Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-12
A STRANGE BATTLE SCENE.

lhS "cIldll lIcAL uOOf SO
A STRANGE BATTLE SCENE.
Where General Toombs Encountered the
SON of DANIEL Webster in Bloody
Fight.
The battle was on. and the blue and the
grey were at each others throats
1t was at Gainesville. and the Federals
were getting the worst of the fight.
The heat of al August sun beat fercely
down upon the long lines of glittering
steel melting away In the fierce heat OF
the war.
On the right the earth trembled under
laundering hosts of charging cavalry; on
the left the men in blue heard their bones
crash under the leaden rain like glass In a
hail-storm.
Over all the sulphurous clouds belched
forth by the deep-throated guns whose
terrible roar shook the rockribbed hills.
As the ranks of the blue. shattered and
shaken by the shower of shot and shells,
slowly rolled back, a 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 legions
OF grey, and the men unconsclOusly
swerved aside to avoid tramping him
down
Desperately wounded the colonel pain
fully crawled to a tree, and he 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 bri ghtened
bob" 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 at
the speaker.
Good Godr' exclaimed the General.
lit 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-stay here with him
must 60 on 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 sympa-
thetic hand pressure.
"Never!" replied Toombs, Daniel s
son must be my friend. Just now we
must fight out our differences, but there
are happier days ahead for us BOTH
MY wound is mortal" said Webster.
sadly. God bless you. old friend, fer
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 confederates cared for their captive
with brotherly tenderness, but it was of
no avail
Weaker grew the dying mans pulse,
and more ftful his heart throbs. Quietly,
and with a smile on his face, he passed
away. He whispered a message for his
loved ones. and said:
Tell Bob loved him-God 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 battlefield with the sor-
rowful 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 honors of war;"
1t was done. Fletcher Webster's dead
body was sent with an escort to the Fed
eral camp. A funeral cortege accompan-
led it to Boston. 1t lay in state in old
Faneuil Hall, and all New England
mourned his loss.-Wallace P. Reed, in
Atlanta Constitution.