Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-27
CHAPTER XIV.
A Lost Regiment.

- was q piiSht' SuisIiiiy udy III ,etiiS
spring. Birds were sweetly singing in the
trees lining the road 1 travelling. the
grass on either side was softly green and
beautifed by countless wild flowers bloom
ing in great variety of coloring. Nothing
seemed to speak of war, although 1 was
amid the very heart of its desolation, save
the deserted houses 1 was continually pass
ing and the fenceless. untitled fields. must
have shown my late illness greatly. for the
few l met. as l tramped slowly onward.
mostly soldiers, gaZed at me curiously, as If
they mistook me for the ghost of some dead
comrade; and doubt not my pale face, yet
bearing the deep imprint of pain. with the
long, untrimmed hair framing it and the
blood-stained, ragged uniform, the same l
wore that fierce day of battle, rendered me
an object of wonder.
All through those long, weary winter
weeks had been lowering between life and
death in an obscure hospital at Richmond.
HOW l first came there l know not, but
when at length l struggled back to recol-
lection and life there l found myself and
there l remained. slowly convalescing. a
prisoner to weakness, until finally dis
charged but two days before. During those
months little that related to the progress of
robed nuns, kind hearted and tender of
touch, but feeling slight interest in affairs
of the world without / saw no old-time
familiar faces, while the few wounded about
as myself. The moment the door was
opened to permit of my passing forth into
the world again I sought eagerly to dis
cover the present station of my old COM
radeS in arms, yet could learn only that the
cavalry brigade with which had formerly
served was In camp somewhere near Apo
mattox Court House. On foot and money
less, l set off alone, my sole anxiety to be
once more with friends; and now at the be-
ginning of the second day, 1 was already
beyond Petersburg and sturdily pushing
westward.
A battery of light artillery was parked in
a field upon my right but so far away from
the road that hesitated to travel that dis
lance simply to ask question which 1t
was extremely doubtful if they would be
able to answer. Instead pushed on grimly,
and as the road swerved slightly to the left,
passing through grove of handsome trees,
| came suddenly opposite large house of
imposing aspect. A group of confederate
officers stood in converse beside the gate
leading into the open driveway, and as l
paused moment, gazing at them and Won
dering whom l had better address-for rec
ognized none of the faces fronting income
among the group turned suddenly and took
a hurried step in my direction, as though
dispatched upon an errand of Importance
He was tall, slender man, wearing long
gray mustache, and l no sooner viewed his
face than l recognized him as having been
one of those officers present in General Lee
tent the day was sent out with dispatches.
He glanced at me curiously, yet with no
sign of recognition, but before he could pass
l accosted him.
Colonel Maitland I said, you doubtless
remember me. l am seeking my old COM
mand; would you kindly inform me where
1t may be found?
He stopped instantly a sound of my voice
and stared at me in odd bewilderment; but
my words had already reached the ears of
the others, and before he had found an
answer another voice spoke sternly: What
lis all this? Who are you, sir? What mas
querade puts you into that parody of a
captains uniform?'
/ turned and looked into the flushed, in
dignant face of General Lee.
1T IS no masquerade, SIR I answered,
instantly removing my hat; lit is the right
full uniform of my rank, greatly as 1 regret
it's present condition"
He gazed at me keenly, evidently doubt
full as to his best course of action and L
heard an officer behind him laugh.
Where are you from?"
81 was discharged from St Mary's Hos
pital In Richmond day before yesterday,
and am now seeking to rejoin my regi-
ment."
l almost imagined L was looked upon as
a soldier crazed by his sufferings; l heard
a whisper. "Out Of his head" yet as u
gazed earnestly into those stern gray eyes
which fronted me, they suddenly grew
moist.
Surely" he said gravely, IT have seen
you attached"
''The -th Virginia Cavalry
The buzzng of voices about me instantly
ceased, and General Lee took a step nearer.
The -th Virginia? You were a captain?
Surely this is not Philip Wagner
So deeply surprised was his tone so I'M
certain his recognition, l scarcely knew
what to answer Had 1 lost my very iden-
tity? Was this all dream?
Il am Captain Wayne, Troop D, -th Vir-
ginia.''
He grasped my hand warmly between
both his own and his kindly face lit up In
St9nflV with a smile,
Captain Wayne, 1 cannot tell you how
greatly I rejoice at your safe return. We
certainly owe you an apology for this poor
reception, but you were reported as killed
In action many months ago. l doubt not
Colonel Maitland truly believed he looked
upon ghost when you first accosted him..
For the moment was unable to speak, so
deeply did his words affect me.
II fear, Captain Wayne he continued
gravely, yet retaining my hand within his
own, that must bring you sad news"
Sad news?" Instantly there came to me
the thought of my widowed mother. Not
from home, l trust, sir?
mo" with great tenderness, your moth
er, believe, remains we'll; yet the words l
speak are nevertheless sad ones. and must
prove a severe shock to you. There is no
-th Virginia
mo til Virginia?" echoed, scarce able
to comprehend his meaning, mo -th Vtr-
ginia? l beg you to explain, sir; surely
and 1 looked about me upon the various
uniforms of the service present-"the war
has not yet ceased-we have not sur
rendered."
mo, my boy" and the old hero reverently
barred his gray head in the sunlight, but
the -th Virginia gave itself to the south
that day in the Shenandoah"
I must have grown very white, for a
young aid sprang hastily forward and
passed his arm about me. Yet 1 scarcely
realized the action. for my whole thought
was with the dead.
do you mean they are all gomez"
I questioned. tremblingly. hardly able
to grasp the full dread import of
such CHASTITY tidings. Surely. General
Lee, some among them must have come
back
so few" he responded soberly. his hat
still retained in his hand. $50 very few
that we could only scatter them in other
commands. But you have not yet fully re-
covered your strength. You must not re-
main longer standing here. Major Holmes
will YOU kindly conduct Captain Wayne to
nv headquarters, and see that he is fur
nished with uniform suitable to his rank
For the present he will serve as extra aid
upon my personal staff
I turned away, the major leading me as
III had been a child. l walked as man
stunned by some sudden, unexpected blow
Speech was impossible, for all sensation
seemed dead within me, save the one vivid
memory of those loved comrades who had
persisted on the field. could not realize,