Year: 1872

ties in Virginia, my only brother was missing.
He was little more than boy, my mothers
idol, and it was with great reluctance she had
consented to let him pay me visit. AS a
battle was imminent, I urged him to return
home, but he was all ardor and desired to see
the contest He promised to remain in the
background with the baggage and keep as
much out of danger as possible; but the ex-
citement of the dsy carried him away, and in
the hottest of the fight he dashed into the
ranks and fought like veteran. 1t was USE
less to beg him to 60 back, and there was lit
tie time for words. I saw his horse wounded
and dash offwildly then I saw him throw up
his arms and fall.


Carried on by the rush of the charge we
were making, I was borne away from the
spot, and when the battle was over, he could
not be found. All night I wandered over
that part of the field where I had last seen
him, turning over the dead and throwing the
light of my lantern on the faces of the wound
ed but not one was my poor brother.


"At day-break I found his horse, stiff and
cold, and with foreboding heart l sat down
by it and cried like child. Conquering
myself after a little, I renewed the search.
The harpies of the field had already been
there, and many of the dead were robbed and
stripped of coat and boots. Just as the sun
was rising, was attracted by voices near an
unusually large pile of the slain.


"Let him alone-he amt dead yet"


"Buth he can't live an hour, and if don't
have it, some one will. Here, help me say"


"I sprang forward instinctively, and it was
Willie, my brother, they were roughly strip
ping. Ittook butan instant to dash them away,
and raise his head upon my arm. He opened
his eyes, knew me, whispered 'water-tell
mother and tainted. T thought he was gone,
but the man who had said, let him alone-he
amt dead, proving to be a good-hearted fellow,
declared there was life in him, and helped
me attend to him.


"Just as Willie was reviving, we were sur
rounded by body Of Confederate cavalry.
The man escaped, but could not desert my
brother, and was taken prisoner, searched,
and was about to be carried on, when my en-
treaties for my brother to be taken care of,
we're answered by soldiers placing pistol
to his ear and saying 4 will care for him.
Before the words were half uttered, strong
hand seized his wrist, and the pistol went off
over Willie's head into the ground beyond.


"It was Colonel Elliott's hand that saved
my brothers life, and on inquiring into the
circumstances, he ordered stretcher, and in
stead of taking US prisoners, went himself with
us nearly to our lines.


"There," said he, Claude Elliott has done
by you, as he hopes some one will do by his
brother, who is some w. e on this bloody
feld,' and at that instant one of the men called
out, Here he is Colonel leg is broken;
his horse was on him so he couldn't crawl out


my brother is now at home safe and we'll.
His life and my mothers happiness are due
to your son and that has caused me to make
every inquiry to find his family, and gain
from General Sherman special order for
your protection. I did not think Of telling
all this when 7 entered but seeing that por-
trait and hearing Of his death, makes it but
just he should have the credit he deserves. l
wished to ask what directions you would like
to give, and to say it will be best for me to
have an apartment in the house while the
army are in the neighborhood."


Mrs. Elliott was deeply affected. She knew,
from some slight account given by Russell,
when he came home wounded, that Captain
Clinton's story was true, and his earnestness
would have convinced her without proof.
She tried to thank him, but he assured her it
was unnecessary be was only too glad to have
it in his power to show his own gratitude, and
regretted that disagreeable detention had
prevented his arriving before the soldiers had
time to annoy her.


The sitting-room, as commanding the best
view of the whole yard. was assigned to Cap
tain Clinton; and after few directions and
suggestions on both sides, he bowed and re-
tired.


"What pity man of such good appear
ance and gentlemanly manners, should be in
the Yankee army" said Conway.


"What good thing for us, that with his
fine feelings he is in it, remarked Grace.


"See what reward has followed your BROTH
er's noble act. A good Providence was in it,
and we have reason to be sincerely thankful"
was the comment of Mrs. Elliott.


The house was brought back to something
like order before the day was over, but the
servants could do little more than watch what
was going on out of doors. There seemed no
end to the soldiers, who were passing all day.
The fields we're literally filled with them, and
it was the merest chance if foot Of ground
was left unsearched. IF one of the servants
appeared, he or she was coaxed or threatened
to reveal where the family had hidden things;
and great noise was made when some boxes of
meat and few articles were found, which had
been purposely buried where the negroes
knew of it. The two men who waited in the
house were out with the soldiers nearly all
day, but by what means the house-girls were
induced to leave, the family never knew nor
whether the clothing and other things missing
were taken by them or the soldiers who ran
sacked the house in the morning. .


The black women were all there at sunset,
apparently more afraid of the army than their
mistresses; but at ten o'clock not one was to
be found save Lance, the stupidest thing on
the place the others called her, who fast asleep
on the dining-room floor, knew not what was