The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-16
BROTHERS MEET AGAIN
JAMES AND RENRY ROBERTSON,
ONCE OF BROWN COUNTY.
Had Not Met Since the Mexican War,
and Each Thought the other
Was Dead.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
NASHVILLE, Ind, Nov. 15.-Fifty-seven
years ago James and Henry Robertson left
their Brown county home to serve as sol
diers in the Mexican war. Since 1S47 these
two brothers had never seen each other.
and each thought the other dead. When
they left for the scene of the conflict they
were twenty-one and twenty-three years
old, and left behind them old and feeble
parents. They asked permission of Col.
James III. Lane of Company E. Third In
diana Volunteers, to march side by side
and fight, as they had promised their par
ents before leaving they would be true
soldiers and fight at each others side The
permission was granted. This was at New
Albany, Ind, where the company, after
leaving Brown county, was mustered in.
The regiment went from New Albany to
New Orleans, thence across the gulf to
BraZos island, Texas. The brothers were
now in the midst of the great conflict. A
few days passed without indication of ag-
gressiveness on the part of the enemy.
until Feb. q, 1S47, the day of the men,
orable battle of Buena Vista. This found
the Robertson boys still clinging together.
The regiment was given a position on the
hill outside of Buena Vista pass, and soon
Brown county boys were carried from the
field wounded. and James Robertson turned
to see how his brother was getting along
He saw him throw I'D his hands and fall
He rushed to his brother and carried him
under a tree, and found he was shot near
the heart. Henry told his brother he
would die shortly, and babe him return to
and kissed his brother a farewell and re-
turned to the front Henry was carried to
the rear. and after careful care for several
TYnn ax ann
inati0n II was found he was shot twice.
once over the heart n few inches and in
the shoulder His wounds healed, but left
him cripple in his left arm. Being of
no service to his company, he was In a
short time discharged and went to New
Orleans, where, after q few years, he was
married. His brother James came out of
the war without q scratch, and returned to
his Brown county home, though during the
time the boys were gone their father and
mother had both died James Robertson
never heard of his brother afterwards, and
thought he had died the day he carried
him. wounded, under tree.
Mr.. Robertson became dissatisfied, his
parents and brother dead, so he sold his
Brown county farm and went to Illinois,
where he remained for several years, then
went to Missouri After many years in
Missouri, one day he became acquainted
with an old Mexican soldier, and through
him learned that his brother was alive and
living in New Orleans: He made ready
and hurried to New Orleans, where he
found his brother. Last week James re-
turned TO Brown county on visit, though
in the eighties, TO his old home friends
and told of the meeting of his long thought
dead brother. He returned Saturday to
New Orleans. where he says he and his
brother will live together.
Henry Robertson said the reason he
never came home was that he knew his
parents were dead that his brother thought
him dead, and that 1t was unnecessary to
shed any more tears for him. Besides. he
did not know but that his brother was
dead.