The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-06-14
a War Enisoda.


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 worst of the fight, writes
Wallace P. Reed. The heat of an August
sun beat fiercely down upon the long
lines of glittering steel melting away in
the fercer heat of war. On the right the
earth trembled under thunderlng hosts of
charging cavalry, on the left the men in
blue heard their bones crash under the
leaden rain like glass in a hallstorm.
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, Federal colonel
waved his sword over his head in the vain
attempt to rally his men, and then
staggered and fell on the blood stained
grass The fallen officer was man of
striking appearance. His grand face and
form caught the attention of the rushing
lcgions of gray, and the men unconscious
II sweived aside to avoid tramplIng him
down. Desperately wounded, the colonel
painfully crawled to a tree, and reclined
against it with the life current flowing
from the bullet hole IN bis breast. His
anxious eyes looked into the stern faces
of the Confederates as they charged on
past him. In another moment his face
frightened.
.sBobr' he shouted, "Bob, don't you
know me?'
General Toombs, riding at the head Of
his brigade, heard the familiar voice. He
rode up to the tree, and glanced ut the
speaker.
"Good Godl' exclaimed the general.
sit is Fletcher Webster Daniel Webster 5
son!'
In an instant Toombs was kneeling by
the colonel's side. He placed tie help
less man in mole comfortable position,
and gave him water from canteen.
HE is my old FRIEND" he said 20 a
staff officer, "poor Fetch Webster--Danlel
Webster's son--stay here with him-l
must go to the 'front.'"
General Toombs mounted his horse, and
charged on with his brigade to annihilate
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 sympath
etic hand pressure,
"Neverl" replied Toombs. Daniel.
son must always he my friend. Just now
we must fight out our differences, bu
there are happier days ahead for both
s.My wound is mortal,' said Webster
sadly. "Ged bless you, old friend, fol
your kindness. Gentlemen, I thank you
War Is bad thing"
Again the general took leave of the
sufferer and returned to the front, leaving
surgeon behind him.
The Confedsrates cared for their captive
with brotherly tenderness, but 1t was ol
no avail.
Weaker grew the dying mans pulse
and more fitiul his heat throbs. Quick
ly, and with smile ON bis face, he passeC
away. He whispered "a message for hi:
loved ones, and said:
"Tell Bob I loved him-God bles:
himp'
Fletcher Webster was dead-the hope
and glsry of a proud faiher-the idea
soldier of New England-tbis was hi:
end-dead ON the battle field with the
wful faces of his foemen bending
over him.
IA true man and brave soldier" said
General Toombs that night as he wiped
away tear. "Let US send him through
the lines with the honols of war"
1t was done. Fletcher Webster's dead
body was sent with an escort to the Fed.
eral camp. A fuaeral cortege accompan.
led it to Boston. 1t lay in state in old
Faneuil. Hall, and all New England
mourned his loss.
War Is bad thing!