The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-04-13
For the Upton Advestisss.
WILLIE RANDOLPH.

WILLIR RANDOLPH. u. T..
Early 10 the month Of Jsly, 1868, {
rebel Gen. Cooper had couoep tra.ed
force ofe 900 troops, near Honey sprip,
}. Cherokee Nation. Gen. Blunt w,s
d command Of The Army Of IL, 'FRONT.'.
and had determined to move against Ii
IS enemy. uPen the arrival of reinfsre.
= ments from Fort Scott. o. The 5.b.,
July the additional force reached Fo,
Gibson, and late the same evening com
meoosd to cross Grand river, iotsndio
to attack the enemy early next morning
About midnight, owing to some caus,
or other, the command halted; and il
passing from rear to front to .soer,.i,
the cause Of delay, l hoard little will,
Randolph say, ~ am going to SEQ Old
Master, | have 4 message for him" -
'-s Willie belonged to Co. K, LIT Kansas
co'ored Infantry, and was one Of those
good natured, sweet little fellows. that
W meet but once iu q lifetime. and p.
member them always. There was in hi.
character! that simplicity Of action, that
r'si'nement Of msnners, that made you ,t
once his firm friend; and wherever biz
busy hands could do the nost good, there
you were sure to fud bim-it va, ,
Of his life. But the re-
mark made 10 the stiffness off, solitary
march, emphasized With 90 much feeling.
struck me as somewhat peculiar.
Nigh. passed away and daylight dawn.
ID; and With it the crash Of arms. and |
"onder OF cannon; death blooued on
very hand; the green for.s. of nature
re"b'ed before the stern shock Of war;
'y noon the enemy had been driven
''ck, and as the dark cloud Of war passed
way the field was searched for missing
riendsa The Goth Texas had been on.
oeed to the lst Kansas, and l thong bt
t Willie in . moment. The struggle
I'D been so fierce that numbers had fal.
% each side of the lines - they we're
Figioally formed. A istl. - ...-.s'-~.
,mpany told me Willie was wounded; !,
rc,ched upon the ground with his mus .
ct under his head, this christian war ,
,or Law. with his life blood fast cbbiug ]
way. Beckoning me near, he said, I
Lieutenant, want to speak to you"
" that calm composure, l knew that
fe would 5000 be lost in Immortality, !.
I'D his soul sing beyond the green hills
eternity, the song Of the just made per-
ect. He whispered . christian message
OF his mother, far away 10 peaceful
owa, aud then passed awey ssquietly as
he chilling shades Of evening.
Tho former master shared tho same
s.c as did Willie; aud there upon the
banks of Honey Springs they rest side
,y side; a simple elab marks the spot.
OOt Wn0L aItlSt1 nOWeVSt ohAhu' uo sA"J
be, can paint even faint difference in
tho construction Of the two graves, for
they frown upon the wish Of man to live
forever, or claim distinction after death.
"Tsll my mother that love God,"
we're the last words of Willie. Aud af-
ter long md neglected duty 1 havepen.
ned these lines, hoping they might meet
the eyes of that mother who knew the
subject of this sketch. v|5@~ "'s."
l would not check the material tear,
tits nature to weep, but reap consolation
from the fact that your son died in . no.
BILE cause, stsroly doing bis duty 10 the
last; and methinks it is we'll tho decree
has gone forth, the leaves have their time
10 wither, and tho flowers their time to
decay, but "Tbou, O, death! hath sp-
pointed thine own time"
s4 L. HARRIS.