The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-21
Fletcher Webster's Death.


Inc battle was on. and the blue and
4 ene gray were at each others throats
II was at Gainesville, and the FEEDER.
as were getting the worst of the
nght. The heat of an August sun
peat fierceIy down into the long lines
fW giittering steel melting away in
we mercer heat OF war. On the right
we earth trembIed under laundering
eos's OF charging cavalry on the
'e1 the men in blue heard their bones
crash under the leaden rain like glass
~ nailstOrm. Oyer all rose the
Isuphurous clouds helched forth by
tne deep-thrOated guns whose terri
PIE roar shook the rock ribbed hills.
AS the ranks of blue, shattered and
shaken 10y the shower of shot and
Eshell. slowly rolled back. a Federal
u :. yonel wAVed his sWord over his
Mai IN tine vain attempt Is rasly 4 Z;
men, and then staggered and fell on
the blood stained grass. The fallen
officer was a man of striking appear
ance. His grand face and form caught
the attention of the rushing legiOns
of gray, and the men unc0nSciously
sWerved aside to avoid trampling
him down. Desperately wounded,
the colonel painfully crawIed to a
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 Con.
tederates as they charged on past
him. In another moment his face
frightened.
Bob! !" he shouted, Bob, don't
you know me? ?'
General Tooms, riding at the head
of his brigade. heard the familiar
voice. He rode up to the tree and
glanced at the speaker.
GOOD God !" exclaimed the Gen
eral. "it is Fletcher Webster Daniel
Webster's son ?''
In an instant Toombs was kneeling
by the colonel's side. He placed the
helpless man in more comfortable
position, and gave him water from a
canteen.
"He is my old friend" he said to
staff officer; "pOOr Fetch Webster
Daniel Webster's son-~tay here with
him-I must go on to the 'front.'"
General TOOmbs mounted his horse
and charged on with his brigade to
annihilate the rest of Websicr's regi-
lpent.
TIE first luIl in the fray brought
the Georgian back u the tree.
"And so we meet as enemies, ,"said
Webster, returning the others sym
pathetic had pressure.
Never !" replied Toombs. "Dan-
iel'S son must always be my friend.
Just now we must fight out our DIFF.
ferences, but there are happier days
ahead for US BOTH"
"My wound is MORTAL" said Web
ster. sadly. "God bless you, Old
friend. for yoar kindness. Gentle
men, l thank you. War is a bad
thing"
Again the general took leave of the
sufferer and returned to the front,
leaving a surgeon behind him.
The Confederates cared for their
captive with brotherly tenderness,
but it was of no avail.
Weaker grew the dying man,
pulse and more fitful his heart throbs.
Quietly, and with a smile he, passed
away. He whispered message TO
his loved ones. and said:
"Tell Bob I loved him-G0d bless
him ~
Fletcher Webster was dead-the
hope and glory of a proud father
the ideal soldier OF New England
this was his end-dead on the battle
field with the sorrOwfui faces of his
foemen 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 hon.
ofs 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 lay In
state in old Faneuil Hall. and all
New England mourned his loss.
War is a bad thing!