The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-09-06

the WORST Oh IL IL nc ulduc uO IcSASCouCC,
he grappled with his opponent.
have never seen two young bloods
contend so fiercely as these two did for
about one minute. The scene then be-
came unbearable, and we, the lookers-on,
wisely interfered and put an end to the
unmanly fight.
The face and hands of both the boys
were Redeemed with blood, which had
flown from Prices wound.
"Come, fellows, make up again." ad
vised one of our number. "You don't
gain anything by fighting this way"
1--WE had nothing to fight about in the
beginning" confessed Richardson.
"What did you throw the knife fora"
replied Price.
IL didn't intend it should hurt you
of course not"
"YNu didn't" with a sheer.
"No, l didn't"
well, won't make up with you.
And as he gazed on his bleeding hand,
he added, you'll pay for this, and l
won't forget it,"
Some two months after this event, l
went to live in Chicago, where, in the
course of year, again saw Richard
son, who had also come to reside in that
city.
BY -and-by the great civil war broke
out. The President of the United States
issued his first call for troops, and then
another, which was responded to by a
host of men, and among others, by
Charles Richardson.
He enlisted in an Illinois regiment, and
was soon made corporal. Four days
later he babe adieu to his friends, and
started for the front.
In August, 1864, the Federal troops
were fighting around Atlanta, Ca, and
on the first of September the contending
forces met in conflict before Jonesboro',
on the line of the Macon & Western rail-
way.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
the firing was terrific. There was one or
two charges, and towards night the bat
tie was over.
During one of these charges young
Richardson fell, wounded in the shoulder,
at the foot of small hillock. AS he
lay waiting and hoping for relief he
turned his head and observed another
soldier, also PROSTATE, lying about five
yards beyond him. He saw at once that
he wore the garb of the Confederate file,
but this did not deter him from dragging
himself along to where the wounded
man lay.
MISERY likes company" said Richard
son, when he reached him, land l sup
pose we"-
"Are fighting each other again." said
| ~ cd lcix of
fort he thrust out his left hand, and with
melancholy smile on his blanched
cheek, he added, 'Charles Richardson, do
you remember that"
"What, Ned, have we met again on an
other battle. field?" said Richardson, on
recovering from his momentary astonish-
ment THE old spirit, am afraid, still
clings to us, and it has led you to fight
against your country"
The young soldier simply answered.
"For the right"
81 think not, Ned, I think not. But
I'm glad to see you again, and now we
are both wounded"
"You may be sure of that" answered
Ned, $50 far as I'm concerned, and if l
know anything about it, suppose it's
all up with me-"
when we last parted" said Richard
son, lit was in anger
Friends now" murmured his COM
rade.
While they were speaking, a detach-
ment Of Union soldiers were engaged in
bearing from the field the dead and
wounded. A squad soon arrived to the
assistance of Richardson.
Comrades" he said, pointing to the
gray uniform beside him, 'ttis is a
friend of mine. Will you take care of
him2'
The blue and the gray were together
borne from the field, the one to he sent
home to his friends, the other to die two
days later.
1t was a bleak day in November when
l again took Richardson by the hand
under his fathers roof, and from his lips
learned the incident have just related.
But a few weeks later the young SOL
der who had SO tenderly spoken to me
of his ancient enemy who was in death
his friend, fell himself victim of the
war. The hsrdships which he had un-
dergone, together with his dreadful
wound, had undermined his constitution,
and he faded slowly to the grave.
1t is with sorrow that look back to
the day when we laid him to rest in the
beautiful cemetery of Rosebil, and upon
his mound placed soldiers garland.
often wonder whether gentle hands and
loving hearts have alike been mindful OF