Louis Abear, says the Detroit _Free Press_, was a private in Company
H, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and made a good soldier. At the battle of
Trevillian Station he was taken prisoner, and before his release he was
confined in five different prison-pens and two jails.
While he was in Millen Prison, an exchange of sixty prisoners was to be
made. The officer of the day told off sixty names at the door of the
pen, but for some reason, probably because he was too ill, or perhaps
dead, one man did not come forth. At that moment Louis, who had been
sent out after fuel, under guard of course, came through the gates
pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with wood.
“Here, Louis, here’s a chance for you. We want sixty men to go North
and are short one. Jump into the ranks here!” exclaimed the officer.
“To be exchanged?” asked Louis, trembling more than he did when under
fire.
“Yes. Be quick.”
“Then take Hank. He’s sick, and will die if he remains here,” and Louis
darted into the hospital ward. Hank had a pair of pantaloons and shoes,
but no coat or hat. Louis pulled off his, put them on Hank, and brought
him out, weak and tottering. As Hank filed out the gate and once more
breathed the air of freedom, Louis, hatless and coatless, took hold of
the handles of his wheelbarrow and started for another load of wood.
Can mortal mind conceive of such an act? It cost him seven months of a
living death, and all for a man with whom he was not even intimately
acquainted.
And now for the other side of the picture. Ever since the close
of the war, until a few months ago, when Hank died, these two men
have lived right here in Wayne County, Hank with a home and family,
Louis with neither; have met occasionally, but at no time did Hank
ever refer to the act in Millen Prison that set him free and saved
his life; never invited him to his home; never alluded to the past,
or addressed his savior other than as a mere acquaintance. On his
death-bed, however, he told the story, and asked his relatives if they
ever had an opportunity, to befriend Louis for his sake. It was tardy
acknowledgement of one of the noblest acts the world has ever known.