Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-03-26
STONES OF THE DAY.
A Green Mountain 1soy gn tIss War an9 h
 san. eisn

After Ilfe.
 The 6Sroen mountain boys established . reputation for dauntless courage and undying love of country in the war of the Revolution. That reputation her people have ever maint@ned Gun any one recall any occasion during the war of the rebellion when q company, regi- nent or battery composed of Vermont troops showed the white feather or did less than they were able to do on the field of battle2 1t IS safe to say no. An equally good record was made by the troops of other states, but it cannot be said of all the troops of all tho states that there were not occasions when some of them failed to meet expectae tion. Generally. when there was a fail ure, it was attributable to failure on the part of officers rather than the ranl and file.
 Now, let mo tell of q Vermont hero ill war.
 A 17-year-eld Green mountain boy left school to enlist His first great bat Gle was Gettysburg. He was tall aud awkward, but IS brave as q Maeeo, and he had acquitted himself so well that the captain of the company, within a few months from his enlistment gave him the position of first sergeant. The regiment was under fire for an hour at the time of Piokett's famous charge be- fore 1t was ordered in. There were pale faces and trembling limbs on every side, but our hero was as cool and collected as if ii classroom and had smile and a word of cheer for his comrades. To one who seemed little more frighten. ed than his fellows he said; Cheer up, Jim You have the chance of your life today"
 Yes, , said Jim, "and right smart chance to lose 1t too. ,
 The tide will turn in favor of the Union from this battle. Let us all do our duty today, so that in coming years we may remember that we had part i'll the turning of the tide. ;
 Jim and all who heard the young patriots oatburst, as it mingled with the sereeching and bursting of shells and the Whirring of solid shot, became interested and to degree calmed down
 4 little later came the order, Fall in. /" The first man on his feet was the young Yermonter, who, with 0 smile on his lips and a cheery voice. urged pronptness and an unbroken front In shat way he went into the battle He fought like a very tiger, at the same time doing the duty of half a dozen men as file closer. When the great charge was over, Pickett had been driven back, and the 300 or 400 belch. ing cannon had ceased their rear it was found that the earth had drunk the blood of many of that Vermont compa. ny.
 Did we do as we'll as you expected, oaptain?' asked the orderly.
 Better, sergeant, better But look at our thinned ranks. We no longer have company.
 "That is true, captain, but the tide has turned We now know that we have a country.
 The republic has produced many such heroes, but did any state in the Union, in proportion to her population, produce more than Vermont? This story, which heard years ago, came back to me last evening as I heard another ill connec- tion with that same Vermonter.
 When the war ended, he completed his education and entered the ministry. About 20 years ago he was called to q leading Congregational church in Mil waukee, of which he has been the pas tor ever sinee--Rev. George H. Ide, D. D. He is the same courageous, truthful, earnest, patriotic man that he was as Il soldier in battle
 This brave soldier, devoted minis. ter and superb citizen has recently had occasion to manifest his courage under more trying circumstances than any which developed at tho battle of Gettys- burg Two years ago Q growth on one of hls lips rendered an operation neees- sary 1t was thought that he had entire ly escaped all danger, but short time ago the growth reappeared in his throat and another operation was decided up- on. The chances were against him. All Of his friends dreaded the result, vel they knew that without an operation death was not far away. If this man was disturbed, he did not show it in his face, in his speech, in his conduct. He was the same genial, hearty, kindly gentleman, meeting all with word that told of his good heart
 When he went to Chicago to undergo the operation, every member of his fam fly accompanied him, together with several officials Of his church. It would have been easy to think that Dr. Ide was taking a party to Chicago to under go serious operations, but it would moi have been easy for 8 stranger to thinl that Dr Ide was to be operated upon with only l chance in 50 for his life.
 When the company reached the recep. tion room, MT Ide arose and said with perfect calmness, l am ready, doctor :"