Honor First

The disagreement between the North and South, which resulted in the deadly exchange of musket and cannon fire, had lasted over three years when Johnson Perry was severely wounded. His soldiering for the Southern States ended in February 1865, with an honorable discharge for medical reasons. He had obediently defended his conviction with spirit and valor since being inducted in January 1863.

During his active duty of over two years, he had been wounded three times; contracted the mumps, pneumonia, and typhoid; and continually suffered from chronic diarrhea. He believed in his heart that the reason he survived was because he pledged his word to return to his betrothed, Sally Lou Foster. While wounded on the battlefield in excruciating pain and during long lonely nights of bitter cold and periods of depression and hopelessness, it was always thoughts of Sally Lou that gave him the will to live. More times than he could remember, only the vision of her smile and her letters strengthened his resolve to endure for another day.

On his way home to marry Sally Lou, a beautiful young widow, Carrie Butler, gave him shelter from a snowstorm. After a week in her cabin, Johnson Perry's promise to Sally Lou became less important, even though he was taught to honor his word regardless of circumstances.

The pain and hardships of war seemed trivial when compared with the torturous decision to continue home to Sally Lou or remain with the widow.