The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28
4 SOLDIER OF TRUTH.
An Ancient veteran Contributes u Valuable
Addition TO Wnr Literature.

ADDITION 10 Nnr hiternture'
As the reporter was rapidly hurrylng rnst
the door OF a slloon he was met By an old SOL
der. who sugRestivcly tipped his hat.
III Won will tell me n story" remarked the
reporter. accepting the tip, I'll pay for the
potations. | have n thirst for a story. you
have n thirst for a drink. Let us ex change."
The veteran was quick to respond, as the
parchcd soil responds to the grateful rain, and,
opening the door. he bowed the reporter in
and escorted him to a table In n quiet corner.
where presently the potahles were served.
IL don't think | could have earned what |
am now so greatly and gratefully enjoying"
said the veteran with a glowing cheek. ms he
set dow his glass after a long swallow, had
it.not been that to-day I met an old comrade
from Kentucky, "A State, you will remember.
which had soldiers In both armies. and good
soldiers. I NAV add. This man, who is now a
merchant and comes TO New York - buy
goods every year. was in the Federal army,
and he had a nephew in the same regiment
with himself and another In the Confederate
army. The Young chaps were brothers, and
they were mighty fond OF each other, but they
were ionuer OF their principles or patriotism or
politics Or whatever you may call il, 81 they
agreed to disagree. and each one go to the side
he thought was the right side.
1T was n sad parting, for they had been
closer together than most brothc:s, and before
they separated they fixed up a Kind OF signal
to identify themselves by. so that 4. one was
wounded and left on the field he could notify
the other II 1t happened they were ON the oppo.
site sides in that particular fight. 1t was n
boyish kind OF q lottery chance of ono In n mil
lion. but It suited them, and that's all they
ca red for. The signal arrangement was to be
a light chain with a note fastened To II. and the
.l 4 III. !. 40 y. .a. a. A. III
and dropped into he old muskets they had in
those days. This waste be fired NJ random
up in:o tho air to fall among the soldiers OF the
opposite side to he picked M as 1t might and
taken TO the man whose address was in the
note, along with other Instructions 70 he fol.
lowed out 10y the brother who might lie in con-
ditlon 20 do II. You caa see how childish and
almost imrossit. c IL was, but there was lust
that chance Ia IL thnt made II attractive TO the
went thrt- NAYS, the one to the North. the
o,hcr 10 the south, each bearing with him his
cham and note al Identification attached to the
hit OF lead TINT some dEv might bear On It's
Wings the message at death,
tn" veteran wa, becoming uoci.C and pa,
thct'r, AMI the reporter suggested n rrilling
OF tn" glasses. aId th" sugg, stiun met with
'mmrdi",s ma LEASED nnrro,.nl
veteran. ",ur boy hadn't any orra,iou to u,p
IheIr S'Sr", or tnry had gone 'hr"a- nn.
ssSthra' gHd, bed; JaIE ""r, ,",,ipE IN
- - Wv ' ffi'N ' ''i' So WV
in iS6;i. IN The ian, the W"r" with -" armies
lighting through Tennessee, though ;h"y had
lost track hl each ether except Ia u general
way. Just whH' 'lrN knew Of each utlcr's
whereabouts h"r't >u y, Int one MINT in
November there was u skim ~h s'iuCV here In
tIe neighto orb IOd %! Knoxville, IN which hNC
or six bundled men on II side were eng lg-d.
without result, and l"ih ttuC~ nHd s"ttIr
down tor tie Li'ht To- WA and "Gh' n ont 10y
daylight. Ihrre were n l' nj "Olui' Il men
aud dead ones. TOO, Tor rhrt m.itt"r. s"at,"rcd
thio' gl the 'Ou.S. wl""" wu-' ut the night
inE had been. Vhri" was n Uo". Hnll about q
quarter ~ a mil" Wlh'. separating the woods
and there llHi UrcH some ~CrHullng ia this
Op"n ground. though most at tNr igltIag had
been done from cover. rs these small skir
mIsh line fights generally are.
y was corporal 81 the runri that niEht. and
10y y n'clOck there was only A. or,lSiouu' shot.
as { each SIDE WAS Qnlrtiuv :ul"cluutly and lbs
Inches. am not u%u~l'INr. aU' Il r"rIns 20 me
settled over al, What Tie drtuiI, of the ro-
nance or mo tragedy. ar Whatever yUu want IL
call IL, are, don't know. ikn"H. though
that during IN" d GIT ~" ! I'll rr,u 'urCrw-ut~
and whea we hcgnu 10 ClulioUsly peep aruuud
~ 5000 IL the day began ~ break, We Ill.
covered that the enemy Ind hE soy" huuh ol
crook taken alarm and departed In tho uirlt
leaving their dead on The field. and Hmoul
them. when We sent ont our hurying Ihrty
we FOUND , ne OF thOSC lONN with n hullri
through his lung and another Tearing {
chain and II note. buried in hi~ brain. or
legs broken by a bail. and a bullet through
his hear. with n chain and note attached to it,
The reporter threw up his hands in amaze
ment. not to SAY doubt.
II don't try to explain H." the veteran has
tened TO say, apologetically. II know-it 4
hard Ia explain; II Is even hagd To believe. bu'
what ~ u man to 10 or 10 sly when he see
such things with his " eyesf" -