The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-08-20
Fletcher Webster's Death.
Society journal.

Society journal.
The battle was On, and the blue
and the gray were at each others
throats. 1t was at Gainesville, and
the Federals were getting the wosrt
Of the fight. The heat Of an August
sun beat fercely down upon the
long lines Of glittering steel melt
ing away in the fierce heat of war.
On the right the earth trembled un-
der laundering hosts of charging
cavalry; ON the left the men in blue
heard their bones crash under the
leaden rain like glass In a hailstorm.
Over all rose the sulphurous clouds
belched forth by the deep-throated
guns whose terrible roar shook the
rock-ribbed hills.
As the ranks of blue, shattered
and shaken by the shower Of shot
and shell, slowly rolled back, a Fed
eral colonel waved his sword over
his head in the vain attempt to rally
his men, and then staggard and fell
on the blood-stained grass. The
fallen officer was q man Of striking
appearance. His grand face and
form caught the attention of the
rushing legions of gray, and the
men unconsciously sweryed aside to
avoid trampling him down. Des-
perately wounded, the colonel PAIN
fully crawled to o tree, and reclined
against it with the life current flow-
ing from q bullet hole in his breast.
HIS anxious eyes looked into the
stern faces Of the Confederates as
they charged on past him. In an
other moment his face frightened.
"Bob!" he shouted, "Bob, don't
you know me?"
Gen. Toombs, riding at the head
of his brigade, heard the familiar
voice. Herode up to the tree aud
glanced at the speaker.
"Good God!" exclaimed the gen.
eral, ut Is Fletcher Webster Dan
iel Webster's son.
In an instant Toombs was kneel-
ing by the colonel's side. He placed
the helpless man in a more comfort
able position, and gave him water
from canteen. T.
"He is my old friend" he said TO
a staff officer; ''poor Fletcher Web
ster-Danlel Webster's son-stay
here with him-I must 10 on to the
front"
Gen. Toombs mounted his horse
and charged on with his brigade TO
snnihilate the rest Of Webster's re-
gment.
The first lull in the fray brought
the Georgian back to the tree.
"And so we meet as enemies,
said Webster, returning the Others
sympathetic hand pressure.
"Nsyer!" replied Toombs. "Dan.
iel's son must always be my friend
Just now we must fight for our diff.
ferences, but there are happier day
ahead for US both"
MY wound is mortal, i" said Web
ster. "God bless you, old friend
| for your kindness. Gentlemen,
thank yeu. War is q bad thing"
Again the general took leave oi
| the sufferer and returned 10 the from
leaving a surgeon behind him.
The Confederates cared for then
captive with brothsrly tenderness
but il was OF no avail. Weaker
grew the dying mans pulse and
more fitful his heart throbs. Quietly
and with smile he passed away
He whispered q message TO his loved
ones, and said:
"Tell Bob | loved him-6od bless
him."
Fletcher Webster was dead-th,
hope and glory OF . proud father
the ideal soldier Of New England =
this was his end--dead on the battle
field with the sorrowful faces Of hi
foemen bending over him.
"A true man and o brave soldier,
said Gen. 1oombs that night, a. ht
wiped away q tear. "Let Us sent
him through the lines with the hon
ors Of war"
IL was done. Fletcher Webster
dead body was send with an escor
10 the Federal camp. A funera
corssgs accompanied i TO Boston
| II Law in state in old Faneuil Hall
and All New England mourned hiI
loss. War il a bad thing!
a