Evening journal., 1911-07-15
A RENEGADE = By %,t,,.,

When it became necessary In 1861
for the officers OF the United States
regular army hailing from southern
states to choose between the Union
and the Confederate causes those who
were fully IN sympathy with the Seces-
sion movement went gayly over With
out Qualms OF conscience or regret.
But those who believed the movement
was wrong. III advised and doomed to
failure stood between two nres. If
they remained where they conceived
their duty held them they would be
condemned as renegades, as traitors,
by those they loved and who loved
them at home.
In 1861 served In Virginia with
my battalion Of the til U. s. cavalry.
One of our officers was Lieutenant
Harold ClaybOurne, a premature grad
uate from West Point, nineteen years
old. I say premature, because his
class had been graduated far ahead of
its time 10 order to furnish officers, so
greatly needed. Claybourne had been
appointed to the academy from Vir-
ginia and was now serving IN his
native state against his own people.
Unfortunately for these southern
officers who fought on the northern
side. there was always IN element Of
distrust concerning them. This prob
ably arose from the fact that many
southern ciyn officers held positions
under the United States government
till long after hoStilities commenced,
all the while aiding and abetting the
Confederate cause. Young Claybourne,
suffering at being obliged TO fight bis
own people. was unhappy and morose.
We, his brother officers. knowing him
TO be a man OF tender conscience and
that his heart was really with his
own nesh and blood. sympathized with
him. but our intimate knowledge OF
him prevented any suspicion Of his
fidelity to the cause with which be
had cast his lot
These were the days when the Army
Of the Potomac on the one hand and
/ the Army Of Northern Virginia on the
other were facing each other day after
/ day and month after month. the Con-
federates waiting for General McClel.
Ian to move upon them. The division
/ to which our battalion was attached
remained encamped In the same corn
Geld for months. One night Lieuten'
ant Waters, the adjutant. made a spe
clal detail. placing Lieutenant Clay
bourne In command Of twelve men fol
accommodating purposes. On going tC
his tent to notify him OF the order II
was found vacant.
There was nothing to do but detail
another officer. The adjutant did moi
report the matter to the major com
handing. nor did he speak OF 1t to any
one else. Waters was curious TO know
the cause OF Claybourne's absence
But. being man prone to proceed de
liberately, be kept his own counsel
not even speaking 10 the absente'
when he next saw him of not 6ndinl
him In his tent when wanted.
Waters after this kept some watcl
over Claybourne and found that OF
certain occasions when the command
: was asleep Claybourne mounted hi
horse and rode away. Where he wen
Waters did not know. But, remem
bering that Claybourne was a Virgin
Ian. the adjutant became suspicion
that he was communicating In SOM
way with the Confederates.
= We were all very young in thos
; days and not always inclined to TAX
the right way OF doing things. Wa
. tiers. instead OF questioning Claybourn
: or reporting his singular conduct a
headquarters. chose to speak OF II on
! day at the mess table.
Il don't blame any southerner," b
said. '.for siding with his native stat
or section, but ! do blame him afte
he has once chosen his side for ridin
, out nights carrying information to hi
= friends"
What induced Waters to take such
, course / can't conceive l saw at ono
, that CIaybourne would take It as a
insult which any southerDer woul
consider could not be washed out e.
cept in blood | shall never forget b
expression There was nothing Of al
!, ftagonism In 81; the principal featuI
r, was pain. 1t seemed to one tina
? Waters shaft struck home wi