The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-02-18
DAMON AND PyTuIAs.
General TJm Green and Homes, George
Hancock


To the Editor Of the Herald.
Your paper reaches many households,
ana whatever appears in its columns is
read by all classes ofpeople in the state of
Texas.
The facts following are so true that
mu st assure the reader there is no romance
in them, narrate simply truth.
On the field of San Jacinto, April 2lst,
1896, four young men became acquainted
TO be forever friends in all the changes of
subsequent years--Ben McCulloch, Walter
L. Lane, George Hancock and Tom Green.
The war over, they located at different
places, but Tom Green and George Han
cock, after annexation in 1916 became fell
low-tOwnsmen of Austin. Hancock
became merchant and prospercd
in business till when the war commenced,
he was considered rich man in Austin
He had married noble, refined and clc-
giant daughter of Colonel Iva X. Lewis, one
OF the oldest and nohlest of the early men
in Austin's colony. His old friends, Lane,
McCulloch and Green, rcjoced in his do
nestle felicity, and often shared his hospi-
tality. Green, in the meantime, had mar
ried daughter of DR.. John G. Chalmers.
secretary of the treasury under President
Lamar, and became the Iather OF u son and
several daughters. Neither Lane nor Mel
Culoch ever married The friendship o
the four old San JacintO soldiers was ak in
TO that OF Damon and Pythias.
The war came on in 1861. All but George
Hancock espoused the cause of the south
and went into the army,
each TO earn an honorable
niche in his country's fame, When the body
of Ben McCulloch was inferred az Austin in
the presence OF 5000 people, George Han
cock, though union man, was weeping
pall-bearer.
Time passed. The third year of the war
had been recorded. Tom Green was at
home ON leave Of absence and once more
looked upon his wife and children. He
was to rctutn to Louisiana and join in the
shock OF arms He seemed to have q pre-
sentiment that he would never more see
Austin or his loved ones. In buggy, with
James H. Raymond, one of the few pure
and ever true living men of Texas he rode
out to the country residence of his union
friend, George Hancock, where the three
dined, and here comes in the touching part
of this little episode
After diuner Tom Green said to
George Hancock; George am a
major general in the Confederate
army. have none but Confederate money,
ride up to the house of honest people and
ask for dinner without good money to pay.
A soldier can do 1t, but George, II major
general, can't do it without sacrifice of
self respect
"All right" said the noble-hearlcd Han
cock, He stepped into an adjoining room
and speedily returned with shot bag con
tanning five thousand gold dollars in IS, $40
and $50 pieces, saying, "lIcro, Tom, take
this"
General Green prollered his note, which
Hancock refused
Then said Green, George, don't think
I'll ever see you again Raymond has
agreed, in case of my death to be a father
father to my daughters-will you2n
why Tom, said George Hancock, .you
know ! will be unto the end Of lie.
While | live, if you die, your
daughters shall never want for anything in
my power to confer. But, Tom, you will
soon be back
NO. said Tom Green, George, I'm go.
ing into delugc of blood, under solemn
sense of duty to my country, and am re-
solved to do my duty, but you will never
see NE again, and this bag Of gold and all
the goodness you have promised to my
daughters will be so much lost to you"
mot lost, Tom," said George Hancock.
1T will come home again as Il blessing.
Would to God could do more for your
children, but what can do that will ! do
in case of your death "
Green died the death of the brave. Han.
cock did all he had promised, and he sleeps
the sleep of the just. And yet, in this free
land of Texas, there are men, and
even proiessed democrats, who
object to John Hancock, the
brother of George, because he, like
George, was union man Oh shame ON
humanity.
When Tom Green was buried in the statc
cemetery at Austin-Tom Green, major
general in the confederate army--Georgc
Hancock, n union man, his old fellow sol
dicr at San Jaclpto, was grand marshal of
the procession Newspapers ut that day
Were non est and no public notice was cir
culated, but is II wrong now, Mr.. Editor, to
recall the facts and let our sons and daugh-
ters behold these illustrations of true man
hood even in the darkest DAYS ol war.
God bless the memory of Ben McCulloch
Tom Green, George Hancock and Walter
I, Lane, the last being the only survivor of
four as brave and noble young men as
fought ut San Jacinto, April 81, 1886.
May this recital soften the hearts of many
secessionists towards many honest union
men A FRIEND or ruE FouR
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