Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-10

knots and groups; sometimes it was general, as
some absorbing topic of common interest
was introduced, and several OF the
brightest speakers took the floor. Now and then
it ceased altogether as all hardened to the mar
ration Of some thrilling incident Of battle, or
paid the tribute Of silence to the mention OF the
AT length. from the darkened shadows of the
outeI circle, o tall and comm anding figure arose.
The freight fell full on his face, and before he
commenced to speak Martin recognized Col.
Marshall. In spi OF the young fellows preiu-
dice, he could not help thrill OF admiration at
the veterans soldierly bearing. his Intelligent,
aristocratic old face, the resounding voice that
penetrated the hall, commanding instant atten-
ton.
Comrades, the vete. ans OF the rebellion are
answering new roll call. Their ranks on earth
are thinning faster than ever before shot and
shell. Each year that we come together we miss
familiar faces.
advancing years only serve to strengthen the
ties that bind Us together, and the memory OF
those who fought AMI bled and fell beside us IN
the conflict Of twenty odd years gone by; ~.
commencement of the great struggle. The COM
pany in which enlisted. at the breaking out of
the war. Was largely recruited from the students
of a college in the town where was born. Some
=of were already nearing thirty. Many had
just attained their majority. Even in the pre-
paratory department, half-grown laos, hred
with patriotic zeal, came forward to enlist, and
then returned to school cTestfallen at being dis
qualified by lack of years.
You all remember Jack Sherwood, the
major OF the regiment. A few who are here to-
night will remember him as one OF those humli-
iaied boys. But Jack was mott to be dnunted IN
his resolve to fight for the preservation of the
Union. He forsook school ana plunged, heart
and soul, into the study OF medicine. In less
than year he came down to the battle front as
assistant surgeon.
s.You know how he worked in the field, as
brave and DOL as any soldier In the corps, CIV
ing food and drink to the wounded and carrying
them 10 places of safety, with bullets whining
q nd shells bursting about him. You remember
how he stepped into the ranks the day he was
eighteen, and rose by degrees to heutena1t,
captain and major. But you don't know that he
might have been your colonel and remained
Where was beneath him, - he hadn't told lot
of stuff about me when Law sick in the hospital
alter we made that last desperate charge at
Chattanooga, magnifving my part in the victory
and ignoring his own heroic action, and insist
ing on nv neing promoted over his he ld.
''Some o! you know what happened after
wards; how he came out OF the army in feeble
health, and tried to take up the practice OF ms
pr. fession when neither mind nor body was
able 10 sustain the effCr5. It was like Maj.
Sherwood, when he found himself broken
down man, when he saw no future before HIM
exec IS a ply sical wreck, an incumbgance, as
he thought to family and friends. to steal away
from those VITO would have found their best
happiness in caring for him. There were some
of us who coul int give him up. There Is not a
state in the Union, there is scarcely town OF
any size where some of US, at one time or an
other, have not made inquiries for MN. When
California was DESIGNATED as the meeting place
of the Grand Army lis year, 2dvanc n : age ana
business cares weighed so heavily upon me that
] thought could not come. one Gay a lelJer
that ! received caused m to change my mind
came out here to find Jack Sherwood
the colonel's speech had all along been de-
livere in a peculiarly jerky and abrupt fashion.
AS he reared the close he seemed to have dlti-
Guilty in framing what he wished to say. His
ringing utterances, designed fol- the ears OF the
assembled COMPANY os veterans, were inter-
spersed with low speeches OF a mysterious char
acter.
~ ran him TO the ground at last, and when he
found he couldn't get away, he (Be still, can't
you'll gave IN. But it was only by su bterfuge
/ got him here tonight. GO, don't let you
go so easy. old fellow.) And l know there's
not man here ooh, yes, I'll except you.) who
will not rejoice to meet once more the most gal.
liant, uuseliish mo, you don't choke me off
nov. modest hero that the Pennsylvania ---
ever numbered among her officers
The colonel's voice was raised to shout with
his last words.
He's making for the door! Lock it! He'll get
away from yet!''
dozen lights were struck. The chandeliers
flashed up blaze of Illumination. There was
a cry:
"Hurrah for the major!"
Martin, eager the rest. mounted chair, so
that he out-topped the tallest veteran.
And what did he see?
ITO Re CONTINUED,