The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-20
TWO vETER

| lWV VEAEhaN9s
Every night, In the st. Charles 70
tunda, may be seen, surrounded by {
circle OF old friends and quondam com.
panions In arms, two of the most hon
ored veterans Of the late and preceding
wars for the last half d century III
which the American people have been
engaged. These veterans are Gen.
Juhal Early, who, as division comman.
der and subsequently as the successor
to stenewall Jackson, commanded the
famous corps of that great ehieftain and
| achieved 30 much distinction in all the
great battles and brilliant victories oil
the Army of Northern Virginia. Gen.
Early, though bowed by age and
wounds, retains, In o remarkable de-
gree. his natural vivacity Of mind and
his wonderful memory. He is q most
instructive and delight companion,
always accurate, lucid and vigorous,
and what Is refreshing in these days,
jealous, earnest and uncompromising
in the maintenance OF his long formed
opinions. Gen. Early is q fine scholar
and historian. His memory is nearly
equal to that OF Mithridates, who it was
said could speak the language Of the
various tribes composing his army and
knew the names Of every soldier. Gen.
Early's command la Virginia included
the larger portion OF the Louisiana
troops, and since he honored our city
with visit he has been visited by q
great many Of his old soldiers, not one
of whom does he fell to recognize, and
to recall the battles in which he had
participated, the services he had per-
formed, and every other incident
Of his military career. General Early's
recolleetions are not confined to the
late war. They are equally fresh and
distinct in regard to the Mexican war,
in which he held the commission of
Major of the Virginia Regiment. This
was In 1916. Two rather interesting in
cidents occurred illustrative Of the ac-
curacy Of his memory, in regard to per-
sons, few nights ago. Introduced to
veteran OF the press, who has adj
vanced almost beyond middle age and
is at least a grandfather, General Early
exclaimed: "Why, my dear sir, you are
an old acquaintance. [ recognize you
distinctly as the enterprising young
gentleman who established the first
American newspaper at Monterey.
when we marched into that town, and
I was appointed to the Governorship
thereof, and had the disagreeable duty
Of suppressing your journal for the too
free criticism OF military maBeuvers.
The veteran journalist remembered the
facts, but he never imagined that the
General had SO clear and pert remem-
branoe OF 30 humble q parsonage and
so Insignificant part. A few days ago
who should stalk, or rather hobble, into
the rotunda but another SCARED veteran
of the two great wars Of the last half a
century, in the stalwart person OF ex-
Gov. Charles Clark, OF Mississippi. The
two veterans, Early and Clark, on meet
ing, immediately recognized and cor
daily greeted each other. They had
not met since they parted at Monterey
in 1s47. Gen. Clark was then
q captain in the Second Missis-
sippi, and returned to the city In
that year, worn down by exposure and
illness. On consulting that eminent
physician, DR.. Stone, Capt. Clark was
advised to 60 to his plantation and live a
quiet life, and from the condition Of his
lungs no might last two years or 80.
Twenty six years afterwards tho writer
saw Brig. Gen. Clark's apparently in
animate body borne on o stretcher off
the bloody field Of Shiloh, and when
the full sketch OF that battle appeared
in the Delta newspaper, In May, 1885,,
there was an elaborate obituary Of The
gallant soldier. He had been, US was
believed for long time, MORALLY
wounded.
Three months afterwards, when the
battle OF Baton Rouge occurred, several
steamboats, came to this city crowded
with wounded officers and men. Gen.
Butler then occupied the city. DR.. Stone
being sent for attended these wounded,
and the first of them he recognized was
Gen. Charles Clark, who had been shot
down in that engagement at Baton
Rouge, rifle ball breaking his thigh.
DR.. Stone identified his patient
OF twenty-six years before, to whom
he had assigned a term OF only
two years Of life, and the writer
of his obituary recognized the resurrec-
tian oP the subject. to whom he had de-
voted one OF his finest efforts in the ne
geological line. And the hardy veteran
still survives, rarely using his crutch,
and may be seen every evening, the
centre of circle of friends and admi-
rers who can never grow weary Of lis