The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-02-08
The Comforter
A Story Of President Lincoln
Founded on Fact
By F. A. mitchell

When the great struggle between
came ON Allan Fitz Hugh, twelve
years old, was at school in Virginia.
He was boy of delicate physique, but
was full of fire, and, hearing that
Abraham Lincoln was coming south
ward at the head of an armed force,
was much troubled because he was too
young to shoulder musket and re-
pei the invader. He found it difficult
during those exciting times to attend
to his studies, and had it not been for
the influence of his mother, whom
he dearly loved, he could not have
been kept at school at all.
In those days the passion attending
war ran high on both sides. The
songs, the gibes, the speeches and
what was written concerning the great
struggle were very bitter and usually
far from the truth. In the North it
was "We'1l hang Jeff Davis on a sour
apple tree" and in the South Presi-
dent Lincoln was called "the baboon."
The Northern schOolboy conceived the
idea that President Davis was an ogre,
not realizing that he was an educated
gentleman, had commanded regiment
of United States troops in the war
with Mexico, had been United States
senator and secretary of war. The
Southern schoOlboy considered Presi-
dent Lincoln wild man from the
Western woods who delighted in blood
she'd Children whose minds are not
developed. must concentrate upon one
head in any movement in which they
are interested. So Allan's thoughts
dwelt upon Mr.. Lincoln, embodying
the great president with his idea of
the hated yankees"
When Allan was fifteen he begged
his mother to let him go to fight for
the Confederacy. Naturally she chung
to her son, and the matter was COM
promised between them in this wise !:
If the war was not over in another
year Allan was to enlist with his moth
er's consent. Many boys Of his age,
both in the North and in the South,
broke away from parental restraint
and enlisted without permission. Food
for powder was in demand, and the
recruiting officers often winked at she
fact that the recruits were under age.
But Allan was his mothers only child,
and, being of an extremely affection
ate disposition, the bond between them
was doubly strong.
So Allan continued at his studies,
though he read more about the battles
that were being fought than the sub
jects treated in his textbooks. He
lived in Richmond, and at one time
had listened to the roar of the cannon
during the seven days battles that had
been fought between Lee and McCleI-
Ian. His admiration for soldiers wore
away some of his bitterness against
the federal generals, but President
Lincoln was still the embodiment of
his repugnance for the Northern peo-
pie. The two heads-Davis of the
Confederacy and Lincoln Of the fed
eral Union-throughout the war con-
tinued to represent the bitter antag-
onism felt by either side.
In the early spring OF 1865 Allan
Fitz Hugh came to be sixteen years
of age. and his mother reluctantly con-
scented to his doing his part to fill the
gaps in the Southern ranks made by
Northern missiles. When the time
came for him to leave his mother he
was seized with foreboding that he
| would not see her again. 1t is ques-
tiOnable which suffered the more at
parting, mother or son.
Allan enlisted in time to take part
In one of the. last battles Of the war
He saw dark line of blue on the edge
Of a wood behind earthworks. With
the Confederate line of battle he
moved toward it. Suddenly a storm
burst in his face. He felt himself
collapse and sank down on the ground
His companions in arms went on
but were soon driven back and over
him, leaving him there with a stream
Of blood flowing from his side.