The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-20
THE BLUE AND THE GREY.
A BRAVE REBEL soLDIER--A GENEROUS
UNION OFFICER.
Major SiInOntOn'S Kindness TO -
Southern Soldier Never Forgotten
1.-Two Rravc FOc.Mcn to Meet After
Many Years.
Sharon, Pa, Hrrnlti, .NOu. !, 1889.


! cumstanccS oft times afforded an opportunity
which was frequently taken advantage Of
for the performance of deeds of Kindness and
mercy between those who fought for the stars
| and stripes and those who battled for the Lost
Cause. and which, OH the dark ground of the
| field of savage carnage. showed pure anu ialr
like flowers bursting into bloom on sterile
| rocks; which evidenced that high principles
were fought for, and that personal hate and
| rancor were unknown, to The majority OF the
contestants and that brave soldier took
| pleasure in performing generous, kindly
deed for an unfortunate foe. Many Instances
of kindly aid being extended by both the
"Blue" and the "Grcy" are on record, and,
while they were no more than right were in
refreshing contrast to the exercise oftentimcs
of brutality, and are credit to human na-
ture.
| Major 6. c. Simonton, of CIarksvilc. one of
the best known citizens of this county, per
! formed such deed during the war, 10 which
he gave but little thought at the time, the
| thrilling scenes OF battle, Of weary march ana
dreary bivOuac crowding it to the rear in his
| memory and which since the bloody days OF
'6-G5 only flashed across the vista OF rccollcc-
! ton us one Of a thousand incidents OF stirring
times. But the Southron to whom he bert in
kindness never forgot his decd and since the
war has perslStently endeavorcd TO discover
his generous foe for the purpose Of expressing
his gratitude, in which he has finally been
| successful. This gentleman was Mr.. W. NJ.
| Gricr, n member of the Sixth South Carolina
Volunteers now Rev. w. NJ. Grier, minister
of the U. p. Church, and president of Erskine
college, at Due West. s. g., one of the most
hourlsiing educational institutions In the
State Major SimontOn expects 10 leave for
| the South in a week or two and will be Prof
Grler's guest, and the matter is thus given
| fresh interest. The circumstances CT the al
| fair are as follows:
After the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia,
| fought on May 5th, 1852, between dctachmentS
| of McClellan's and Johnstons armies, the
Con nfederateS were forced to fall back, and
abandoned many OF their wounded, who had
been gathered up. the majority Of them hav-
| ing been removed 10 q farm house just in the
rear Of the battle-tields. The Sixth Carolina
was in the fight and Prof. Grier was among
the wounded, being shot in the leg below the
right knee, SO as to necessitate prompt ampu.
tation, and was carried to the rural improvis-
Ell hospital In an article In the Charleston,
IS, c. News of August q, 1882, describing
scenes and incidents of the battle, written by
Prot. Grler on request, q copy OF which he sent
Major Simonton, he said:
| when we awoke fully to consciousness our
eyes opened upon n pitiable sight. 1t was
about midnight. The light OF single candle
threw ghasty glare over room In which
lay fifteen persons, not one OF whom could
clans all gone, the nurses skulking and en-
tirely out Of reach, except an Albanian who
was TOO tInid to leave the house.
| 1.-The truth which, strange rs 1t may seem,
we had never suspected began TO dawn on US,
| that our army had gone and left us to the care
Of the advancing enemy. Asolitary cavalry
man struggling in, the very last OF our army.
was eagerly questioned and fully confirmed
our rising fears. The mental experience ol
the next few hours, though still living and
vivid memory, can never be translated into
human speech. \ sense Of loneliness. minis
tered to by surrounding darkness. a feeling o
utter helplessness, coupled with apprchen
sions OF cruelty and ill-treatment, crowded
with evil spcctrcs the warm imagination of q
youth not yet out of his teens. The pain o
the amputated limb was forgotten in deer
anxiety and forebodings. Hence it was with
something OF welcome that we heard the
steady tramp of McClellan's splendid army as
IL approached early in the day. II was Il re.
lief To an agonizing suspense, relief which
took on a positive character Of real pleasure
when the dreaded enemy not only expressed
his sympathy for us, but gave the most sub
stantal evidences Of his good Will. His hav
ersack and canteen were placed at our dispo
sal without stint.
ave well remember little act OF kindness
which was so delicately done and which was
so free and cordial that 1t touched us like &
memory OF home and Il message from loved
ones: AS the army passed on there gathered
of curious hey
with innumerable questions, rs was natural
l One OF those visitors who, however, simply
looked on US and said but little, was a colo
mel. Just before leaving the room he ap
preached me, spoke IL few hurried words full
of Kindness and claSped my hand to bid me
goodbye. AS he did so he left in my open
palm quite neat sum of gold and silver
He was gone before could thank him. That
was Colonel Smonton, OF the Forty-third
Pennsylvania, from Lancaster, the home o
Thaddeus stephens, at that time conspicu'
Gus figure In politics."
Prof. Grier evidently had been misin formed
as 10 Mr.. Simonton's residence and regiment
for as the sequel showed 1t was MnJor Simon
ton. OF Clarksville, Of the 5I1h Pennsylvania
Volunteers. But such II mi stake was very
easily made in such q hurried scene. IT was q
generous deed. in truth, for like the widows
mite it was his all, was given to foeman and
n total stranger, with a free hand and without
u hope OF reward.
The Southern soldier never forgot the Penn.
sylvanan'S act and since the war, whenever
opportunity offered, has made inquiry about
him, In the hope OF learning, his identity
Among other places in which he made this
inquiry was at different Assemblies of the U
p. Church. and finally. In 1856 at tho General
Assembly held at Hamilton Ohio, his inqui
ries were answered. Rev. Mr.. Grier preached
one of the sermons on that occasion, and al
its close the question was asked whether any
delegate knew a Col. SimOntOn, of Western
/, PENNSYLVANIA. Mr. John RGSs, OF Pymatun
ing township, this county, was o1e of the del
cgates, and responded that he knew Major
: Simonton, OF the 57th Pennsylvania Volun
teers. and gave his address. Mr.. Grier at once
cumstances OF the incident ON the battle field
and, to his joy, from that gcntleman's reply
found that Mr.. Simonton was the benefactoI
for whom he had been searching nearly 6
lquarter of q century.
Prof GrIers letter in reply is interesting
It relates to the incident and contains Other
Interesting details. 1t is as follows:
ERsK1NE COLLEGE, DUE WEST. S. c.,
> December 2Sth, 1856.
NV Dear, Kind Friend:-Your letter of the
3Oth ult. came duly to hand. but my work was
such just at that time that could not reply
at once as desired to do. / think / am the
very man you so kindly helped in his time o.
need. The circumstances are all vividly i'm
pressed on my mind. can never forget the
kind face and the kind act Of so generous n
foe. bout the year 1852 the principal daily
paper in this Slate asked me to furnish a
short sketch OF some OF my war experiences
| chose Williamsburg as my subject and was
glad OF an opportunity to put on record your
kindness. send you q copy OF the paper
giving brief statement Of the matter
While you will notice number OF inaccura.
cics In the account given, YOU will see that
you are the man / am aiming at.
l was member Of the 9th S. c. Regiment
was quite youthful In appearance and was Sc
verely wounded, having my leg amputaicd
The fact that you have the name OF the man
who visited me, that you were an officer, an
officer Of a Pen nsylvania Regiment. max cs 1t
certain, / think, that you are the party who
came to my rescue. II seems to me like a
dream that in very deed 1 should again be
brought into communication with the friend
Of "a years ago-the interview so short yet So
delightful and so indelibly stamped on my
memory. My wound was OF so serious a char.
acter that as soon as reached the Confodcr-
ate lines was discharged. williamsburg
was nv first and last battle. Since then
have followed the peaceful avocatlon OF a
minister and teacher.
have n wife and seven living children, four
daughters and three sons. One of my dnnSh.
i ters our oldest child, has recently married q
minister OF Charlotte, n. T.. We are living In
a quiet, rural village, devoted mainly to cdu.
cationnl interests.
Now, desire in closing to say that {; trip
lSouth will do you good. 1t will do US good &c
see YOU Don't debate the matter; Just re.
4 solve at once and write mel when you will
come and will send you a "waybill" so that
4 YOU cnn Mt get lost, aud | pehgc myself fol