Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-05-22

Strong against Fort Wagner I suppose
you've heard time and again how poor
Strong and bis companion in command,
young Shaw, of Boston, charged on the
fort; but just as they reached the ditch
besh gallant General and patriotic young
Colonel fell, the first mortally wounded, the
other killed outright
The old voice sank into soH1oGuy again.
'Oh, my Lord! they thought to heap in
fanny and opprobrurn on the thonored name
OF Colored Robert Shaw Ky telling about
'burying him in the same pit with his mig
gers; but his grand old father made his
grave simply glorious and his own name
illustrious by afterwards expressing his
Willingness to let the mortal part of his
brave son stay and sleep on forever in the
trench with his niggers.'n
There was a long pause unbroSen by the
absorbed listeners in the arbor; then there
were signs Of nervousness and emotion in
'creasing every moment on the part of the
old volunteer, and when he spoke again his
voice was husky and he elutched continu-
ally at the sides of his coat as If trying to
hide himself away somewhere in*i its folds
u only saw one engagement more" he
began, land that was at Gold Ha1bor You
see i haven't mentioned it yet, but all
through my army life was keeping track
of yeung soldier whose fiery zeal in the
great cause kept him at the front and in the
thickest OF the fight It was my own boy
and all I had in the world-Lord, how I
loved him.,' His lower jaw dropped, and
he gaZed blankly for moment alta spot on
the ground, then he went OH:
NIcouldn't nor wouldn't tell my boy he
should Eet fight for the old flag. He was
just turned OF twenty-one, and wars old
enough to enlist, but I had no end of
1naneuvering trying to keep in the same
line of action he did His mother was gone
years befare, so she never worried over the
risks he run
We'll, the last battle he ever was in, or T
either, was the terrible one of Cold Harbor.
early in the summer Of a. We were under
Hancock, and did all any of our men could
do-that was, obeyed orders. When you
consider. lads, that our Loss in killed.
wounded and missing after the battle was
over thirteen thousand men, you'll never
doubt again that some OF us knew what an
engagement means
well L saw my boy fall during the
battle, and they all told me he was killed,
and for a long time-yes, for years-I be-
ieyed it, but Of late I've begun to doubt
very seriously whether such was really the
fact. As said before, I came with an OBJ
ject to-day; knew there would be a great
many soldiers about, and more than half
expect to see tall young fellow, with an
eye as keen az an eagles fine features, and
a military air"
Just then a middle-aged gentleman
sauntered into the arbor, and the old soldier
at once accosted him:
'Ah, ood-morning, Mr.. Fosdfck! Glad
to see you.' His voice took on tho hall
beseechlng tone they had noticed before as
be continued: You know Pm an old u. s.
v, one of the rank and file merely. but
am here to-day with an object, as usual; I
shouldn't be surprised if at any moment I
was TO see fine, manly young fellow, with
an eagle eye and military carriage, come
stridihg along-ah! there's our minister
from; crofton; I must go interview him. I
bid you good-day, good-day, my sons!''
With martial air the old man gathered
himself up and departed, while Frank and
Eugene locked inquiringly at the GENTLE
man addressed as Mr. Fosdick.''
Excuse me-" said Frank, ssbut do Won
know that old soldier?"
''Oh, yes!' replied Mr. Fosdick, q look Of
pity succeeding she smile with which he be-
gan to make reply; The was one Of our
fighters during the war, but he lost an only
son whom for years he knew and realized
had been Hlled-at Gold Harbor. think.
But within ths last year or two his mind
has failed. and BE- imag1nes that It was 4