The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-02
How they Met Again.

Among the various regiments recruited
in central New York during the late
war, says the Rochester Express, was
the 16Oth, which was sent to the depart
ment of the gulf, and attached to tho
army under the command of Gen.
Banks. This regiment took an active
part in the operations against Port Hud-
son, and was one Of the first to enter
that place at the time OF its surrender,
July 9, 1868. It was one Of the regi-
ments Of Weitzel's brigade, and the fol-
lowing year took part in an expedition
to Sabine pass, between Louisiana and
Texas, where large amount OF Con.
federate stores were destroyed. One of
the companies belonging to the 160th
was raised in Palmyra, N. Y, and among
its members was Mr.. o. S. Stevens,
who served its full time, was discharged
at its disbandment, and is now a mer-
chant at Palmyra.
A few days since Mr.. Stevens had oc-
casion to go to Hartford, Conn, and
left home on the five P. NJ. train on the
Central railroad. After becoming we'll
settled in one Of the sleeping cars, he
discovered tall, sandy complexioned
man in the opposite section, who, though
perfect stranger, had large Roman
nose which Stevens thought he had dseen
before, but failingto recall any remem-
brance of such face, he gave no atten-
ton to it until the train reached Syra-
cuse, when long arm reached across
the aisle, and brawny hand touched
him on the shoulder, the stranger at the
same time asking if they stopped there
Co., er,>,,ay To f1ic Stavn,ac
in the affirmative, telling him that if he
would go along, he would show him
where to get good lunch. At that
they passed out together, and after sup
per the stranger offered Stevens a
cigar, and they went into the smoking
car, where the following conversation
ensued:
Well, stranger, reckon you live
somewhere in these parts9"
Yes, live in Palmyra" said Ste
vens.
"And live way down in Texas I
was what you used to call Johnny Reb
during the war;
"Ah, what part of the South did you
serve in 2" asked Stevens.
Thrusting his long legs under the seat
in front, and turning part way around,
he said:
"I was at Port Hudson until your
army nearly starved us out, and we had
to surrend, +. After [ was exchanged 1
was Texas ranger, and finally got re-
constructed"
"And you were a prisoner at Port
Hudsong Do you remember seeing the
160th New York volunteers tn req" said
Stevens.
"I think do" said the Texan; "and,
if I'm not mistaken, that was the very
regiment our boys first met"
"And do you remember trading can.
teens with one of them 2"
"Yes; and got a tin canteen with
the initials o. s. s. on it"
"And I got wooden one with j. T.
P. on it" said Stevens.
"That was mine," said the Texan;
"my name is John II. Pond. By
George! we have drank from the same
canteen, old friend; give me your hand
for life," and he brought tremendous
squeeze on Stevens hand, which fairly
brought the tears to his eyes.
If the conversation had been lively
before, it was doubly SO then, Mr.. Pond
going into full detail of his history be-
fore and after the war. He had left Con-
necticut twenty-five years ago, had set
tied at Sabine pass, and was part owner
of large mill, which Stevens COM
mand had destroyed the year following
the surrender of Port Hudson. He was
now on his way to New Haven to visit a
sister he had not seen in all these years.
He said that Re returned to Sabine after
the war, rebuilt the mill, was successful,
aud now had secured competence that
enabled him once more to visit his
friends at the North. Stevens gave him
an accurate account Of the destruction
Of his mill, the first he had ever OBJ
tanned, and the two sat up and conversed
through ut the entire night, while the
sleeping car conductor wondered why
they did not return to occupy their
berths. The next morning they parted
at Hartford, and though their first
meeting had been as enemies, they bid
each other goodbye with many re-
grets, such as the best of friends only
know.