Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-08-07
nrrcHER WEBSTER.
The Great StatesmAn's Son In the war fol
the Un10n.

FLETCHER WEBSTER
The Great statesman's Son in the War for
Boston Journal. 400,
On the twenty-third Of July, 1861,
mounted on a magnificent black horse
the gift of his college classmates. Col
Webster marched through the streets OF
Boston on his way to the battlefield. A
little more than year afterward, having
fallen in battle, he was brought home to
he laid beside his father in the family
tomb at Marshfeld.
Col. Webster was very proud OF his
'boys," as he always called them, and
they in turn were very fond of their
ereat-hearted colonel Between COM
mander and men as great degree OF
confidence and personal intimacy always
existed as was compatible with the re-
ouirements of the service. He was at
all times extremely solicitous for the
comfort and well being Of those who had
placed themselves in his charge. In
those early days Of the war men were
apt to be careless as to the laws OF
health. Much suffering came, also, from
inexperience in cooking. Webster was
familiar with these vital matters. He
sought diligently to impart needed in
struction. His presence in the company
cook house was almost daily occurrence
while his visits to the regimental hospital
were frequent when there were sick
ones there. In this way he won bis
way into every soldiers heart They
would even tell him of their personal
lows and sorrows, while he listened with
an interest that could not have been
much keener had each and all OF them
been his own children, At night the
sentinels about the camp often saw him
gliding noiselessly from one sleeping
form to another to replace the blankets
that had been thrown off in sleep.
When the Webster regiment arrived
at Harper's Ferry it was assigned to the
brigade commanded by Gen. Abercrom-
bic. The general was a West Pointer
and strict disciplnarian. His orders
against destroying the property OF farm
ers in the vicinity were very strict. Late
one rainy afternoon, after a hard march,
the troops went into bivouac in an open
country far from any friendly forest.
Fires were an absolute necessity, but
wood was not at hand. Fence-rails were
among the articles to be let alone. The
men sat down upon their knapsacks in
respondent frame Of mind, for there was
slim prospect indeed Of either dry cloth
ing or hot coffee. Webster meanwhile
walked back and forth with his hands
crossed behind him, as if in deep thought
"Let the old man Alone" said tai
sergeant, ':he'n think Of some way t.
get us out Of this predicament." Tn
: colonel was soon seen looking wistful..
, toward fence not far away. All q
, once he frightened up, and, running Il
/ among his men, he cried in an e1cite'
tone, as though he had suddenly made
, great discovery. "Boys, those are no
railsr The men needed no further hin
: and charged with shout upon the fence
l The material turned out to be poles
. The general arrived soon after, but hi
4 CONSULTATIONS were in vain, for the col
: onel argued the point with the ability 9
4 LAWYER, and the fact was well enoug
i established for present purposes tbs
r rails were one thing and poles were an
other.
Not long after this the regiment al
rived in the vicinity of Warrenton, Va
' after long tramp, and the men WEI
q hungry. Haversacks were empty an
the teams, as usual, were far behint
@ Some of the boys went out foragint
II Webster sat in front Of his tent smokin,
II when citizen rode up and exclaimed
= Colonel, some of your men are down
q nv pasture chasing my sheep" SIS th'
q sog' inquired the colonel. care yo
10 sure they are my men?" eyes," Sal
'r the Vireinian, ''they are your men
B. "Wen," said Col. Webster, with det
10 sigh, '.if they are my men you mex
re have no fear. The boys have had lor
march and they are very tired. I dor
III believe they can catch them" IL
as southerner stormed and swore, but it W
It, of no use. The colonel was provoking
ne cool, and discoursed with as much ear
IN estness, Auency and apparent sinceri
q. on the utter improbabiity OF his m
be being able to catch sheep when tn
I'd were so tired, as he would have done b
70. he been arguing the case in cou
Oh Finally the farmer rode away, half CO
to vinoed, apparently, that the Yank
us colonel was right, but seemingly son
what puzzled by the line Of reasoning
to which he had listened. Turning to o
lie Of the men, as he was leaving the can
Ills the farmer asked, "Who the deuce
ne that oficerr' ''That oficer?" repi
,as the man; "why don't you know? tina
ed Daniel Webster's son." Daniel W.
in ster's son p CALCULATED the Virgins
W. "you don't tell me that Thought
in talked pretty well. Are all the =
of Yankees coming down here to fight III
ere EYES," replied the soldier, '.they are
ma coming it they are needed. We are O
ter the advance guard" The farmer r
yh- slowly away from camp in thought
ted mood, and probably before he had
lew tirely recovered his equilibrium
our Webster regiment was regaling 1T
ed. with mutton.
her Col Wahster was cool and heroic