Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-08
R.miniscsnce Of the War Of 1919.

In the summer of 1858 or SO the
writer of these notes was quietly seated
in the pleasant readingroom, in London,
of George Peabody. We had just parted
with Mr.. Hurbut, when two venerable
personsges entered the room wearing
badges and medals, who were formally
introduced, one as Commodore Gordon
and the other Sir John Wilson, both OF
Greenwich Hospital. Sir John Wilson
had been engaged in the war Of 1872.
We had been introduced as from Amer
lea, aud Sir John turned and said: mr..
w., have two very substantial reasons
for feeling interested in your country"
CHANGING at Mr.. Peabody, he continued,
- have, you know, $4,000 Mississippi
Planters Bank bonds, upon which l
cant get the interest. Never mind about
money matters; the next reason is that
/ was literally shot to pieces in the action
at Fort George, and was picked up by
the Americans-a prisoner, helpless, and
almost hopeless of life. All chance of my
ever again standing under the red cross OF
England, was assured, was now at an
end, and l applied for and obtained
parole as soon as could possibly leave
the hospital. l started on stretcher in
an improvised ambulance for New York.
Whenever we stopped / was lifted out
and in, fastened on my bed-net exactly
a bed of down-and generally rested in
the day time in the largest public rooms
at hand. / think it was at village
called Canandaigua / lay an object of
inquiry and curiosity, in the cool parlor,
doors open, thinking of friends at home,
and calculating my chances of ever see
ing them again, when plainly attired
person approached me and said: " say,
Britisher, am sorry to see you in this
way, but what the devil sent you over
here to fight us All we ask is free trade
and sailors rights, and, d-n it, every
true Englshman ought to be in favor of
them" I was worried and sleepy at the
moment, added Sir John, and in no
humor to argue point SO pertinaciously
upon me.
~ said, MY good fellow, pick mp
some other Engllshman that hasn't five
bullet holes in his body unhealed, and
two balls not yet extracted, and talk to
him. He turned away, saying, l didn't |
know you we're so bad as that At that
moment the hotel keeper came in and
asked me if there was anything he could |
do for me. / was faint and thirsty, and |
replied. If you could give me q bottle |
OF English porter or brown stout should |
like it above all things he replied he
was sorry, but had and could get nothing |
of the kind in the place. Sir John con-
tinued: " My attendant soon after pro-
~ oko nd
we started. / suppose we must have
travelled some six or seven miles, when l
heard halloing from behind, and call
to halt. / turned and say the same per-
secutor Gas / deemed him for the mo-
meni) that had met at the hotel, who
was SO amply interested in behalf of free
trade and sailors rights. Coming up
he cried out, i say, Brit
isher, you didn't expect ever to see
me again, did your / was irri-
tated, and replied No, l never expected
nor a0anted to see you again. Jest SO
but / heard you ask the landlord for
some brown stout knew an old Scotch
man who had some, about four miles of,
and went and got You dozen bottles.
Here, driver addressing my attendanD,
take EN- in he had driven his fine
team four, aud returning, made eight
miles, and followed me six or seven
more, sttested by his foaming horses, to
bring me-a R.itisher, bleeding from
6ght with his own oountrymen-rslief
which / had fruitlessly asked for at the
hotel" There was a tear plainly trem-
bling in the old baronet's eye as he re-
counted this; and Admiral Gordon, who
was looking at a map on the wall at the
moment, broke out: A good fellow, by
God, il he was Yankee" Business
and we left. This was the
last and all we ever saw of either of
these brave old men, Washington Ex-
,arseo