Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-27
THE BLUE AND THE GREY.
"reminiscences of Kindly Deeds on the
Battlefield and FraternaI Sentiments
IN view of United People and a
Great NatiOn-Maine and Georgia
Clasp Hands.

battlefield and FraternaI Sentiments
in View of a United People and a
Great NatiOn-Maine and Georgia
Clasp Hands.
ATLANTA, Oct. 25.-In my last letter
referred to the fact that Governor Robbie.
OF Maine, had once taught school in
Thomas county, for whose people he re-
tanned the most kindly feelings. and that
during the late war he was instrumental
in saving the leg of gallant Georgia
officer who was very severely wounded in
the groin. l am now prepared to give the
readers of the MORNING NEWS the whole
story and am sure it will prove that the
heroic men who wore the ''Blue, and the
"Grey" know how to honor and appreciate
each other, no matter what the politicians
may do to keepup sectional animosities.
In his letter to me Governor Robe thus
refers to an incident which occurred
during the seven days struggle in front
of Richmond
, i was temporarily assisting IN the care of
the wounded Confederate prisoners at Savage
station, and while dlscharging that duty.
found Colonel Lamar. Of Georgia who was
severely wounded by minnie ball, which
had penetrated and passed into his groin
The surgeons were discussing the necessity OF
amputation at the hip joint. Colonel Lamar
eNpoStulated and asked me TO use my influ-
ence against such Il course. which did. being
mYseH Il surgeon. | told him that was once
a cltlZen OF Georgia, and when a yoIng man
had received many favors from her people.
lie asked me for a blanket, which was very
glad 70 procure and present TO him. After
tins little episode, circumstances required that
should leave with haste, and although |
have often inquired. / have never vet learned
the fate of that brave officer NV only object
IN making mention of this incident IS to in
qll, qulT,e, , OF you whether Colonel Lamar rccov-
ered iTom that wound, and still lives"
The circumstances" to which Gov
ern0r koble alludes as having caused him
TO "leaVe with haste" were such as often
arose during the war. The Confederates
rallied, drove the Union forces away. and
recovered Colonel Lamar and his COM
rades. This fact, with others in nv DOS
session, led me to believe that the Colonel
Lamar mentioned was none other than
State Senator Lucius NJ. Lamar, of Hawk
lnsVIlle, who was fearfully wounded i'm
the groin while bravely leading a charge
upon the enemy's works at Garnett's
farm. Although thus disabled, and while
lying upon the ground, he waved his
trusty sword and urged his faithful SOL
diers forward to the ramparts, while he
fell into the hands OF the opposing army.
j therefore addressed a note of inquiry to
my friend, Colonel Lamar, and this morn
ing's mail brings me the following reply:
i 6Ss NY uedf MAJOR, am the Colonel La
mar TO whom Governor RODie refers. | was
wounded IN the groin by minnie ball while
leading my regiment (the heroic Eighth GeOr-
gla) IN charge in one Of the series of battles
around Richmond, and was captured and car
rIed to field hospital at Savage Station. /
cannot describe to you my sensations at this
critical period of my life, when the surgeons
we're discussing the prOpriety of taking of
my leg or performing an operation to take up
the felnoral artery. Well do ! remember the
KIND gentleman who interposed in my behalf.
| was very grateful, and j need not be
ashamed to tell you that my tears bore wit
ness to the sincerity and force of my feelings
l love him like a brother, and he shall find me
one, indeed. if the wonder working dispensa-
tlons of Providence should ever place him in
the want OF brothers arm, or mind, or
BOSOM"
But there is still another pleasant fea-
ture connected with this matter. Cover
nor RObie in his letter to me, in speaking
of the influences at work to restore good
feeling and kindly relations between the
North and the South, utters this noble
sentiment
''The prospect of the future greatness of a
free and united nation increases every YEAR
as the representatives of different sections
become better acquainted. May our friend
ship be perpetual so as to establish eternal
peace"
Only little while ago the Third Maine
regiment survivors met at Winthrop,
Maine, in their annual reunion. Unani-
mously, and amidst hearty applause,
these veterans of the "Blue'' adopted a
resolution asking the Senators and Rep
resentatives from Maine to advocate in
Congress the establishment of a "Natioual
Home for Disabled Confederate Soldiers
and Sailors" The Georgia General AS
sembly, through Maj. w. r. Gary, of
Richmond in the House, and COL. l.. NJ.
Lamar, in the Senate, passed, unani-
mOusly and with applause, resolutions OF
fn 10 Of A.
Third Maine Regiment for their unselfish
action in behalf of the manned soldiers
and sailors who wore the ''Grev."
In transmitting these resolutions, hand
sOmely engrOssed, to Governor RObie of
Maine, it will be a great pleasure to Gov
ernor Mcdaniel to address one who was
once a citizen of Georgia: who has never
forgotten to love her people and rejoice in
her prosperity; who on the battle field
minlstered so tenderly to her wounded
soldiers who were prisoners of war, and
who now so earnestly invOkes perpetual
friendship and eternal peace between the
people of the snOw-clad hills of Maine and
the green and sunny slopes OF Georgia.
1t will also be an added pleasure to tell
him that the eloquent Senator who called
up and secured the passage of the resolu-
tlOns in the Senate was the gallant Colonel
Lamar, whose leg he saved from amputa-
tiOn at Savage Station, and to whom he
was glad to minister because thewOunded
sufferer was from Georgia, whose people
he had learned to love and honor 20 years
before while young school teacher in
Thomas county.
And this romance of the war has un-
folded itself within the past ten days,
neither Governor RObie nor Colonel La
mar knowing anything about the present
existence or condition of the other. 1t
will add another to the rapidly multiply
ing cases wherein the "Buev or the
Grey" were tender and generous to each
other when wounded or prisoners of war.
1t is gratifying to know that time has re-
vealed better and kindlier feeling on
both sides of the line.
Maine has made practical manifesto
ton of her sincere interest in the disabled
soldiers of the South, by an appeal to
Congress to give them SOLDIERS HOme''
III which to pass in peace and comfort
their declining years. Other States, |
trust, through their patriotic veterans,
will indOrse the movement, and bye and
bye, when age or infirmities shall leave
the Southern soldiers without home, or
kindred, or support, the doors of such a
humane and needed institution will be
opened to them. Be that as it may, the
veterans of the Third Maine Regiment
have set the ball in motion, and so far as
| know there has as yet been no voice
raised in opposition to their appeal. 1t
is safe to believe that the brave men who
were kind and generous to the
wounded Southern soldiers in prison hos
pitfalls and on bloody fields i'm time of war,
will be no less kind to the battle-scarred
survivors of those terrible conflicts in
their time of need. SIDNEY HERBERT.
RAILROAD RUMBLINGS.
Bright Flashes of Intelligence from