Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-01-13
MIS- cELLAHE0 US.
BABES OF THE BLUE AND THE
GRAY.
Gods Own Flag Of Truce.

L
The public remembers that man named
Payne was involved with John Wilkes
Booth, in 1865, in the assassination of Presi.
dent Lincoln, and the attempt upon the life
of Secretary William II. Seward; nor does
any one need to be told of the height to
which public indignation reached in Wash>
iugton city at tha, time At this particular
period Major W. F. IIaleck, of the United
States service, having in charge two huu-
dred Confederate prisoners in Washington
city, was set upon by mob VINO demanded
of him tho body Of one of these, Gen. Payuc,
of the Confederacy, who, it was believed by
the populace, was the person who had
stabbed Seward. Major Halleck's guard
consisted Of not more than fifty. lie ap-
pealed in vain to the mob, assuring it that
the Payne who was then his prisoner was
not the Payne who had stabbed the Socreta.
ry. BE was not believed, and the fury of
the crowd increased, and its determination to
have the prisoner became manifest Order>
ing his men TO load their guns, and prepare
for work Maj or Halleck dcianty proclaimed
to the mob that those were his prisoners,
and it was his purpose TO die right there
with them, before he would surrender one of
them iuto their hands. lis guard was pro
pared to execute his orders, and the orders
were upon his lips, ready to be- given the
moment the occasion arose. The mob saw
the officers determination, retired, and
abandoned its purpose. After the war Mai
Halleck and Gen. Payne became near neigh
bors and friends. A child Of each dying at
the same time, the two were inferred in the
same grave. and it is of this circumstance
that the following is written. Mai Halleck,
1t is hardly necessary TO say, is identical
with the gallant Federal soldier of the same
name who delivered the patriotic speech re.
Gently at the soldiers reunion 10 Salisbury,
North Carolina.
What matters it now if they mot thsre before.
From the North aud the Southland-tho Blue
and the Gray
On fields that were awful with carnage and
gore.
Mid the roaring and strife of that terrible
frayi
All little they heed~d the dying and dead
For hard was the heart then, and flashing tho
eye;
But now they are weeping o 'cr one little bed,
Where two little darllngs so peacefully lie
Under the sod and the dew"
Close to each other they Jay
One is tho babe of the Blue
The other the babe of the Gray
What matters it pow if they led to the tight
The mon who are sleeping beneath tie green
sod7
Or what does it matter winch fought for the
right
For Judgement is mine" said our mercfuI
God,
Aye, bravely they fought Lere, but diving, for
gave;
And, clasping each other lay dead on the
plain:
Thus bowling in sympathy over the grave,
These warriors are uni ted in pain.
Under tho sod and the dew
Fair as twin lilies they lay
Beautiful babe of the Blue,
Beautiful babe of tho Gray.
What matters it now, if this tall, waving grass
Ia higher and ranker, and gIeener to-day.
Because of IL drinking that red flood alas,
The blood of the Blue and the blood of the
Grarf
While yet it was warm from the hearts of the
bravo,
1t met and united in purple tide.
So minglo the tears DER this little twin grave
OF the treasures buried here, each side By
side.
Under the sod and the dew
Sleeping together for ave
Sweet little babe of the Blue,
Dear little babe of the Gray.
What matters it nowi but question them not
Enough that they suffer n fathers keen woe
The past is forgiven. perchance is forgot:
And true are the tears that in sympathy flow,
ihfougn "hleh they Deno4d on that beautiful
shore,
Two little twin angels in garments of white.
Whose wee-dimple fingers now beckon them
DER
The dark-howing river. they've taken their
flight.
Up from the sod and the dew,
Leading and showing the way
Pure angel babe of the Blue!
Pure angel babe of the Gray!
Reports to the Department of AgricuI>