The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-02-27

butchery of Antietam was over-fear-
fui because so useless, because so want
Ing in result-McClellan remained in
active during the whole of Sept. Is,
racing Lees army. with more fresh
troops under him than the whole rebel
army amounted to. On the night of
the 1Sth-19th Lee forded the Potomac
without mOlestation and marched his
weary troops back into Virginia. Jack
Son Went with him and, Of course. Col.
Douglas also. Lee remained near the
ford for some time. little fearing the
Fedora army, to give the mrch-needed
rest to his men. i
Douglas determined to get at least a
look at his horne before the army NOV
ed southwark; so n day he rode. at
tended by a single orderly only. to the
high ground opposite the old home
stead He was so near that he could
see his father walking in the garden.
but between the river and the house
was scattered a force of about so cav
alrymen, BOYS in Blue" guarding the
ferry that. ia peaceful times, carried
the farmer owe TO old 'Virginny." But
the temptation was stronger than the
cavalrymen, and down the hill strods
Douglas until he stood at the edge of
the river. His uniform soon attracted
the soldiers, and n of them called
across to know what he wanted.
That's my home up there. INT l just
came TO take a last look at it."
Come across cried the sergeant i'm
command; you needn't be afraid"
But Douglas sense of military duty
prevailed, and he hesitated. The fer
ryboat was, of course, on their side /;
30 n Of the blue coats said. We'll
go over and get you" The sergeant
formed g part of the crew; on landing
he said TO Douglas:
"You want TO see your father and
mother again, do you?"
"Of course / do" replied Douglas.
That's all right added the soldier.
I'll give you my word of honor you
liant be taken prisoner. I'm in COM
mand over there
why. where are all your oficers?'
uoAC0 DOuSlaSS III SQIDEISt.
"Oh, they're up at ~Sharpsburg hav-
Ing a big dinner; its not likely any of
them will be about for a long time
get"
1t was TOO late 70 retreat, had he
wished to. and Douglas saw no reason
to doubt the sincerity of his compan-
ions. On The way across the sergeant
said:
"The folks here told me cd Mr..
Douglas had two sons with you fell
lows. Ones In the cavalry and the
others on Stonewall Jackson's staff. /
guess you're that one, amt you?"
Douglas acknowledged the correct
ness of his surmise. The other MEM
bers Of the First New York cavalry,
for that it turned out to be, had gath
cred at the landing, and gave an anus
ed greeting to the young "Reb."
"Now you 90 right up to the house
and see your folks said the sergeant.
81 guess no good cause could be hurt
by a fellow going to see his father and
mother"
But Douglas hesitated at tempting
Providence too far. and replied. 81
think l had better not go up. Won't
you send a man there and let my peo-
pie know I am here?'
"PH do that" the sergeant said.
"and I'll put a man on guard to warn
you If any officer comes"
The "Reb' and his Yankee entertain
ers chatted pleasantly enough until Mr..
ond Mrs. Douglas appeared: then the
soldiers, those deadly enemies of but
a yesterdays war, hardened and cruel
10 the crimson hour of battle. silent
ly rose, n after another, and walk
ed away, ont of sight. out of hearing.
When Douglas had said his last good
by, he called the sergeant and thank
ed him warmly for his unusual kind
ness, but the soldier only laughed.
and said that it was nothing. Doug
las took a piece of paper out of
his note book, wrote a few words on
1t, and, handing it to the sergeant,
said:
"If ever you are captured by Gen.
Jackson, you get that paper to him or
one of his staff AMI / promise that
you will be liberated inside Of TWEEN
ty.four hours, for 1 shall tell them
how you have treated me as soon as
1 get back"
"Say, Colonel" remarked one of the
soldiers, write me the same kind Of
q paper, too"
Douglas laughed, and soon each man
had an accident policy against the
dreaded "StOnewail" Jackson. After
shaking hands with his host, Douglas
was ferried across again, and as he
stepped ashore the "Yanks' gave the
plucky young "Reb" a hearty cheer
that was heard by the old couple in
the a I'M house and recognized as a
signal that all vas well with their
boy.
The soldiers then strolled up to the
house and asked Mrs. Douglas TO show
them a photograph Of her son. She
handed them one in civil dress. but
that was not what they wanted. why,
madam" said one, don't be afraid of
us; you saw now we treated him.
Then trusting them perfectly, she
brought out from its hiding place her
treasure-her boy in full uniform. The
rough troopers passed 1t from hand to
hand, delighted, and after a good look,
returned it to the mother.
When the affair was reported to the
officer commanding the cavalry he
laughed and remarked that, having
gone this far, 1t would be better to
finish the matter properly. So, calling
on Mr.. Douglas, he told him that a
guard Of six men would be placed in
the house for his protection, and
would, while there, be absolutely under
his orders, SO that he was protected
from friend and foe.
The voung aid-de~camD ode back TO