The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-23
AFTER TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS.
Blue and Gray Soldiers Renewing an Ac-
quaintance Begun in Il Fled Hospital.
fGreenville News. !

The register OF the Exchange HotrI
on Monday had the name of IS. G.
Simonton, Clark" inscribed on it.
The average person looking over the
register would pass the name as one Oi
thousands that are annually written
on hotel books, but with Colonel Sim
onions trip to the South is connected
a romance Of the war of secession. a
story Of friendship established during
dangerous moments and lost to mind
temporarily, but years aftcrwarl re-
vived more firmly than ever and
made the means Of q happy reunion OF
men who once wore respectively the
blue and the grey.
Colonel Simonton was in the city
four hours and left on the Columbia
and Greenville Railroad for Due West
where, before now, he has met the OBJ
ject of his visit to the South, and is no
doubt the recipient of the true and
generous hospitality of a warm South.
ern heart.
The story dates back to the battle of
Williamsburg, in 1S62. In the 9th
South Carolina regiment was w. NJ.
Grier, a soldier boy of eighteen. He is
now DIR. W. NJ. Grier, president of
Erskine College, Due West, and one of
the most eminent scholars in the State.
The Confederate army retreated from
the battle field of Williamsburg and
left many Of its dead and wounded
upon the field. Among the wounded
was the Confederate soldier whose
name is mentioned in connection with
the story. 4 bullet had pierced his
leg and the Federal ambulance CORPS
removed him to farm house close bv,
to die or recover as the Commander of
all Battles should decide. The leg was
amputated and while suffering untold
agony and with none but strangers
and foes to comfort him, one generous
and noble hearted Federal soldier gave
him comfort and cheer. That soldier
was Major S. G. Simonton, afterward
Colonel Simonton, ofthe 57h Pennsyl-
vanla Regiment, Jamison's Brigade,
Phil kerney's division. Colonel Sim
onton and his regiment had partici-
pated in the battle, and CHANGING to
pass by the farm house and stop in,
the Colonel met the Confederate soldier
boy and was drawn to him at once.
The two had conversation of ten
minutes duration, in which the
thoughts of war were laid aside and a
mutual feeling Of brotherly love and
sympathy vas at once implanted in
the hearts ofeach. The Federal officer
fingered as long as duty would allow
and after finding that his Confederate
friend was without resources to provide
comfort until he would be able to
leave the hospital and prison, towhich
he would be taken, took from bis
purse all the gold and silver he pos.
sessed and generously offered it to the
wounded foe. The offer was declined
but Colonel Simonton insisted, and on
bidding goodbye forced the soldier boy
to take it saying ''you will need it be-
fore you are released from the Federal
prisons"
The deed was truly noble one and
the impression made was lasting
Every year since that occurrence DR.
G-ier has made efforts to again see hi;
benelactor, but the war separated the
two in widely different sections, the
Federal Colonel going back to Pennsyl
vania and the Confederate soldier re-
turning to his native State. DR.. Griel
was untiring in his efforts, however
and a few months ago discovered the
residence Of Colonel Simonten and
communicated with him, asking hin,
to pay him 4 long visit and let the
events of the past be discussed in
friendliness and happiness and in q
reunited country.
The meeting Of the two was not
seen by the reporter who gathered the
facts of this story, but it can be
painted without thought of exaggera
ton as being happy one.