Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-19
STRANGE PREmoN,TioN.
A Gallant Iowa Soldiers Prophecy ant
How 1t Was Fulfilled.

i am personally connected with one
of those sad incidents which can never
be removed from my memory. During
our transient rendezvous near Memphis,
Tenn, in the month of June, 1864, we
| were in doubt as to where we would be
sent We had in our company one of
those free-hearted, lively, care-drive-
away fellows in the person of Robert A
Long. Corporal Long was the songster
of our company, and was specially
gifted in that talent. We all loved
Robert, for no one could feel bad if
bob" was round. for he could soon
have the boys dancing or roaring with
laughter at his matchmaking. Noble.
generous-hearted was our Robert, who
was fine specimen of physical devel-
opment, and who happened to be my
mess-mate. Soon. however, our anx-
iety to move was gratifed, but to what
point of the compass remained to US
as to all other soldiers, unexplained.
Sunday morning, the 26th day of June.
opened up to us with its balmy stiffness.
the birds seeming to withhold their US
ual morning chorus, when the drums be-
gan the reveille, and the orderly flying
around among his company with Fall
in, Co. G-every man of you be ready
to move in five minutes" While the
boys were getting knapsacks, tents,
ETC., in readiness, Corporal Long came
to me and said:
Lyons, feel strange to-day. don't
know why. But am going to be killed
| wish you to take this picture Of my
sisters and these letters of mothers
and fathers and this Testament. and
should Inever return again, please send
them to my mother in Iowa"
why. Robert" said l. what makes
you so sad. Have you not as much Sc
curity and guarantee of safety as others
of our comrades? Besides. it will be
terrible to think of you being killed, as
we can t get along without you. Robert "
81 can't helpit," he said. Something
tells me l will not see the setting of to-
days SUM-"
well, Robert" said l. II hope you
will find yourself mistaken and be with
US again soon; and l will take special
care of these articles which you intrust
to my care, and should circumstances
require that l deliver them to your peo-
pie, l will do so. And now Robert Gas
we grasped hands,, goodbye, and do
not feel so respondent for we hope to
meet you round the mess tonight"
shall never forget the expression in
his face as he said farewell, and no
word ever sank deeper into my heart
The noise and confusion was soon re-
moved by the orders from the Lieuten-
t-COlonel, and at a Right face
marchr' the regiment, with Company
G and our Robert, was soon away and
on the cars. In short time we saw
the train pass US in the distance, and
we turned our attention to duties in
cumbent of hospital service in the field
The regiment moved at about $50 a
m. While l was busy in the forenoon,
probably about eleven a NJ, the tele-
graph brought US the sad intelligence
of the death of Robert A. Long. 1t
seems that one of Company G's men
was wounded by bushwhackers and the
train stopped, as it became necessary
to leave this man at a small station
(Collierville). in charge of a surgeon
and three men. After the detail was
made out it was filed by mistake,
Robert Long being one of the detail,
and another man had taken his place
After the train started the officer in
charge called on Robert (who was still
on the moving train) to come and help.
Robert on hearing his name called, be-
gan to make all haste to get of. He
threw his gun. and it stuck in the
ground on the bayonet. He then
climbed down the end of the freight
car, and got around on the bumpers in
order to jump out. The train had now
gained considerable velocity. Robert
made the spring, but there was large
nail driven into the end of the car,
which caught his knapsack-strap just
as he sprang, and he fell beneath the
wheels OF that heavily-loaded freight
train. and seventeen cars passed over
him about the middle of his person.
While the second car was passing
over him he reached out both hands for
help, but alas! too late. as his body
was hattened as thin as a silk ribbon.
We ut the field camp could not believe
it, until second telegram confirmed
the first as fatally true. The weather
being very warm, they could do no
more than bury our comrade under the
spreading branches of large old oak
near Collierville, to await the morning
when we will be called together to an
swer the great roll-call beyond. l
would like to hear from others of the
18th Iowa-O. j. Lyon. Co. 6, 45th
Iowa, Sabetha, Kan, in National
Tribune.