The Green Forest tribune., 1895-06-13
lIesss sssgers3n's Deaj.l.

Gresham, number af interesting stories
current about his pa5Iic career one
Of the best relates to his
experience atAtanta daring the war
and ii is worthy Of repetition
Mcpherson Square in Washington,
the government reservation, that con-
tains the statue Of the brave soldier
who lost his life at the battle Of Allan
ia, was always a favorite spot of the
late Secretary Gresham, who was al
so badly wounded IN that engage
ment, The square IS near the hotel
j where he lived and nearly every pleas
ant evening he would sit for awhile
before The statue of his dead friend and
comrade, recalling memories of the
past. On the evening Of the day be-
! fore ne was stricken with his fatal
illness Mr.. Gresham and Private Sec
retary Hharber occupied a bench near
the statue Of Mcpherson. While
seated there the Secretary recalled
die incidents Of McPdersou's death.
Mcpherson, s&id Secretary Gresh-
am. had nature as gentle aud kind
as that Of lovely woman. I snail
never forget the last conversation had
with him, Just after was wounded at
Atlanta. was in command Of di-
vision and he was commanding gener-
81 / was wing on the ground wound
ed, when herson came up TO me
and inquired tie extentof my injury.
as soon as lie found out how badly I
was hurt he ordered his own surgeon
TO take charge Of my case. and he su-
perintended the arrangements for
moving me from the field and to the
hospital | was always very fond of
him aa1 he was ike . big brother to
me. With hfsova hands he lifted
me ON the stretchef, aad as we parted
he crasped my ha4d and said he would
look formY speedy recovery.
Twas carried down the road to Iittle
railway station, where the train was
totaEe ne ta q hospital IWas n ter
fi6le agony ard tbe stfeteher On winch
{ vas resting vas placed on the plat
fouai0 the ebHoi4in4 think | mus
have remained therefor several hours.
Eibaf5 4 Guard Ct troops brought a
wooded saflia and placed it oy MY
stretchoT. I observed SHAT the officer
IN charge of the guard was a member
Of HcPhersoa's staff knew the
box contained dead bed9, and asked I
tie officer II charge the Ha4e ef the
dead soldier, 1T is all thaJ IS left OF
aIe2heyson he replied, sadly. I could
hardly believe that such tnias oolld
be. for left him on the field bnta few
hours before evidently in perfect
health and confident of ultimate VIC
terry. Il vas a terrible shock T. ne
to have the doa Body O ny friend
6foagb to me. thought would 60
wTa gigh anguish. and tie pains
from ny wounds increased With The
excitement under which was labor
ing
Finally the train came &loug and /
was paced IL . boE ear ViJh che dead
body Of McPherson The only other
occupants Of tie car We're the odicersin
charge Of tire body ana "a irish soldier.
Tie only light IN the ear was from a
tallow candle stuck up IN a corner.
The surroundings were intensely
gloomy, and did not care much
whether I survived or not. / felt as
thaugh wanted 10 go into eternity
side by side with my old comrs &c ana
friend The solemnity Of the sur
roundings was relieved only by the
constant effort Of tue officer IN charge
70 try and keep the IRISH sentry from
going to sleep. fhe poor fellow nod
ded and nodded IN il the officer became
SO enraged that be cuded him ever
the head quite sharply. IN spite OF
nv pain and anguish could not help
laughing, moment later when the
sentry received another rap over the
bead and fell against the solitary
candle aud extinguisned the light,
leaving the car in total darkness
SECRETARY Gresham always contend-
ell that the bumor Of that incident
saved his life. for up TO that moment
he was in such morbid state that 1T
Is doubtful If he could have lived an
ether hour.