Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-03-19
A MEMORY OF GETTYSBURG.
Recalled by a Meeting Between Geuc-al
Gordon and General Barlow.

Gordon and General Barlow.
"a most pathetic rs well as one
of the most heroic incidents Of he
war of the rebellion occurred tn re
first day of the battle of Gc.ty :.
burg said Judge Ti4o;a:. j. AH' L.
ey of South Carolina.
Lee never intended to give bat
tic at that point, where tie Fclrruls
held vantage ground, bat WAS dra"a
into the battle Ivy IL question ut
shoes. This last point may seen
etrango, bnt it is nevertheless tru4
Pettigrew's North Carolina division
was burefooted and got permission
to go into the town of Getty Sbulg to
get a supply of shoes from the
stores. The soldiers there met Il
Federal force and became engaged
holly. Each side REINFORCED heav-
lily. and the battle ended with de
cided advantage on the part of the
Confederates, W no held the field.
"As General John B. Gordon S
brigade was advancing during the
heat Of battle he saw Il federal gen
oral lying wounded and apparently
dying right III the path. He dis.
mounted and, raising the head Of
the wounded officer, which lay in a
hollow, placed knapsack beneath
it, He then gave him some water
and whisky to revive him, at the
same time expressing deep SYM
pathy with him. He inquired who
he was and was answcred:
81 am General Francis Barlow
of New York.
What can | do for you, gen
eral2' asked General Gordon. Have
you any last wish to intrust to mel
Please take package of letters
from the breast pocket of my coat,
said Barlow in a weakened voice.
General Gordon did so.
Now said Barlow, 1 beg of
you to read one to me, for they are
from my wife, and l wish her words
to be the last l shall hear
"Whila the shot and shell were
blowing up the ground General
Gordon read aloud the letter of a
noble, patriotic woman to her dying
husband. When he had finished
reading it, General Barlow request
ed him to tear up all the letters, as
he did not wish them to he rrofaned
by the eyes of strangers.
General Gordon babe him good
by and hurried forward to overtake
his command. He then sent a flag
of truce by messenger to General
Meade at his headquarters. The
messenger was informed where Mrs.
Barlow might be found On re-
ceiving General GorGon's note she
FASTENED to her husband on the field
of battle under fire. She found him,
and under her careful nursing he
recovered his health and strength.
General Gordon and the brave
officer whom lie succcrcd on the
field of Gettysburg net again about
Is years after the date of tie Incl
dent I have related. Gordon was
then Il United States senator from
Georgia, and Barlow was attorney
general of the state of New York.
At dinner given by Mr.. Potter, a
representative in congress from
New York, a gentleman was intro.
duced to Gordon as General Barlow
of New York city.
Gordon scanned him closely and
observed:
"'NVas General Barlow, the brave
soldier of the Union army, who was
killed ut Gettysburg, related to you.
sire
Though not with literal fidelity
to historic truth. yes, sir--very
closely related, was the PROMPT re.
ply. Il am the General Barlow who
was killed at Gettysburg, and rec.
ngnize in you the General Gordon
whose soldiers killed me-
"UpUl that announcement they
gave each other such cordial proofs
Of mutual esteem as served to illus
rate that no hands clasp so warmly
at least among Am orleans, as those
that have shcathed the sword after
having drawn it in battle
This incident serves to enblaZon
A. ~ 4
aHce in his speech upon he death or
Senator Charles Summer, delivered
in the house of representatives,
when no said. 'Amcrip MS, know one
another, and you will love one an
other. "-Washingtcn Star.