Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-06-22
STORIES OF THE DAY.
4 Green Mountain Boy In the War and rn
 After Life


 undylng love of country ill the war of the Revolution That reputation her people have ever maintained Can any one recall any occasion during the war of the rebellion when eoarpany. reoi. ment or battery composed of Vermont troops showed the white feather or did less than they were able to do on the held of battle? It is safe to say no. An equally good record was made by the troops of other states, but it cannot he sald of all the troops Of all the states that there were not occasions when some of them failed to meet expecta. ton. Generally, when there was q fail. ufe, 1t was attributable to failure on the part of officers rather than the rank and file.
 Now, let me tell of Vermont hero i'll war;
 A l7-year-old Green mountain boy left school to enlist. His first great bat. Gle was Gettysburg. He was tall and awkward, but as brave as a Maceo, and he had acquitted himself so well that the captain of the company, within 1 few months from his enlistment, gave him tie position of first sergeant TlIs regiment was under fire for an hour at the time of Pickett's famous charge be- fore 1t was ordered i'll. There were pals faces and trembling limbs OH every side. but our hero was as cool and collected as II Ill classroom and had smile and a nrl of fb Ia q Yfi. one who seemed a little more frighten- cd than his fellows he said: "Cheer I'D, Jl1nl You have the chance of your life today.
 Yes, said Jim, and a right smart chance to lose 1t too. '
 The tide will turn i'll favor of the Union from this battle. Let us all do OUT duty today, so that in coming years we may remember that we had Il part iii the turning of the tide. ;
 Jim and all who heard the young patriot outburst, as it mingled with the screeching and bursting of shel1s nnd the whlrring of solid shot became interested and to a degreo calmed down.
 A little later came the order, "Fall in. y The first man on his feet was the young Nefmonter who, with smile on his lips and eheery voice, urged promptness and an unbroken front. Ill that way he went into the battle. He fought like a very tiger, at the same time doing the duty of half 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 roar, it was found that the earth had drunk the blood of many of that Vermont eompa- l ny.
 Did we do as well as you expected, captain?' asked the orderly.
 Better, sergeant, better But look at our thinned ranks. We no longer have a company
 That is true, captain, but the tide has turned. We now know that we have l country. J
 The republic has produced many such heroes, but did any state i'll the Union in proportion to her population, produce more than Vermont? This story, which l heard years ago, came back to me last evening as 1 heard another in eonnec- ton with that same Yermonter
 When the war ended he completed his education and entered the ministry. i About 20 years ago he was called to . leading Congregational church in Mil waukee, of which he has been the pas. tor eyer since-Rey. George H. Ide, D, D. He is the same courageous, truthful. earnest patriotic man that he was as a soldier i'll battle.
 This brave soldier, devoted minis 1 ter and superb citizen has recently had ] occasion to manifest his courage under more trying circumstances than any whicl. developed at the battle of Gettys. burg Two years ago q growth on one l Of bis lips rendered an operation neces- sary. It was thought that he had entire l ly escaped all danger but t short time ago the growth reappeared Ill his throat and another operation was decided up- on The chances were against i'm. All l Of his friends dreaded the result, yet they knew that without ;ln operation death was not far away. If this man was disturbed, he did not show 1t ill his face, in his speech, in his conduct. He was the same genial, hearty, kindly gentleman, meeting all with a 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 party to Chicago to under 1 go serious operations, but it would not have been easy for d stranger to think 1 that Dr. Ide was to be operated upon with only chance in 90 for his life. When the company reached the recep- ton room, MT. Ide arose and said with perfect calmness, 1 am ready, doctor 1 Then he kissed each member of his fanl-