Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-05
STRANGE BATTLE SCENE.
Where General ToOmbS Encountered tn
Son of Daniel Webster.

STRANGE BATTLE SCENE.
Where General Toombs Encountered tn
Son of Daniel Webster.
The battle was on, and the blue an
the gray were at each others Threats.
1t was at Gainesville, and the FEEDER
ais we're getting the worst of the fight.
The heat of an August sun bea
fiercely down upon the long lines of gilt
tering steel melting away in the fierc
heat of war.
On the right the earth trembled unde
laundering hosts of charging cavalry; o.
the left the men in blue heard thei
bones crash under the leaden rain lill
glass in hail-storm.
Over all rose the sulphurous cloud
belched forth by the deep-throated gun
whose terrible roar shook the rock
ribbed hills.
As the ranks Of blue, shattered ant
shaken by the shower of shot and shell
slowly rolled back, Federal Colone
waved his sword over his head in tn,
vain attempt to rally his men, and the1
staggered and fell on the blood-staineC
| grass.
The fallen officer was man of strik
ing appearance. His grand face ant
| form caught the attention of the rush
ing legions of gray, and the men uncon
sciously swerved aside to avoid tramp
ling him down.
Desperately wounded, the Colonel
! painfully crawled to tree, and reclined
against it with the life-current flowing
from the bullet-hole in his breast.
His anxious eyes looked into the stern
faces of the Confederates as they charged
past him.
In another moment his face bright.
ened.
Bob" he shouted, bob, don't you
know me?"
General Toombs, riding at the head of
his brigade, heard the familiar voice.
lie rode up to the tree, and glanced at
the speaker.
Good Godr' exclaimed the General,
cit is Fletcher Webster, Daniel Web
ster's son.
In an instant Toombs was l1neeling by
the ColOnel's side. He placed the help
less man in more comfortable position,
and gave him water from canteen.
He is my old FRIEND" he said to a
staff officer, poor Fletch Webster
Daniel Webster's son-stay here with
him-I must go on to the front"
General TOombs mounted his horse,
and charged on with his brigade to an
initiate the rest of Webster's regiment
The first lull in the fray brought the
Georgian back to the tree.
And so we meet as enemies" said
Webster, returning the others sypa-
thetic hand pressure.
Never replied Toombs. Daniels
son must be my friend Just now we
must light out our differences, but there
are happier days ahead for us both
MY wound is mortal, said Webster,
sadly. God bless you, old friend, for
your kindness. Gentlemen, / thank
you. War is bad thing"
Again the General took leave of the
sufferer, and returned to the front, leav.
ing a surgeon behind him.
The Confederates cared for their cap
tive with brotherly tenderness, but II
was of no avail.
Weaker grew the dying mans pulse,
and more fitful his heart throbs. Quiet
ly, and with smile on his face, he pass
ed away. He whispered message for
his loved ones, and said:
Tell Bob l loved him-God bless
him.
Fletcher Webster was dead-the hope
and glory of a proud father-the ideal
soldier of New EnglaRd-this was his
end-dead on the battlefield with the
sorrowful faces of his foeman bending
over him.
"A true man, and brave soldier"
said General Toombs that night, as he
wiped away tear. Let Us send him
through the lines with the honors of
war"
1t was done. Fletcher Webster's
dead body was sent with an escort to
the Federal camp A funeral cortege
accompanied it to Boston. 1t Law in
state in old Faneuil Hall, and all New
England mourned his loss. Wallace p.
Reed, in Atlanta Constitution.