La Junta tribune., 1912-09-14
A Veteran Of
the Light
Brigade
n nva, Story
By T. A. Mitchell

an Engllshmzn named Larklna. who
bad been . sergeant Ip the British
army. came over TO America 10 see.
service with the Federal army. II be
failed be would try the Coufederscy
A soldier of fortune. he had no prefer
ences, though In England lbs people
were overwhelmingly In favor u th.
south
Larkins had papers to prove his
British citizenship. which enabled him
to sojours either In the north OF in
the south. ss be pleased lie cam.
over In blockade runner to Charlie
tou, s c. and going TO Richmond.
Va. made application for . commis
sion He was offered one. but by this
time exhaustion had begun to show II.
self In the Confederacy. especially 10
financial way. and I.arkins Was not
pleased with the want Of prosssect o'
emolument In It's service. So he con
cluded to try for commission 10 the
Federal army
Having declined the southern o6er,
he asked for n pass to 70 through the
lines to Washington. telling the au
thoritlcs In richmond that he had been
called hom. 10 England II WAS fur
nish.d him. aud he left for the Army
Of Northern Virginia. nj that time en-
camped between the two capitals. In
tending. after having been passed
through the lines. 10 work his WAY
a..
take lay through Fredericksburg. and
snCamred upon the road was div
sion commanded by general whom
! will call Beaumont, When Larkin-
presented his pass to the officer telling
him at 10. same tim. that he was
British subJeyr. he WAS treated with
consideration for the reason that the
souih"rncrs We're constantly hoping
tflIt the British government would In.
terfere In their behalf and they were
always ready TO show attention TO such
English persons a. came among them
Genrrili Heaumohi showed great In.
t.rr,t In John l.arkin,. rcgreiting that
hi. recall To England had deprived the
south ~ his services The general told
him that N h. would remain aud ac-
e.pt commission he would appoint
him to position on his stan The
Enellshman ~Hs tempted. but know
iug that be must take his pay In d.pre-
clat-J ,ouf.dcrai. currency. h. ad
b-r,-i Ia hl- resolution. nssursa. the
general that his recall was imperative.
- ..tV,g la rHftti.sS1
to I.nrsin.. who looked upon him With
considerable. Interest This b. attrib
ui.-i to the fact that b. had told the
general that he bnd fought Ia The
Crimrap wnr and took part In III. cei~
brat.d chArr. Of the Light brigade. Of
which hc CAV. vivid description
Whatever the cause. the eI British sal
der was much pleased with his treat
m.nt. aud when h. was urged no, TO
hurry away h. fen disposed 10 llnHes
IN his pleasant surroundings Every
one had beard Of the charge that had
thrilled the world and had been com
m.morat.j by the British poet laureate
Alfred Tcnnysou. 49, that one who had
taken part In II was ESPECIALLY inter
--ting 10 soldiers
Larkins had reached General Beau.
mont. headquarters In time for lunch.
con aud va. invited by the general 10
| lunch with hlm and his stan During
the afternoon beaumont Invited the
/ Engli.hman To ride with him on a tour
Of inspection of hl. division. and In the
I Of, - Of 81 H..
ter. asked the visitor n he would not
/ like 90 call upon u southern family iiv.
/ ing In the vicinity. i.arllns was not
~ha, woul, b. considered IN England
a gentleman and d.murrei al the To-
,i,ation but the general urged him 10
make the neauainianc. of NJ least one
household of southern lndic- while In
America. and bc consented
| i.hrkins that evening met Caroline
Fletcher. n captivating southern girl
who had only to smile upon aim 10
max. him fancy that ~. had b~~u
.mlf'.n with him when be- told her
that h. was simply passing through
III. lines and would 40 north tn. next
day sh. pout"d and Insisted on a prom
ise that he would call upon her the
next evening .nllantry led t.srkins
TO promise. and he l.f, her rot quite
knowing whether b. wa. aandlng o.
HI. heels OF his head
The next day b" was shown more at.
teniions by III" officers and In the
evening called on Miss Fletcher. She
~ clr~i him on n ,.randa rlch With
tie perfume of flowers She was care.
fully a''ir.d and looked bcwlschine
sh" nir'ed with i.arkins for awhile.
then begun fo n.k him on which side
Of the American CONFLICT hi. sympa
'hi-s were enlisted. lie assured ~
that he had no preference. whersupoo
che coauc'ushly n.kcd him II he vosla
d. her n -cr~ice Having DECLARED thst
he would b~ clad to accommodate hss.
che told him TINT she belonged 10 .
Union family and was bound M n ~
snccess os the Union arms. shs go.
0tls.d IN him that uhs ~us as,,UaSa1 a.