A War Romance

This story appeared in the Covington Journal of December 14, 1861. It is obviously not serious war news, but I found it to be kind of a fun story. It is also interesting that the writer assumed the Union soldier was an "Abolitionist" even several months before the Emancipation Proclamation.Many Union soldiers opposed abolitionism and did not want to fight for the slaves.

A correspondent of the Clarksville Jeffersonian, writing from Columbus, Ky., says: 


Quite a romantic little incident "developed" itself yesterday. A skiff from Cairo, with a flag of truce, made a landing in front of Gen. Pillow's headquarters. It contained a young gentleman and a young lady. The young lady is a native of Port Gibson, Miss., and has been going to school at Columbus, Ohio. When the war commenced she found she could not get home, and has been waiting several months for an opportunity to see her native soil. Finally a gallant young Lincolnite (who was probably an ardent lover, also), proffered his services to conduct her to this place. At Caiuo he procured passes from Gen. Grant and the couple started out in a skiff, and made the trip down in four hours and a half. Gen. Pillow gave the young man  a pass to return. The affair created some little excitement, and furnished the boys some food for conversation. The young man was the nicest looking Abolitionist I have seen for a long time.

courtesy petpeoplesplace.com