In the drastic measures
instituted for what was called the "pacif-
ication of the state" the poor unionists
seemed to have been regarded as the CHIEF
aggressors.
Not long after Bull Run, the hearts OF
the loyal men were saddened still more
bv the death of the brave and noble Gen.
LYON who fell at Wilson's Creek, where
as poet of that day said truly,
"Four thousand men as brave and true
As e'er went forth in daring,
Upon the foe that morning threw
The strength Of their despairing
The unionists in the region OF which
Waterloo was the center, suffered less
than many in other parts of the state;
bnt they were not on beds of roses.
Anxious days and nights were their por-
ton. Little squads of guerrillas were
dashing hither and thither through the
country and one never knew just what
outrages to expect from visit OF these
gentry. The least perhaps was demand
for ali the arms and ammunition pos
sessed by the family, and if these were
not promptly delivered up, an uncere-
monious search through the entire
premises. Some men they robbed OF
their teams in the busiest time OF the
year. Nor were there many unionists
perhaps who, as they went to their neids
or drove to market, felt wholly secure
from the bullet of some skulking bush-
whacker.
Ginnie did not long find herself able
to keep her anger against her husoana
at white heat; somehow it cooled OIL a
little. She had told him she desired no
further communication between them;
but as day after day passed and brought
no line from him, she was secretiy ais-
appointed, though she would hardly con-
fess it to herself. He had always been
so devoted, surely he would not be able
to endure very long the thought OF her
anger against him; he would write, In
spite of her injunction to the contrary,
and plead for a reconciliation between
them. And she would harden her heart
and refuse him any reply at first; but
after she had punished him little
longer for having left her to follow that
old fiag-well, perhaps she would forgive
him.
At last, at the end of five or six weeks,
there came letter in the well known
hand. She tore it open in frantic haste,
wondering why she should tremble 80.
It was written from military station In
Western Kentucky whittier his regiment
had been sent to join the forces OF Gen.
Grant who was then in command OF that
district. He apologized for troubling her
with letter, but explained briefly that
there was a matter of business he had
left unsettled on his departure from
Waterloo, of which she ought to be in
formed. As General Grant was then
actively preparing to check the advance
of a rebel force in that region, he had
thought it best to give her the informa-
tion before he encountered the chances
of battle. There were no reproaches for
the manner in which she had parted
from him, no plea for reconciliation, no
allusion to their former happy relations
He seemed to have accepted without pro-
test the terms she had laid down at their
parting, and did not ask for any line in
return, not even a word of information
in respect to Buddie, of whom he only
expressed the hope that he was better
since the cooler weather had come. Inc
letter ended with the simple WORD, "Fare'
| well, THAT was all.
Such a letter! so different from any,
thing she had expected of the husband
who had never, since she became his
wife, shown her any coldness, even fol
an hour! 1t made her gasp, it was sc
like dash of cold water in her face
She thought she would rather have hat
a letter filled with bitter reproaches
Certain it is, it gave her the most wretch
ed hour she had experienced since Col
toms departure.
But the proud young creature, as sh'
bathed her smarting eyes after goot
long cry, decided there was nothing U
be done about it. Since he had mad'
not the slightest overture toward
reconciliation, was she going to hnmoi
herself to make the first advance ant
HOOD FHRM
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