Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1886 — LIEUTENANT CHARLES MONTEAL. [ARTICLE]

LIEUTENANT CHARLES MONTEAL.

BY CAPT. JAMES MONTFORD.

“My closest associate and friend in the war was Lieutenant Charles Monteal,” said the Colonel, “and as my niece is to leave us in the morning, I will relate his story. It may convey a moral to her.” “I will give attention to your story, uncle, and not neglect the moral,” returned the young lady; and the Colonel prepared to begin. “The lieutenant was several years younger than myself, being about twenty-six at the time. He was tall, and straight as a dart; his face was handsome, but wore a rather mournful expression, usually quite Byronic, the ladies said. “I would occupy too much time to relate the manner we became acquainted. He did me several signal favors during the time of our intimacy. “Charles had formed an ‘unfortunate attachment' for a young lady, the daughter of a Southern planter, whom he had met in New York prior to the breaking out of the war. “He told me all about it in one of^his melancholy moods, and I recollect the circumstances very well. “He had seemed successful at first, and although Miss Angell, as I shall call her, had made no engagement with him, they understood each other well enough; and her father did not seem averse to their union. Monteal was wealthy, and his morals unobjectionable. “But suddenly ‘a change came o’er the spirit of his dream,’ so he told me. There was to be fighting. Charles was interested, as all young men should be. Unfortunately, Mr. Angell was also interested, and the young lady inclined toward her father’s faith. “One evening Monteal allowed himself to be drawn into an argument with the old gentleman, the latter cast some reflections upon the Government, and both gentlemen became warm. “It was a violent time, and before the interview was over Mr. Angell had given the young man to understand that his acquaintance was no longer desired. “Charles told me the two days that followed were the most miserable of his life, and, knowing his disposition, I believed him. “The Angells were preparing to return home; Monteal sought and obtained an interview with Miss Angell during her father’s absence from the house. “Before he left she admitted that she did not hate him; but he was assured that her father’s consent was necessary to obtain her for his wife, and this he despaired of gaining. “While he was endeavoring to ‘see’ Mr. Angell, he suddenly migrated, carrying his daughter in his train. “Then the young man wrote letters; but the replies he received were not pleasant. He learned that the lady’s brothers were collecting regiments, and when the war broke out in earnest Charles joined the Blues out of sheer desperation. “Soon afterward I made his acquaintance, and gained a knowledge of his story. “One day in May. 1862, he saw the young lady once more. She had come to the residence of a friend dwelling fifty miles or so from our station, Charles had requested this, and she cared enough for him to consent. “He never told me what passed at the interview, though, as he had been so frank in the former account, I expected it. “He was very melancholy the next morning, however, and I could guess how matters were going, and my ideas were confirmed by the following song and its explanation:

" ‘Our women have hung their harps away, And they scowl on your brutal bands, While the nimble poniard dares tne day, In their brave, defiant hands.’ “ ‘Why do you sing that?’ I demanded. “ ‘lt was sung to me last night,’ he replied, ‘and will haunt my memory until my dying day. Isn’t this a terrible state of affairs?’ “Then he left me, with a sorrowful shake of the head. “I saw very little of Monteal for the next three weeks. Several times I tried to rouse him from the state of apathy into which he had fallen, but all in vain. “At last our duty carried us into the neighborhood of Mr. Angell, and I saw that his proximity to the woman he loved made a decided impression upon the Lieutenant. “Fearing some accident, I scarcely knew what, I watched him closely. In the meantime we were skirmishing continually with separate bands of Confederates, and slowly gaining ground upon them. “At last the time fated for the end of Monteal’s romance came. “We were surprised during the night, several pickets killed, and some horses captured. The morning following I was ordered out in pursuit of the band, which was small, and was supposed to have been raised in the neighborhood. “Monteal requested leave to accompany me. I would have refused if I could have done so; for I suspected that he had some plan in view. “But there was nothing for it but he must go, and we started, with a negro in the train, who was to guide us upon our search.

“To be brief, we found the trail of the marauders, followed it for several miles, and at last came upon their encampment. “Their band was somewhat less than ours, and after a brisk skirmish we recaptured the horses and put the foes to flight. “I had been ordered to exterminate the band, if possible, and immediately began the pursuit. The leader of the band was a beardless young fellow, with considerable spirit. Monteal seemed to recognize him, for his eyes had been fastened upon the fellow continually, and his face was very pale. “I demanded if he knew him. as we rode along in hot pursuit, but Monteal only shook his head, and I was certain of that which I had proof of an hour later. “The young captain was Miss Angell’s brother. I must keep a close watch upon you, Montea!, I thought; for we were now approaching the plantation owned bv Mr. Angell. “The enemy were now a considerable distance in advance; it was late in the afternoon, and I feared they would escape during the darkness of the approaching night. “I urged the horses and men to greater exertion, and suddenly I saw that some accident had happened to the pursued. “They had come to a halt in the center of the road, and from the excitid motions of the men about the young captain, whom they were assisting from his horse, I knew he was wounded. “My men gave a hearty hurrah, and increased their speed. I glanced at Monteal. His face was deathly pal j, his teeth clenched, and his eyes fastened apon the group of men down the road who were lessening in number every moment. “ ‘My God!’ exclaimed Monteal as he met my glance. “I spoke to him, but my voice was not heard, and five minutes later we were upon the foe. “A few shots were exchanged, and the rebels scattered in every direction, except a few faithful ones who remained around their wounded leader. “I commanded our men back, and dismounted at the side of the wounded Captain. Monteal was already upon the ground. “The victim of the fight lay, with his head resting upon a saddle, pale and fainting. There was blood upon the face and uniform, and I soon discovered something else. A mass of hair had fallen from under her hat, where it had been confined, and pronounced th i young Captain to be a woman. “ ‘I suspected it all!’ exclaimed Monteal, who seemed to have been stricken dumb for a moment. ‘Oh, Edith!’ “The girl glanced up into his face, a faint smile parting her lips . “ ‘You remember what I said to you not long ago, Charley'?’she said faintly. And then she chanted in a weak tone the verse I had heard Monteal repeat: “ ‘Our women have hung their harps away, And they scowl on your brutal bands, ‘ While the nimble poinard dares the day In their brave, defiant hands. ’ “I turned aside while Monteal knelt and clasped the dying woman in his arms. “Our bands were not altogether brutal; for I saw several horny hands raised to eyes that glittered so sternly along the sights that were to sweep the foes from the land. “Miss Angell had quarreled with her lover during their last interview, and had said to him that she would convince him that if her friends were rebels she was also one. This disguise and rash attempt had followed. “She had been wounded by a flying shot, and already knew that death was near. “Twenty minutes later she died in her lover’s arms. I had retreated down the road with my men, and did not witness the last parting; but after the end had passed Monteal came toward me. “There was something so terrible in his looks that I feared to speak to him. Outwardly he was perfectly composed, but his face was pale, and he carried his way very erect. “ ‘We must take her home,’ he said, hoarsely, without looking in my face; ‘please give the orders.’ “I obeyed his request, and we took the lad.y to her father’s abole. Thera another terrible scene took place, and I was glad to escape back to camp. “I lost a friend that day; forever after Monteal avoided me, and at last told me' frankly that he could not bear the thought of associating with one who might have fired the fatal shot. “I understood his mood and respected it, and Monteal wandered from my sight. “He was killed at Vicksburg in the hotest part of the fight, and I really believe he sought death, for his carelessness of life was much talked of.”