The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-06
RaYniuiscences.

"Reminiscences.
 It was a beautiful morning when my brother left. We were all in the front yaro or our old homestead, happy large ana prosperous family. My brother was .ne oldest, the youngest of eleven chill dren. He was man of almost matchless appearance. He rode Jim, a black race horse, bred by my grandfather Nicholas Davis. He had white plume in his hat, sash his saber, revolvers and beauti- Iui oridie and saddle equipments. He was perfect picture of the ideal mount ca warrior. He kissed the family good pye, then lifted me on his horse ssld ionoiy caressed me, and with tears in ms great, black eyes he rode away. Per- maps a year later I was indulging in childish play with my dear brother Hec- tor Tn the same premises, when my eyes Tell upon sad picture. My uncle, Colo nei Nicholasa Davis, with one hand steadying the shoulder of weary horse, the other around the waist of an almost unconscious rider, Daddy Andrew lead ing the stumbling exhausted horse, were slowly and unsteadily approaching the gate This was the sad return of my brother. Hector and myself recognized the skeleton of a horse. but at first did not recognize our brother. We quickly screamed the announcement of his re- turn and there was a rush from the house led by dear old Ma and followed by his wife and all the servants to fond ly greet him. But the chilly hand of death had too firm grip on him, it's pale signet was stamped upon his face, his diamond eyes were dull, a vacant emo tionless stare was all the response he gave
 Fhe next morning. bright, beautiful winter morning, just twenty-four hours after his return, as gallant a hero as ever wore the gray surrendered his mortality and putt on immortality. The Federal guard quickly dispatched. this the morn ing of MitcheIs entry into our city. re- spectfully retired from the doorway. They saw that the charitable hand of death had released their prisoner. and they left a heart-broken family of father. mother, wife and little sisters and brothers to mourn his loss. My brother, an Irish private, Pat Sheehan, and Henry Skeggs, the latter an old, inflrm man, is still liv- Ing, to escape capture at Fort Donelson, north of Nashville, mounted their horses and swan out through blocks of ice in a frozen river. Sheehan and skeggs were both captured, Sheehan died in prison. The great endurance of my brothers horse and the heroic effort he made to keep in advance of the advancing army alone enabled him to reach home, die surrounded by dear ones, prisoner of only a few minutes.
 My brother was first lieutenant in Forests cavalry. I know nothing ,As to his company or regiment. only that it was a Huntsville company. I trust have not bored you with too much de- tail of child's recollection of soldier brothers contrasting departure and re- turn. With kind regards to your eS- teemed. husband.
 aniAwith the, greatest respect.
 Charles P. Lane.
 P. s. The horse Jim. for safe keeping was loaned by my father to Colonel James Henry Malone, a Confederate Col onel who left Athens. The horse and Col onel Malone's son, a lieutenant, were both killed in front of Atlanta by a shell during the last days of the Confederacy. Thus ended the bright prospects of the ideal warrior and his horse as seen from a child's point of view.