human
Mr. Clopton, he said,
gpt
Is that so? exclaimed Meriwether Clopton, a wonderful change passing over his face.
human
Well, I am glad to see a son of my dear old friend, anywhere and at any time. He shook hands very cordially with the Captain.
gpt
Let me see--let me see: if I am not mistaken, your first name is Garnett; you were named after your maternal grandfather.
human
That is true, sir, replied the Captain, with a boyish laugh that was pleasing to the ear--he was not more than thirty.
gpt
But I am surprised that you should remember these things so well.
human
Why, my dear sir, it is not surprising at all. I have dandled you on my knee many and many a time; I know the very house, yes, the very room, in which you were born. Some of the happiest hours of my manhood were spent with your father and mother in Washington. Your father is dead, I believe. Well, he was a good man; among the best I ever knew. What of your mother?
gpt
She has broken greatly, responded the Captain.
human
The war was a great burden to her. She was a Virginian, you know.
gpt
Yes--yes! said Meriwether Clopton.
human
The war has been a dreadful nightmare to the people on both sides; and it seems to be still going on disguised as politics. Only last night, as you perhaps know, a posse of soldiers arrested and carried off four of our worthiest young men.
gpt
Yes, sir, I know of it and regret it, responded Captain Falconer.
human
And I have no doubt that a majority of the people here are incensed at the soldiers, forgetting that they are the mere instruments of their superiors, and that their superiors themselves take their orders from other superiors who are engaged in the game of politics. It is the duty of a soldier to blindly obey orders. To pause to ask a question would be charged to a spirit of insubordination. The army is at the beck and call of what is called the Government, and to-day the Government happens to be the radical contingent of the Republican Party. A soldier may detest the service he is called on to perform, but he is bound to obey orders. I can answer for the officer who was sent to arrest these young men. He was boiling over with rage because he had been sent here on such an errand.
gpt
I am glad to hear that,
human
His feelings were perfectly natural, sir, said Captain Falconer.
gpt
Take the army as it stands to-day, and it would be hard, if not impossible, to find a man in it who does not shrink from doing the dirty work of the politicians. Can you imagine that my mission here is pleasant to me? I can assure you, sir, it is the most disagreeable duty that ever fell to my lot. I am glad you spoke of these arrests. At your convenience, I should like to have a little conversation with you and Mr. Sanders on this subject.
human
There is no time like the present, replied Meriwether Clopton.
gpt
Will you come with me to my house?
human
Certainly, sir; and with the more pleasure because I called on my cousin Mrs. Claiborne to-day. I have forborne to call on her heretofore on account of the prejudice against us. But these arrests made it necessary for me to communicate with some of the influential friends of the young men. I was afraid my visit to-day would prove to be embarrassing to her. If I visit you at your invitation, the probability is she will have no social penalty to pay. I know what the feeling is.