Middletown transcript., 1876-03-11
How They Met Again.

Among the various regiments r.
cruited in Central New York during th
late war. says the Rochester Erpres'
was the 160th. which was sent to th
department of the Gulf, and attache
to the army under the command {
Gen. Banks. This regiment took a
active part in the operations agaiDs
Port Hudson, and was one Of the frs
to enter that place at the time of it
surrender. July 8, 1868. 1t was on
of the regiments of Weitzeps brigade
aud the following year took part in al
expedition to Sabine pass, between
Louisiana and Texas. where larg,
amount Of Confederate stores were de
stroyed One of the companies belong
ing to the 160th was raised in Palmyra
N. Y, and among its members wa.
Mr.. 0 s. Stevens, who served its ful
time, was discharged at its disband.
mept, and is now a merchant at Pal.
myra.
A few days since Mr.. Stevens had
occasion to go to Hartford, Conn.,, and
left home on the 5 P. M. train on the
Central Railrod. After becoming well
settled in one of the sleeping cars, be
discovered tall, sandy complexioned
man in the opposite section, who,
though perfect stranger. had large
Roman nose which Stevens thought he
had seen before, but failing to recall
any remembrance of such a face, he
gave no attention to it until the train
reached across Syracuse, when a long
arm reached the aisle, aud a
brawny touched him on the shoulder,
The stranger at the same time asking if
they stopped there for supper. To this
Stevens answered in the affirmative,
elling him that if he would 60 along,
be would show him where to get good
unch. At that they passed out to-
yether, and after supper the stranger
,ffered Stevens cigar, and they went
nto the smoking car, where the follow
ng conversation ensued:
"Well, stranger, I reckon you live
omewhere in these parts? ?"
"Yes, I live in Palmyra, said Ste
'ens.
"And l live way down in Texas; l
vas what you used to call Johnny
aeb during the war;
"Ah, what part of the South did
ou serve IN ?" asked Stevens.
Thrusting his long legs under the
eat in front, and turning part way
round, he said:
Il was at Port Hudson until your
rmy nearly starved US out, and We had
D surrender. After l was exchanged
was Texas ranger, and finally got !
econstructed."
"And you were prisoner at Port
hudson 20 you remember seeing
be 160th New York volunteers there ? |
aid Stevens.
Il think l do" said the Texan, land,
I'm not mistaken, that was the very
egiment our boys first met"
land do you remember trading can
,ens with one of them ?"
..Yes and l got tin canteen with
le initials o. s. s. on it,"
And | got wooden one with j. T.
. on it," said Stevens.
"That was miue," said the Texan;
my name is John T. Pond. By
gorge! we have drank from the same
lnteen, old friend; give me your
and for life," and be brought tre-
endous squeeze on Stevens hand,
hich fairly brought the tears to his
7es.
If the conversation had been lively
.fore, it was doubly so then. Mr..
ond going into full detail of history
,fore and after the war. He had left
onnecticut twenty-five years ago, had
tiled at Sabine pass, and was part
vner Of large mill. which Stevens
had destroyed the year fol-
wing the surrender of Port Hudson
e was on his way to New Haven to
sit a sister be had not seen in all
ese years. He said that he returned
Sabine after the war, rebuilt the
i'll, was successful, and now bad Sc
red competence that enabled him
zee more to visit his friends at the
orth. Stevens gave him an accurate
count of the destruction of his mill,
e first be had ever obtained, and the
o sat up and conversed Throughout
e entire night. while the sleeping car
nductor wondered why they did not
urn to occupy their births. The
xt morning they parted at Hartford,
d though their first meeting had been
enemies. they bid each other good
{ with many regrets, such as the best
friends only know.