Writes to His Dad on Basement Wall-- Part 2: Capt. Wayne and His Son

The barn held at least one carriage and a team of horses, but no pony.  And that little boy, Charley Wayne, really longed for one.

His father, Harley Wayne, had promised him one when he joined the 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the spring of 1861.

With his father gone and no siblings to play with, young Charley would ramble about the large house which also included a full basement.  On two of the walls down there, 7-year-old Charley wrote his name and drew pictures with chalk.  One of those pictures was a boogeyman.  Above it are the words, "Hurrah, hurrah boys."

On the opposite wall are variations of the boy's name and what appears to be the spelling of his father's given and surname.  They surround what passes for a Betsy Ross flag with stars and stripes.

In addition, there is the outline of a pony.  The pony his father had promised him.

--Old Secesh