davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28


"A strew," he rerlied, with a little annoy
DIT you know that this is the day to
decorate soldiers graves-the 30th of
Mavp
~ had forgotten it," l answered humbly.
"But where there any soldiers gravesl
Not near here, surely"
He turned like a bird on the old fence and
pointed with the flag into mass of brambles
"Not therel"
eyes, there. That's graveyard-the
graveyard that belongs to the old meeting
house. Everybody that used to go to meet
ing there pointing to the house, is in here
now pointing again toward the briars and
weeds, so there are no more meetings"
looked at the graveyard with plying in
terest 1t was nothing but a square patch
of brambles, and rank, dark weeds, inclosed
by a broken and worm-eaten fence and sur
rounded by the thick and silent wood.
Nothing could be more isolated from busy
life, more completely forgotten by the world
No, not quite forgotten, for here was the
brown-legged boy, with his flag and his
flowers, his w. istle and song.
But soldiers are not buried here" said.
zone of them is. " the boy answered with
an accent of pride and an additional wave of
HIS nag. IL ) HIS grave UldU hlSSlS GllIildu
is goin' to strew with these flowers, though
he wasn't any relation of hers at all He
was a captain, and he has marble head
stone, the only one in the whole graveyard.
His company put it up. It's gettin' a little
old now, for he's been dead nearly twenty
four years-died most fourteen years before
| was born" He ratified this off with child
like eagerness happy in being the first to tell
bit OF something interesting to another.
"Were you in the war" he asked
Eyes"
$50 was my grandfather / have the pic
ture of a fight he was in. He was killed,
too This with a special accent of pride.
1t was something to be killed, evidently, in
his opinion.
Riding close to the old fence | looked over
into the neglected place of the dead and saw
the edge of a marble headstone and beside it
the dark folds of a womans gown.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28

Eyes, we outmarchei Schofed and then
we slept and while we slept Schofield marched
by-marched within half a mile of our
camp fires. / have never seen more intense
rage and profound disgust than was ex-
pressed by the weary, footsore, battle-torn
Confederate soldiers when they discovered
that their officers had allowed their prey to
escape. Sulenly we fell into column
and resumed the chase We pushed
Schofield closely. He struck the Har-
peth river at Franklin, where the stream
makes right angle We were so close to
Schofeld that he didn't dare to attempt to
cross the river for fear of losing not only
his trains, but his army. The Yankees
formed a battle line across the neck of land
formed by the winding river Their fanks
rested on the water Their center was on a
low hill, where couple of batteries stood in
action. We were on the ground early in the
morning. The Yankees had just begun to
break earth for an intrenchment. We could
see their entire line and judge correctly of
their numbers. We outnumberei them over
two to one. The Confederates, though tired
and hungry, were keen to be led to the
assault. We one and all prepared to fight at
once rather than to wait for an hour or two
and be fed. After our bloody experience
earthworks manned by veteran Yam
kee infantry Now we had Soho
fields army cooped. They could not re-
treat The river was behind them. We
knew that if we attacked at once we
could kill them, or capture them or drive
them into the river. But we also knew that
if Hood allowed them to throw up an earth
work. it mattered not how slight that they
would most tenaciously hold that defense.
They were desperate men, Their only chance
was to fight, and figh-, and still fight In
the open we could have crushed them in an
hour Once covered we knew that they
could not be crushed, and we privates, who
had fought these men for three years, knew
they would fight to the last man, almost,
once they were warmed to their work.
"As we stood in column waiting for our
orders, saw the corps and division COM
manders crowd around Hood, who had rid
den onto the field. l dropped out of the
ranks and drew near to the group. They
We're inspecting the Yankee line. I heard
Cleburne, approved and fearless fighter, urge
Hood to order the assault at once. l heard
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28

Come in and see this soldiers grave"
said the boy, glad of a new interest. | hest
tated. The occasion seemed too sacred for
the intrusion of a stranger; but he insisted
so warmly that | left my horse and followed
him into the graveyard His simple, but
not undigniiied, introduction made an
apology to the lady unnecessary
"Missis Wilson, he said CALAMITY taking
off his fowertrimmed hat, "this gentleman
was in the war, and I've asked him in to help
put the flowers on Capt. Rathbone's grave"
We were on the ground of common sympa-
thy at once This woman was no longer young,
but she was beautiful with the beauty of a
spirit that had long dwelt on calm heights She
was of the past, scarcely seeming to belong to
the present at ALL Her soft black silk and
its laces, and even her face, were of fashion
not new. She was an old-school lady, with
the gentle dignity and majesty of manner
that indicate the old-school training.
This is not my sons grave" she said, "but
that of his dearest friend, and l am the only
one left here who knew him or cares to lay a
flower on the earth that covers him"
bent to read the inscription on the fast
dimming headstone:
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28
Attic GRAVES OF TWO BROTHERS

What mother having twin-born, both dear
Equally dear. both strong and master. nj,
Both having tender nurture at her breast,
Who after childhood. diverse minded, then
By some hot feud are swayed aud fall apart:
One lea to that strong bond of Home Hearth.
One stung by some wild fire to strike at her
And wound her bosom; till To- their strife grown
fierce
Both fail and both slain by mutual blows;
What mother like to this one. shall not take
Both back into her heart with quenchless love,
Forge ting only that they were her sons,
Both being dead, aud both good and brave
And gr for both and praise them in her gref2
o thou, our Mother is not this thou?
Were not such twin born these thy sons thine ownl
And over their two graves dost Thou not stand
This fair last May morn. with memorial flowers
Fullhanded, faithful to thy mother love,
Forgetting only that they were thy sons
Both being dead and both were good and brave,
Grieving for both and praising In thy grief?
JOHN JAMES PIATT
QUEENSTOWN. Ireland, May Is
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28

and dashed into the open. Instantly we
were met by storm of bullets and canister
that caused us to stagger as our dead and
wounded comrades fell against u.s. We
wavered badly then gathered ourselves and
pushed on, firing as we went.
The powder smoke hung on the field.
Through riffs in it we could see the
Federal gunners spring nimbly to and
fro from the Napoleon guns The respon-
sive flash of the guns as the Ian
yards We're pulled, would be followed by the
rip OF canister as it flew past and through
us, tearing great gaps in our ranks, cracking
mems bones rs pipestems, and knocking
brave men dead with great holes in their
bodies The zip, zip, zip of flying rife balls
was a mighty and steady hum, as though
the empty cylinders of countless threshing
machines We're revolving at full speed all
around us.
Steadily the veteran Yankee infantry,
who had to hold their line of earthworks or
take to the water, loaded and fired. Our
men fell by hundreds We staggered on
through this storm of bullets and canister
for five minutes We had not reached the
Union line. Then we heard exultant shouts
to our left and through the drift
ing smoke caught GLIMPSE of our
battle flags planted on the Federal
breastworks on the hill, and as we
saw the men clad in gray Chamber over the
works and disappear. we redorbled our
efforts to take the line in front Of US. It's
fire did not slacken particle Its defenders
paid no attention to the disaster that had
overtaken their center As We drew closer
the parapet, Redeemed in the smoke and the
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28

CAPTAIN WILBUR RATHBONE,


A true frirnd and brave soldier
This stone is raised by Co. u, TIL Regiment -
Vol l., which he commanded
The grave had been carefully tended Its
rounded outlines and fresh. closely trimmed
sod made of it a green island in a lake of dis
order and neglect The pale old lady knelt
down and began to pick the flowers from the
basket and reverently lay them upon the
grave The boy big-eyed and silent, came
softly up and planted his flag at its head
"Wilbur Rathbone was my sons closest
friend, continued the old lady, in a soft,
sweet voice. They were babies together,
school-fellows comrades and friends. The
home of each was as much the others as his
own. They spent almost every hour of their
time together for twenty years They grew
alike in looks and manners, though they were
totally unlike in character. Even their
names resembled each other My boy was
called Willis He was rash, impetuous,
quick to anger and not easy to control
Wilbur was brave but gentle, given to
quiet ways and of few words He loved
music better than merrymakng, and dogs,
horses and birds better than the society of
most persons. | fancy | can still hear the
piano speak under his fingers when | sit
silent and alone in my now childless and
almost empty house And when the quiet of
evening comes | sometimes close my eyes,
blot out Of my memory quarter of a CEN
tury and hear the notes from his violin float
over the hills His mother and father, my
good neighbors, lived over there in the house
whose chimneys you can just see from
here" and she pointed through a
break in the wood "They are long
since dead, and lie here by the side of
their son. They were not members of the
Society OF Friends that met in this little
house, but their parents had been and when
they died there was, after all, no spot of
ground in which to bury them more sacred
than this, though it Is so desolate-so very,
very desolate.
"But the boys They were never separated
until few months before the war broke out
Ny son grew restless and talked of going
out into the world and doing great things
We held him here, his father and |, foolish
souls that we were, feeling that we could not
let him 60; that to go once meant really to
go for ever. You know that when birds
once try their wings they never go back to
the nest And we had only one other child,
one girl, our Katie. At last the pressure
upon his restless spirit rasped his ever quick
temper. and he quarreled with his father,
left us in the night without word"
She rose. turned her face away, and stood
80 long silent that thought she meant to say
no more
But she went on presently, STOPPING down
and picking up a flower from the soldiers
grave Never before had trial like that
His father had been stern with him, know,
but he loved him, and loved them both,
and now anger ragged in their hearts toward
each other. One was gone where l could not
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28

This rude old meeting house, implanted,
decaylng and grim as primitive law made
the gloomy wood still more desolate. An
unfrequented road crossed another few
yards north of it; trees sighed about it moss
grew upon its rotten roof, and wild grass
and briars clambered about its sunken door
step. 1t told its mOurnful story without the
aid of words The plainly habited honest
people who met beneath its roof in the past
had vanished from the earth, and their
descendants were scattered or had departed
from the faith of their fathers and belonged
to the worlds people. | stopped to look at
1t, held by sad fascination.
A shrill whistle interrupted my reverie,
and scattered the ghosts of the silent land
scape. Turning to my left | saw boy
climbing a bit of shaky fence. The climbing
was a self-imposed task, and was evidently
INDUCED in for the sole purpose of adding
interest to the occasion, whatever it was,
since an unsteady gate swung open but few
feet farther on. He wore an enormous straw
hat, gayly decorated with grasses and roses,
and carried in one hand big basket, heaping
full of flowers, old fashioned flowers old
time roses, May pinks lilacs, blue bells, snow
balls, peonies and honeysuckes The other
hand waved brilliant half grown flag and
on the end of the basket very small flag
had been clumsily sewn.
Altogether this bright-eyed infant had
festal appearance in strong contrast to the
gloom and silence of the scene He whistled
bar from the Star pangled Banner" en-
phasizng it by waving the flag theoretically.
He seated himself on the top rail of the fence
and eyed me with some interest, though pre-
tending not to see me- His bare brown feet
beat time to the measure of the tune. He
struck up, in a shrill treble:
lam patriot true sir;
Yes am; yes am
patriot firm and true, sir;
Yes am; yes, am
81 don't doubt it in the least" | said at
tempting TO Ike sociable; "indeed, you look it
every inch"
A grimace was his only answer Still it
was a friendly grimace. His gnity would
not permit him TO make my acquaintance too
easily must make all the advances.
"Go!ng TO picnic. are you mott" asked,
believing that the best way to open CONVEX
sation with him would be to take some interest
in his affairs though detest hat method al
applied t. myse f.
-Eo-a strew." he answered
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28
THE BIvOUAc OF THE DEAD.

On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread;
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac OF the deal.
No rumor of the foes advance
Now swells upon the win I;
No troubled thought at midnight haunts
OF loved ones lift behind;
No vision OF the morrow's strife
The warriors dream alarms,
No braying horn or screaming fife
AT dawn shall call 20 arms
Their shivered swords are red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed,
Their naughty banner, trailed In dust
Is now their martial shroud;
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow;
And the proud forms, by battle gashed
Are free from anguish now.
The neighing troop the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast,
The charge the dreadful cannonsfe,
The din ana shout are passed;
Nor wars wild note. nor glory's peal
Shall thrill with nerce delight
Those breasts that never more may feel
The rapture OF the light
THEODORE o'HAAI
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28

heard the Shenandoah roll
Along the vale below,
saw the Alleghenies rise
Toward the realms of snow;
The valley campaign rose to mind,
Its leaders name, and then
knew the sleeper had been one
OF Stonewa Jackson's men.
He sleeps; what need to question now
II he were wrong or rightl
He knows ere this whose cause Is Just
In God, the Fathers sight,
He Yields no warlike weapons now,
Returns no foeman's thrust;
Who but n coward would revile
An honored soldiers dust7
Roll. Shenandoah, proudly roll
Adown thy rocky glen;
Above thee lies the grave of one
OF Stonewall Jackson's men.
Beneath the cedar and the pine
In solitude austere.
Unknown, unnamed, forgotten lies
a Georgia volunte r.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-05-28
A GEORGIA VOLUNTEER.


Far up the lonely mountain side
My wandering footsteps let
The moss Law thick beneath my feet,
The pine sigh ii ovarh al;
The trace OF a dismantled fort
Lay In the forest nave
And In the shadow n ar my path
saw a soldiers grave.
The bramble wrestlei with the weed
Upon the lowly mount;
The simple headboard. rudely writ,
Had rotted to the ground.
raised II with reverent hand,
From dust its words to clear,
But Time had blotted all but these:
"A Georgia Volunteer"
New-York tribune., 1886-06-06

diner, degree without exciting wonder. but these
he carried into the most extraordinary circum-
stances aud applied on the grandest possible thea re-
Notwithstanding all this until the close OF the war
he had met few great men except soldiers. he had
studied few great events except military ones, he
knew few great subjects situations, except bat
ties and marches and sIeges and campaigns.
When he went to Washington and was thrown
INTO contact with men trained n the political and
social arena. at first he very shy. He did not
like the atmosphere he not a u )me IN IL. lie
avoided the world so far as he, tue core and the
top of the word. could avodit He dsIked politics
and society. but soon perceived that his duty and
his position threw HIM into both politics and So
cIety. and though he never seemed TO be Observing
he watched closely He very soon cOniormed to
etiquette wllch at first had heen. not only unfa-
mlliar but distasteful. He learned to understand
the ways of men--and wOnen-lOng used to arts
and arJItices lie never himself became a skilled
simulator, but he could dlsSimulate rs well anv
man that ever lived that IL, be could prevent al
but those who were absolutely closest 10 him. and
sometimes these. from penetrating further than lie
wished into his thonghts or purposes or de ares.
had not seen him for several years when he
visited Europe. and was very much struck at that
time with the growth and breadth of his intellect.
l was with him at the tables of kings. saw hun IN
the company of tle greatest EuropcaI statesmen,
al more tnan brilliant court ard he rose 10 an
equality that the foremost recognized. On his re-
turn 10 America was again very much with MN.
almost, II possb c. IN closer intimacy than ever
before. and was convinced that be mad learned
profoundly by his experience of the Presidency
and his wonderful journey around the world
| saw him almost to the last III his grim strug
recognized that the massive qualities Of the man,
though grand scale, were after all very
human-tbe simple. natural traits that ne shared
with US al. lie was typical man, with his faults
New-York tribune., 1886-06-06
THREE SrABS IN HIS HEARE


turbit NJ a. tho Liquid uiud OF which does nos
"xve D.ck picture OF Heaven ss Hawtnorna says
ali stroa ns Reflect IL the primitive town. Asirrs.
whose streots tue hospitabo Inhabitants
eau almost shake hands across
Al dinner party '6l, Ia the house OF the late Dr.
Edward Hook, former graduate of our uATvAr. then
q sxul popular ply sicAu there, had been speak
ing OF hoartA I sail: doctor. do you believe
man could pierce his own neart tnroo limos
40 that each puncture OF the dagger could DO
visible a. Yes i've the heart, Wa tho ro-
ply Mr.. Parvai accomplished geutlen,an .
fessor or musc and Italian, tue asspcisIe of Dr
Nathaniel Miles, office Was IN scnooi-st ~ Tue lie
this tragedy occurred Living mysel. on tue corner OF
Trsmont aud School sts where tue Parker House now
stands. often hun repass MS pretty ittc oi"ck
aud tan" with collar Of silver bells, AWAY peside nm
A he went by. He In love with Que VI hls pupils
an estmable young lady who lived on somersotsI MS
love returned. but parents oUjecton overruico
and IN Fourth OF July. during fearful thunder
dsny puu.ed dirk TIA times his heart exptr.
ing ~ once In the OF Miss H. DIR. Niies pre-
seryod the heart OF Ills poor riond and saw II In
large glass lar OF spi many persons went ~ see
and vouusr The tnird aud Last oriuoo wAs distinct
Or Niles went to PHria, and, Aided BY our then MIN
ister Mr. Rivcs. became . succossfui younx diplomas
there He married the widow of ChevAiier Sue fsthes
of Eugene sue. Secretary Of Legation IRON ana
To thrsu European courta, France Sardinia and Aussn
had tho pleasure Of living In ths house Win nm sno
hs accom- wife Ia New York Cty for whnA A.
stats 10 the Transcript Note lSI7 thu Hon Nssnsses
Niles, United statss Charge dAfAiros as ssruint~ ~
lsAs died No Is East sixteeot New MO-
vomoer %, 1853.
New-York tribune., 1886-06-06
GENERAL GRANT TO ADAM BADrAu.

NAPLES, Dec lS. III.
MY DEAR GENERAL: Your letter and enclosed
chapter OF history were received here our arrival
yesterday. | have read the chapter and tnd no
comments To ke. II is. doubt, as correct az
history can be written. except when you SPEAK
about me-" | am glad 10 see you are progressing 40
well Hope Vol. will soon be complete, and that
the book will find large SAFE
No doubt but Governor Fish will take great
pleasure IN aiding vou IN yOur next book. tie mas
all the data far as his own department was con-
cerned IL was his habit to sum up the proceedings
of each day before leaving his office. aud TO Keep
that information for ms private perussi.
To-day ascend Mt. Vesuvlns. tomorrow VISIT
POmpeii and Hcrculaneum. About SATURDAY, the
22d start for Palermo, thence TO Malta, where we
Will probably spend the 18th. From there we go
TO Alexandria and up tine Nile. Inat - about AZ
far as have definitely planned. but think on our
return from the Nile will go 20 Joppa, and visit
Jerusalem from there; possibly Damascus and
other points OF interest also. and take the ship
again at Beyrout The next point viii be smyrna.
then COnsfantInope ] am beginning to enjoy
travelling and If the money holds out, OF il Goa
sOiiiated Virginia mining stock does, will not be
back to the Ea tern States for two years yet
should theg-the stocks-run down on INV hands.
aud stop dividends, should be compelled to get
home the nearest way.
Jesse is entrey well ard himself again. aud en-
JOYS his travels under these changed conditions
very much | wrote letter TO Porter a good while
ago but have received no answer yet. Very truly
yours, l.. ;. GRANT.
New-York tribune., 1886-06-06

Forty Texas editors went ~ 81 Louis the otnsr oAy
20 zee tho town. and . local paper announced thss
committee would he organized At onee to sscSrt hso
s IN, ire very and places VI nserest THIS N
sort of thug that makes Texas editor teei gooo
New-York tribune., 1886-06-06

and virtues. only surprising the rest by his
achievements and his developed powers
IT Is my intcntIcn to narrate the incidents aDd
this idea of General Grant The following letter
refers TO my plan of vritingGeneral Grants poti-
cal history. ADAM BADEAu.