Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-03-23
BY ''SONNIE"
10Th Virginia Infantry.

I
the banks OF the now historic
OpCQuOn a few miles north Twin
hester. 1t was my good for
tune to hear Lieutenant Deatcn Of
Ediuburg Grays call together three
of his gifted musical friends TO join
him in rendering a song, the priut.
ed copy of which had that day been
picked up in the road 10y Aldinc
| X Iffrr. The three "sons of song
who accepted his invitation we're
Kplffpr. OF Singers Glen (uow OF
| DsytoD) Gabr Shant, Of Harrison.
hnrg, and George SipP, OF Lacey
Springs: Krffer carrying the bass,
Shank the air, Sipe the alto, and
Hraton, the tenor. Most truly did
these "four strong men" find this
stray wait of song tobe rare gem
of musical composition, and its
words i mystic power to Call forth
the deepesr and purest sympathie~
of the heart. | Am persuaded OF
the fac. that the singing of tha'
song had life long influence for
good over the souls OF every one
who heard 1t that day "with the
spirit and the understanding :" at
any rate I can speak for myself and
for Aldiue Keiffer who has lately
sent me a copy OF the song, and
gives this testimony OF his estimate
of its worth by saying, 81 took
charge OF il that day, and | belieye
God or der, Il thar | shoul1 preserve
1t. and pass II down The lac! |
have done so by printing 1t a
million or more times (in bis
Musical MiHion) and sending it as
Courier to headquarters. The
Great Captain, whose eye rests
upon all and who is over all, will
continue to guard, gulGe aud di'
rect it on it's mission, until we enter
the Great Encampment where the
camp. fires of God burn on the ever.
astiug hills So mote it be :"
AS to its impression upon my
own "betterpart," l can truthfnlly
say that the memory Of its mosic
has been a continual blessing to
me. Beng at that time only II
year. and a few days old. L could
feel no "fellowship of suffering
with the unknown poet; but such
was the suggesllveDess OF the
melody that the aforementioned
words have seemed 20 be offering
their holy consultations to me- IN
every trial of life since that day!
And as to Lieutenant HeatOn's in
debtedness to its calmatiYe and
supporting power, it pleases me to
believe that from that day to the
fatal is at. when he fell dead, shot
through the templeS,it had It's miss
lonaLd fulfilled Fin recOncilIDg him
TO his early departure from this
world Of strife to meet again the
larger portion of bis loved ones in
the peaceful haven where glorious
anthems OF praise" would succeed
the "earthly pain" OF which his
heart was "weaay." aud which kept
his weary spirit hoping for the
endw AS he lived-sOhe died-S
Christian Soldier !
AS a proof that "the bravest are
the tenderest," and that a pnre
love of music is no indication of a
craven spirit, must record my
testimony as to the devoted patrio-
tism of Shank and Kelffer. The
former was our cOlOr-hearer from
fredericksburg in 1868 10 the
Wilderness IN 1864 where be fell
mortaIIy wounded within a few
miles of the spot where his beloved
leader, jackson, was shot down
the year before.
Kelffer was O volunteer color.
guard at the tine of bis capture at
Spottsylvania Court House, and
shared the prison life OF Fort Della.
ware with GraysoD, Bell and Crisp.
Col. Slpe is still living, and he and
Keiffer got through the war with
ont a wound, if lam not mistaken.
append the words Of the song
for the qualification of my old com.
rAdes, and for the pious study Of
the wearyhearted among your
readers.
WHEN THE SHADES or EvEtMG.
When the shades of evening
Gather 'round my door,
Bringing thoughts Of loved ones
l shall see no more:
Silently l ponder,
Musing on the dead,
Thinking Of the loved ones
Now forever fed