The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-24
OLD FOES NOW COMRADES.
A Wan who Fell Among Friends Mt
Either End of the Line.

4 Watrous in Chicago Times-Herald. I
young German, William Borscht. en-
listed in the navy at the beginning of the
war. The officer who took his name under
stood him to say William Boston. 1t was
so entered. So it was on descriptive lists,
on pay rolls; so with his shipmates and
o-bers-William Boston. Not long after
the war ended he enlisted in the regular
army. Having had poor success with his
name the first time he concluded to take
"a new one. Throughout his entire service
in the regular army he was known as W.
D. Stewart At the end of six years he re-
tired with a clear record. He settled in
Texas, married, bought d little farm and
has lived there ever since. A few years
ago. at the end of a prolonged sickness,
H. found himself so broken that he was no
LONGER able-to do hard work, such as ne
had always done, and such as was neces-
sary 10 care for large family. HIS VIE
and older children became earners, and
after fashion they got along.
Years "a go he applied for a pension. The
change of names came up in the war de
partment to trouble him. His agent could
procure testimony that showed his name
20 be Borscht before the war, but could
not get evidence TO clearly establish that
Eorscht through the war was Boston.
The change from Boston TO Stewart was
not a difficult thing to overcome. Last
summer the claim was rejected. The poor
fellow who had fought, and bravely, for
f1ur wears had served his country six
years in the regular army, portion OF the
lime lighting Indians, was thoroughly dis
Outraged and nearly heart-broken. In his
Gloom and distress he remembered that
one of his comrades on the gunboat upon
which he served resided in MILWAUKEE,.
That cOmrade knew his name before they
enlisted and understood the circumstances
under which il became Boston He wrote
him and received prompt reply, telling
him TO come at once: that he could and
gladly would help him out. The MilWau-
kee mans name is Joseph Duke, Tor many
years a well-knoWn citizen. II ne coulu
visit Milwaukee and be identihed so as 10
clear up the name blunder the pension
would soon come. How he needed III now
his aging hardworked wife and his emil
dren needed it, He had no money win
Ns-l7icb tn nav his fare from Texas to Mil
Waukee and return. rms TACT Decdile
known to one of mis- neighbOrs.
Among all of the ncighborS there was
not one who was not an eX-contederate
soldier or the son or daughter OF an eN-
confederate. one OF these nelSnporS,
learning the situation, interested hlmseIL
i'm raising the required money. In a snort
time il was ready. The fact that they
had fought on opposite side did not count.
They were soldiers; Stewart was a soldier
and in distress. Soldiership, age, even
comradeship, brought blue and gray shoui-
der 10 shoulder, heart to heart. His own
ehipmates could not have been mare pleas
ed than those old cOnfederaIeS When lney
placed in Stewards hands the help that
would take him to his northern friend
help him to a pension he had earned Whlle
lighting them-aiding in wrecking their
What better evidence of reconciliation
on the way to Milwaukee Stewart was
taken sick at St. Louis. That was eXpen-
sive He was still sick man When ne
reached the Cream City. Duke recoS-
nized him before he spoke, gave me nee.
essary evidence, and kindly nurSed MN at
his own home until he was ready 10 re-
turn. Sickness at st. Louis had consumed
the precious confederate greenpac .,
Il must start for home in the morning,
said Stewart.
"On what train?' - -,. -. -
ION no train. I'm well enough now 10
walk into the country, wnere can get
light work for a month or So,
Have you no money!?
mot a cent. My sickness broke me.
you stay with me another day..
Duke told Stewards story TO coMrade.
A generous sum was quickly raised. When
Stewart learned what had been done Tor
him he spent minute or two looking at
an opening in the toe OF his IeAaS shoe.
INV Com Comrades in Texas, the dear old
confeds, and my comrades up north, the
dear boys l fought with, are Just nnaklns
a great big baby of me-thats what rhey
For a time it looked so. and there was
something the matter with those who saw
A few days after Stewart left for home
a letter was addressed to him mclosing
one for the cOnfederateS who mad 50
kindly assisted him. 1 give copy OF II;
Brother Soldiers and Fellow American
Citizens-I write to tell you, or try 10 zen
YOU how keenly the soldiers who have
learned the facts appreciate what you dld
for our poor, broken and needy comrade
Stewart your kindness touched us to the
heart. vet ii did not surprise us. 1t was
just like brave men. 1t is true that a
thousand years ago we were enemies ana
did all we could to crush each other; but
we are friends now, citizens of great
country made greater, grander and better
because of the fruits of that terrible strug-
gle, under one beautiful nag. with most
of the people UP north the war has been
over thirty years; with all of the real
soldiers of the north the war has been
q long long time. and want
better evidence than your conduct toward
poor Stewart to convince us that with
the brave men of the old confederate
army the war is over also. In thanking
you for extending the right hand of fell
lowship, and more than that, to our needy
old friend, allow us to say that no eX-con-
Tolerate who finds himself stranded in
Milwaukee need hesitate for an instant
TO make known his distress to his Brother
soldiers. l can assure you that they will
extend a helping hand as promptly and as
whole-heartedly as you did in the case of
No great national characters are
brought out in this little story, but beau
tiful characteristics are displayed. To me
me It is interesting and inspiring. 1t is
worth the telling for the reason that it
throws upon the curtain, in large letters,
so all may see this information: 1.-THE bit
terness of war is turned to sympathy,
kindness, patriotism and love of the one
great country and Of the one beautiful
flag of that country
When Stewart reached home he wrote
one of his Milwaukee friends telling of the
glad welcome extended to him by his
confederate neighbors, and how rejoic-
ed his good wife and children were to
think that husband and father was soon
TO have lifted from his heart that crush
ing load of an unallowed but hard-earned
pension-that he was soon to come into
the sunshine of certainty as to bread and
clothing for his family He said that his
southern friends for miles around had
heard of his long journey in search of
proof, and wherever he went Inquiries
We're eagerly made as to the result and
when told their expressions of pleasure
so filled his heart with gladness that he
could die happy, even if the long hoped for
pension never came His sincerely and
earnestly expressed thanks to Milwaukee
trends paid them, over and over again,