The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-05-25

the ranks Were Harold and Gerard
Bement marched. Some who had been
5inquisitive had learned that the gray
haired sire was John Bement, father Of
Captain Gerard and Lieutenant Harold
Bement Of the Second Massachusetts
volunteers and that the day was to see
the parting of father and sons, the lat
ter setting out to join their regiment
for service in Cuba. # 4. VI
Again the solemn and impressive cere-
monies at the soldiers plot, the
planting Of the sprig Of evergreen, a
white rose and the laurel branch as
symbols of remembrance, of virtue and
Of victory, and the firing salute to the
dead. There was less chatter among the
children, for many were learning now
the meaning of war, with their brothers
and even fathers about to march away
to battle. John Bement, no longer bent
and weighed down by age, led the way
to the lonely graves in the out Of the
way vale, moving with sorightly step
between his soldier sons. A crowd fol-
lowed, some out of idle curiosity and
others-olderones - to learn more of the
story Of the Virginian's grave and it's
mate. The latter were not disappointed.
but they saw no wild flowers on the
grave of Gerard Iselin of Pegram' s
Virginia battery-instead beautifully
wrought coat of arms Of the nation in
rare flowers of red, white and blue. On
the other grave, deftly wrought with
white blossoms, were pair of hands
folded over the breast and dove.
John Bement had placed these tokens
of friendship at the dawning of the day,
so bright for him. In simple words he
told his story for the ears of Harold and
Gerard, but there were many listeners
besides.
''Father," said Harold, 81 have con-
fession to make. I was an eavesdropper
many years age, when you told the chill
dren how you shot this man in gray
""Tis nothing, my boy, to what you
shall hear today. Gerard Iselin, your
father, lies buried here, and killed him ;
also your
His voice Was stilled by the emotion
Of Gerard, who grasped his hand vio-
lently, but could not speak. $50 on, y
he said, after struggle, and the story
was told without further interruption.
@'Gerard Iselin was my classmate and
friend at Harvard, as you boys have
been, and as like brothers. He was a
southerner, wild, as we used to say, and
as even 1 boosted at times Of being. He
loved the sister of another friend and
classmate, Katharine Mason, and it was
said that his love for her alone kept
him from running the lines in 1861 to
fight for the south, boy that he was, for
he was only II then. Well, the wal
went on, and, although we disputed Of
ten, there was no rupture At last
volunteered in Harvard's own regiment.
the Second Massachusetts,, and Gerard
bid me godspeed in his wild, hearty
way, saying, he'd meet me and whip
me some day on the battlefield ~
"And you never told us that you
were a Second Massachusetts man,
too" said Harold, his thoughts on the
regiment and it's proud name.
mo, sought to forget, to bury the
war, since it forced me to kill friend,
brother. In time I learned that Gerard
had disappeared and with him Katha
rine Mason. It was blow to Oliver,
her brother and our friend. And he
vowed that he would shoot him down
like dog, if he ever found him alive. y
He paused, overcome with emotion.
''But those were stirring days." he
continued after awhile 1--WE fought
almost every day of that year, 1864,
and at last came to the field of Five
Forks Our regiment charged there
upon tie flank of the Confederate
trenches. All went we'll until we reach
ed Pegram's Virginia battery. Then we
lost many, but my company pushed for
ward and shot down many to clear the
way for advance. Suddenly I saw a
Confederate rise up from the field and
handle the lanyard of a piece aimed
straight at our advance line. A second,
and a hundred of my brave men would
be blown to pieces, and, although I saw
18th 4.