The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-23
1t does me as much

gOOu 10 see you Us IL Clu Wnen we run up
the old flag at Vicksburg. Thirty eight, come
here and shake hands with your Colonel
Hc knows you, sir, and NIL about
you, except some things you used to say
when the fight was hot; and when l see
you coming, says: Thirty eight, get into
line, mind your drill and salute your
Colonel like man and soldier And
didn't he just do it, eh?'
took the hand of the great-eyed, brave
boy In my own and watched him while he
intently studied my face. 90.
Now, Thirty eight, run on ahead and
tell them I'm coming back with our
Colonel You got to ration with me this
enc time, sir, If I carry you to my quarters.
I've wanted long to see you and I can't and
won't let you 60"
1t was on the evening of Memorial Day
that this meeting occurred 1 had visited
the town by invitation of the G. A. r., and
certain matter had written for the occa-
sion was read during the ceremonies After
dinner I had again stolled toward the
church-yard and it was just outside the
gate that encountered Sergeant Sam and
the boy.
Sam Single was about the bravest, most
reckless man in the old Thirty-eighth reg
iment - volunteers, which for three
years Of the late war I had the honor to
command
Brave they all were, but Sam was the
leader, and color-sergeant also, but he was
likewise the most troublesome man; in the
discharge of his duty none excelled him,
but his profanity was fearful, he would
drink to excess, and when drunk was q
demon.
During one Of our assaults upon Vicks-
burg, Lieutenant Sidney Foster, a slight,
1n1ir 1oAA g.
the enemy's works when we were driven
back and the gigantic color-sergeant had,
resigntng his flag for o time, rushed be-
tween cross fires, picked Foster up and car
ried him, as mother would q child, back
into safety. The act was 80 noble, so dar-
ing, that even the gallant foe, those who
could see 1t, cheered for the brave fellow
and exulted in seeing him succeed
But he was terribly wounded before
he did reach our lines, and shortly after re-
ceived his discharge for disability resulting
from wounds received in action. Together
with Foster, mustered out for the same rea-
son, he had gone to the Western home Of
the Lieutenant, and here it was l met him
on the occasion mentioned for the first
time since.
The boy had started ahead, az ordered,
though it was evident he would have glad
ly remained
Hes thoroughbred, Colonel-true blood
through and through, that boy is-and I'm
training him for q soldier, am. Sea how
he obeys orders? I tell you when Uncle
Sam gets Thirty eight Foster for soldier,
old glory won't wave over a better or
drawer one"
Then that is the son of your great friend,
Lieutenant Foster, isit?'
That's his son, sir, and hcr's''
looked more closely than ever at Sam
how his voice trembled as he spoke the last
word How changed he was There was
no trace of tho old riotous living, no touch
or hint of profanity in his language; not .
faint of the beast about him.
WAITED patiently for developments
why do you call that hne little fellow
Thirty -eight?'" asked.
Sam laughed. well, you see, Colonel,
right after he came here took tho old fig
ures off my old cap and polishes 'em up and
put EN- onto a little blue cap that the
mother made for him. You never see any
thing or anybody SO tickled in your life as
he was, and he ulster cry for that cap, and
then put his hand up to make folks see them
hgures-snd 50 we got to calling him
Thirty eight and he knows that name
best and is best known by that name, and,
don't you fear, Colonel, he don't nowise,
noway disgrace the old Thirty eight, he
don't; h" never picks a fight, but he fights