Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-18
STORIES FOR OLD SOLDIERS
State Encampment at Fremont Brings out
Some Good Ones.
GENERAL BLACK TELLS PATHETIC ONE
One of the Veterans Inquiries AbOut
an old Sweetheart and Meets
Her as wife of one of
His Comrades.

General John c. Black told very pretty
story during his address at the Grand Army
of the Republic encampment of Nebraska
last week that every one OF the old grey
heads appreciated. 1t was In relation to
the devotion Of women during the war and
the affection that their presence instilled
in the hearts of the soldiers at the front
when one of them braved the dangers yof
war to visit a wounded or sick loved one
A soldier had been badly wounded and was
in one of the field hospitals near Atlanta
Tie wife came to visit him. She brought
with her their little baby, and as she
reached Jonesboro, just before that memor-
able battle, the army was lined up near the
railway. She got of the car holding her
baby in her arms. A bronzed and begrimed
soldier in helping her off the car steps
asked II he couldn't hold that baby Just a
moment, as he had a little one way up
north that he would love to hold just for a
moment. He took the child. and in an in
stant a hundred soldiers sprang out of
the line and surrounded him. and each
begged the mother that she permit them to
hold the little fellow just for a moment
in memory of home. And thus the child
was passed from hand to hand with n
gentleness that knew no bounds, and its
tiny raiment was dampened with many
tears. The mother said: God bless you.
my friends, it is worth this long journey,
that this little child can give you this mo-
ment's happiness" She found her husband
later In the hospital, and 1t was but a
few days afterward that they went home
together to the far north But she and her
babe were alone. The father was CARRIED
back In a coffin on the same train. He had
survived her visit but few hours.
There are always more or less interesting
episodes happening at Grand Army en-
campment and the encampment at Fremont
last week was no exception to the rule. A
comrade by the name of Fox, from the
northern part of the state met fellow
comrade and said to him: Say, is your
name Endcott?" Yes" was the reply.
''well, 1 heard you was here, and I've got
a strange question to ask you" "Out with
It; you can't hurt my feelings" You are
from Pennsylvania, 1 believe, and served in
the Bucktail regiment, and came from
Berks county, eh?" That's me" Didn't
you marry a girl there named Annie -
Yes" "Is she alive?" Yes; she's with
me in Fremont now" What. Annie
here?' well, what Of it?' That's the
point was getting at. Maybe you didnt
know 1t, but Annie was an old sweetheart
! Of mine over forty years ago. She went
back on me for some fool reason. Oh, you
needn't get jealous; I'm married now and
have got nine grown children and some
| grandchildren. Why, Annie and were
raised on adjoining farms. We went tC
school as children together. 1 guess
knew her before you did. But say, I'd lfk,
awful we'll TO see her" That's easy: II
| go and hunt her up. she's somewhere abou
! this hotel now" And Endicott went of Il
| find Annie. He soon came back with hei
and presented her to Mr.. Fox without tn,
form of an introduction She was gray
haired, but withal pretty woman. scarcel!
showing her so years. The hands of tn,
schoolmates of half a century ago met
! why, John Foxv Hello, Annie, yoI
haven't changed a bit in fifty years" AnC
the two sat there in the Emo hotel oftic
talking of their childhood days. their dea,
friends and the happy time Of long ago 70
hours. Both were happier for that acci
dental meeting, and each will cherish 1
for many long years to come. No. inciden
Of the encampment was prettier or happier