Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-14

knots and groups; sometimes it was general, as
some absorbing, topic OF common interest,"
S was introduced and several o OF ,b tine
it ceased altogether all hardened to the mar
ration Of some thrilling incident OF battle, or
paid the tribute OF silence to the mention OF the
gallant dead.
At length, from the darkened shadows Of the
QUITE: circle, u tall and comm handing figure arose.
commenced to speak Martin recognized Col.
Marshall. In SPIT Of The young fellows prem.
Dice, he could not help thrill Of admiration AZ
the veterans soldierly bearing, his intelligent,
aristocratic old face, the resembling voice that
ton.
answering new roll call. Their ranks on earth
are thinning faster than ever before. shot ana
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 and bled and fell beside US IN
the conflict of twenty odd years gone by.
MANY of us are united by ties antedating the
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 college in the town where was born. some
of US were already nearing thirty. Many had
just attained their majority: Even in the pre-
with patriotic zeal, came forward to enlist, and
then returned to school crestfallen at being dis
qualified by lack OF years.
major of the regiment. A few who are here TO-
night will remember him as one OF those huml-
iated boys. But Jack wa: MOTTO be daonte9 I'm IN
Union. He forsook school and plunged, heart
and soul. into the study OF medicine. In less
than year he came down to the battle front as
assistant surgeon.
You know how he worked in the field, as
brave and co oil any soldier In the corps, CIV
ing food and drink to the wounded and carrying
them to places OF safety, with bullets whiZzlng
and shells bursting about him. You Inoer
now he stepped into the ranks the day he was
i 20 liant tenn ~
captain and major. But on don't know that he
might have been your colonel and remained
where was beneath him. il he hadn't told lot
of stuff about me when Law sick IN the hospital
after we made that last desperate charge at
Chattanooga, magnifving my part in the victory
and ignoring his own heroic action, ana INSIST
ing on nv being promoted over his head.
F'Some OF you know what happened AFTER
wards: how he came out of the army IN feeble
health. and tried &c take up the practice OF his
profession when neither mind nor body was
able TO sustain the effort. 1t was like Maj.
Sherwood when he found himself broken
down man, when he saw no future before him
exec as a physical wreck, an incum brance, 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 couldn't give him up. There is not
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 HIM. When
California was designated as the meeting place
of the Grand Army this year, advancing age ana
business cares weighed SO heavily upon me that
l
that received caused m to change my mind. l
came out here to find Jack Sherwood"
The coloneIs speech had all along been de-
livere in peculiarly jerky and abrupt fashion.
AS he neared the close he seemed to have diff
Guilty in framing what he wished to say. His
ringing utterances, designed fol the ears of the
assembled company Of veterans, were inter-
spersed with low speeches of 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 up, But it was only by a subterfuge
/ got him here tonight. (So, don't let you
go so easy, old fellow.) And 1 know there's
not man here ooh, yes, III except you.) who
will not rejoice to meet once more the most gal
liant, unselfsh mo, you dom. choke me off
nov. y modest hero that the Pennsylvania --
ever numbered among her officers"
The coloners voice was raised to a shout with
his last words.
"Quick, there! Strike light! Head him off!
He's making for the door! Lock it'll He'll get
away from US yet!'
dozen lights were struck. The chandeliers
flashed up o blaze of illumination. There was
q cry:
''Hurrah for the major!''
Martin, eager as the rest, mounted chair, SO
that he out topped the tallest veteran.
And what did he see?
TO BE CONTINUED.