The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-07-24
Veteran sRegret|
Observation-Disclosures
[orlginal.l

. - o q .. . - S-'-E-S-s-s'
[originall
Grandpa. why Go you dislike to tell
Us of your experiences in the civil war?
Is 1T the sights you saw OF the dead and
wounded on the battlefield, the homes
aesola.ed or the exposure you yuf-
lered?'
ut was all of these, my children, but
there was one incident that impressed
itself upon me more than any of them.
After battle is we'll on soldier comes
under the influence of brute passion
and is not In a mood to be affected by
the barbarous scenes about him. But
let him see some minute happening
when he is calm and he revolts at war.
The. incident refer to was this:
Il was scouting in the Shenandoah
valley. We had been sent out to recon
hotter with view to finding out the To-
cation of Stonewall Jackson, who was
here today, there tomorrow and nobody
knew where the next day. l was then
a private, and for, what did ea that
occasion was made an ofaeeT, but fer
more than ferty years have Regretted
the act. We had dlsmeHnted on high
BLUR overlooking a bit of road that
wound around the mountain. Beneath
US was house that snuggled under
some high trees and a rock back of it,
with a few flowers In the front yard.
1t reminded me of the home had left
where my mother and near by the little
girl whom you have loved so long as a
gray haired old woman lived. 1t made
me homesick TO look at it. When we
were ordered to remount noticed that
the knot of the girth holding nay Nc
Clellan saddle was insecure and stop
ped to fasten it. While was doing so
my comrades rode ON. Just as 1 was
about to mount 1 heard clatter OF
hoofs on the road below and saw a
young Confederate soldier ride up to
the house, throw himself from his sad
die and dash inside.
'There was one thing about him that
especially attracted my attention,
paper in his belt Couriers bearing dis
patches usually carried them in their
belts, and l knew that this young fel-
low was a courier. If we could get
that dispatch it might tell us some
thing about the enemy's whereabouts.
My comrades were by this time out of
sight, and did not dare ride after
them for fear of losing the messenger.
1 remained where was, resolved to
get his dispatch and If of value carry
it to the general myself
"The young man was in the house
only few minutes when he emerged
with an old woman and young girl
The old woman kissed him again and
again as only n mother would kiss her
son, then went inside, leaving him
with the girl Between these two was
q different parting. 1 recognized 1t, for
l had been through such partlngs my
self. They were lovers. 1t was plain
that the soldier had passed his home
In the line of his duty and stopped to
see his mother and sweetheart. Twice
he left the girl and twice went back
for another kiss. The third time he
shot away, with wave of his hand,
and disappeared around the base of
the mountain.
Now, / knew the road zlgzagged,
rising till 1t passed within half mile
Of where was. If he kept 1t all had
to do to head him of was to ride over
a comparatively level ground this half
mile. Mounting, did SO and conceal.
ed myself in clump of trees, leaving
my horse back in the woods lest he be
tray me with some sound.
"While waiting l fell to thinking of
the scene 1 had witnessed, and the
thought of being the instrument for
taking the youngster from his mother
and his sweetheart forever became re.
pulsive to me. would try to capture.
not kill, him. But no. If called ON
him to surrender he wonld likely turn
and run. The fate of whole army
might depend on my securing that pa.
per. While I was thinking / heard
horses hoofs and felt sure my man
was coming. 1 had changed my reso-
luton several times with regard 10 civ.
Ing him chance for his life and when
he came in sight had decided to call
upon him to throw up his hands. Then
when saw the paper In his belt and
remembered what might depend upon
1t changed my mind again.
"His horse was jaded, and the road
led up an angle Of some thirty degrees;
therefore he walked. AS he came to
within the proper distance for me to
kill the rider felt that 1 was about
to become murderer. saw his
old mother hanging about his neck;
saw his sweetheart in his arms.
could almost hear their sobs when he
would be brought home corpse.
again the thought of the Importance
Of that dispatch, which could now
see plainly in his belt, could almost
read the address, flashed before me,
and, taking deliberate aim at his fere
head, fired.
"He reeled and fell backward into the
road, his horse dashing away up tho
mountain seized the dispatch. feel.
ing like one who having committed
murder now commits robbery. 1t was
from Stonewall himself to one of his
subordinate commanders and dated
from point not ten miles from our
army. Leaving the body in the road,
mounted my horse and dashed away to
headquarters. had saved surprise.
From that time till the end of the
war continued to be promoted. and
was always looked upon as one who
had done an important service, but
did not get over the feeling that had
committed crime, and have never
recovered from that feeling since. OF
ten in the dead of night awake, think.
Ing hear sobs, the sobs of an old wo
man and young girl, while soldiers
are carrying one of their comrades Ia,