Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-11-05
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A WAR EPISODE.
The joyful Meeting of an Old Farmer an
His Soldier Son.

~AsS SSysh "obtiuH Oh IN olu FHFmer ana
His Soldier Son.
In the fall of 1865 was instructed by
the house for which was working to
go to the B. fair and assist green
agent to fit up and exhibit our ma
chinery. / had served three years, and
got my discharge the fall before, and in
the spring secured an engagement with
q well-known agricultural implement
mandatory in an adjacent county.
found could reach B. the day
received orders, by stopping at sta
tion four miles distant and getting
conveyance across; whereas, If l went
all the way by rail could not reach
there till next day. But when arrived
at this solitary station there was no
conveyance to be had, and 1 started
afoot, about two o'clock. The day was
hot and the road dusty, and by the time
had made two miles was ready to
seek shade and rest which found in
little grove surrounding a school
house.
While sitting on log, tanning my
self. and wishing for horse and buggy,
a farm wagon drawn by team Of
horses loomed up on the hill 1 had just
climbed and descended. An old farmer
was driving, and beside him sat a little
boy, four or five years old. On a rear
seat was the farmers wife and young
woman of perhaps twenty-five. The
farmer drew up his horses when oppo-
site to my perch and said:
"0oin' to town?" i -.
"Yes, sir" replied.
"Get in an ride"
lost no time in thanking him and
accepting. The farmer made room for
me on the front seat introduced N.Y.
self at once and made my business
known.
"Did you say your name was ThalerP'
said the farmer.
"Yes, John c. Thaler," I replied.
Wasn't you orderly sargent in COM
pany d, of the 2lst?"
Eyes, sir. My time was out last fall"
''Then you knowed my son, James
Graves?" said the old man, in a tremu-
lous tone.
glanced at him. His face was SER
sous His wife, who sat behind him,
looked ut me with kind of strained,
piteous expectancy, while the young
woman sat still, pale and with resign
ed or hopeless look shall never forget
20, yes" said. AZ knew him we'll
He was a brave and noble young man.
Has he returned?"
That's just it," said Mr.. Graves. "He
re-enlisted, suppose you know, and
last winter he was sent out on a forag-
ing expedition, and never returned"
Have you never heard from him
since?"
NOT a a word. The regiment came
home month ago, and no word from
him get. The officers thought he might
be captured by some gueryillas and
would be released at the close of the
war. We've kept up in hopes that this
world prove true, butEe've about given
up"
Twas about to reply encouragingly,
when horse and buggy containing
two men drove by in L cloud of dust |
just caught n glimpse of pale young
man in the brggy, and his face strucl,
me as familiGr, and he was in soldiers
dress.
Hold onT7 i shouted, and could, sec
shat the buggy stopped.
please wait a moment" said So
want to speak to one of those men"
went bsck and found that the male
young man was reIlly James Graves
on his way ihome from b. j tpeeo
not describe the meeting of fsther
cnother, wiie and >son with one whom
they had simost given up for dead 1,
was one of.the joyous episodes OF the
war-one among Ihousand sad ones
Two days later visited the Graves
homestead, by invitation, and found 6
happy family indeed James had beer
under Gen Thomas, after Sherman left
for the sea,and in a foraging expedition
had been aapturedsEnd held as prisoner
until the war closed, a few month.
later. At that tine he was lying sicl
with fever. and wac not able to star
home. He had written as soon sas hs
was able 'sc sit up, hut the postal serv
ice was badly demnralized and tke let
ter never 1cached its destination. Jane.
is still living on the old homestead, with
his wife and son and daughter. The
little boy who sat in the seat with me tha,
memorable day is -cuccessful merchan,
rin western city, and daughter is the
wife of a prominent lawyer at the shire
town of his'native ceunty.-J. C Thalel
:n Ohio Farmer.