Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-11-30

us line was Dauly broken and, despite
its bravely resolute defense against the
well-ordered attack of the confederate
veterans, it was forced to fall back
Gordon's division was in motion at a
| double quick to seize and hold the van
tage ground in his front, from which
the opposing line had retreated when
he saw directly in his path the appar-
emily dead body Of a union officer He
checked his horse and then observed
from the motion Of the eyes and lips
that the officer was still living. He at
once dismounted, and seeing that the
head of his wounded foeman was lying
in depression in the ground placed
under it a nearby knapsack. While
raising him at the shoulders for that
purpose he saw that the blood was
triclling from a bullet hole in the back
and then knew that the officer had been
shot through the breast. He then gave
him drink from fiasl of brandy and
water, and as he revived said, bending
over him:
Il am very sorry to see you in this
condition. am Gen. Gordon. Please
tell me who you are wish to aid you
all ! can.
The answer came in feeble tones:
THANK you, general am Brig Gen.
Barlow. Of New York You can do
nothing more for me; l am dying"
Then, after a pause, he said: Yes,
you can il my wife is at the headquar-
battle please let her know that l died
doing my duty"
Gen. Gordon replied: Your message,
if live, shall surely be given to your
wife. Can 1 do nothing more for you?"
After a brief pause Gen. Barlow re-
sponded: MAY God bless you Only
one thing more. Feel in the breast
pocket of my coat-the left-and take
out packet of letters" AS Gen. Cor
don unbuttoned the blood-soaked coat
and took out the packet the seemingly
dying soldier said: Now please take
out one and read it to me. They are
from my wife. wish that her words
shall be the last hear in this world. !"
Resting on one knee at his side Gen.
Gordon, in clear tones, but with fearful
eyes, read the letter. 1t was the mis-
sive of noble woman TO her worthy
husband, whom she knew to be in daily
peril of his life. and with pious fervor
breathed prayer for his safety and
commended him to the care of the God
of battles AS the reading of the let
ter ended Gen. Barlow said: THANK
| you. Now please tear them all up.
would not have them read by others. :"
Gen. Gordon tore them into frag-
ments and scattered them on the field,
''shot sown and bladed thick with
steel" Then. pressing Gen. Barlow's
hand, Gen. Gordon babe him good-by,
and mounting his horse, quickly joined
| his command.
He hastily penned a note on the pom
mel of his saddle, giving Gen. Barlow's
message to his wife, but stated that he
was still living, though seriously
wounded, and informing her where he
| lay. Addressing the note to Mrs. Gen.
| Barlow at Gen. Meade's headquarters, ="
| he handed it to one of his staff and
told him to place white handkerchief
upon his sword and ride in gallop
| toward the enemy's line and deliver the
| note to Mrs. Barlow. The officer
promptly obeyed the orGer He was
not fired upon, and. on being met by a
union officer, who advanced, Sfor that
purpose. the note was received and
read, with the assurance that it should
be delivered instantly.
Let us turn from Gettysburg to the
capitol at Washington. where, eleven
years later, Gen. Gordon held with
honor, as now, seat as senator Of the
United States, and was preseI t at a
dinner party given by Orlando 2. Pot
ter, a representative in congress from
the state of New York. Upon Mr.. Fot-
ter's introducing him to gentleman
with the title Of Gen. Barlow, Gen.
Gordon remarked:
Are you relative Of Gen. Barlow,
a gallant soldier who was killed at Get
tysburg?"
The answer came: II am the Gen.
| Barlow who was killed at Gettysburg,
and you are Gen. Gordon. who succored
me-
The meeting was worthy IF two such
brave men-every inch American sol
diers