Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1904-09-02
FRIENDS But HAD ....
NEVER MET

"Hearst's Boston American" of roc
ent date contains a description OF an
interesting romance in real life, which
had its origin in the Civil War and in
which our townsman, X. W. Eguert is
the central figure. Tho atlair cann to
the attention of the Boston newspaper
through Mr.. Eggert's visit to Boston
on the occasion Of the national en-
campment. Tho account reads:
The donation of a comfort bag" to
the Union soldiers during the OWL
war was the means of establishing a
friendship between Charles T.. Billiard
of No. 9,Richdale avenue, Somerville,
and Richard W. Eggert at present a
newspaper editor of Danville. Pa. The
men have corresponded but they have
never met AMI today Mr.. Bullard with
q photograph he had received from his
friend aud several letters written dur.
ing the OWL war was at the South
station eagerly scanning every face
beneath q Grand Army hat.
II may know him from his picture, -
said Mr.. Bullard, "but he won't know
me because he never saw even plot
ure Of me. We have never met, yet
we feel like brothers. l would give
anything to meet him and entertain
him at my house. "
Our readers will be interested to
know that the two fast friends who
had never come together before sue
oeeded in meeting during the enoamp.
msnt. Richard missing Mr.. Bullard
on arriving at Boston and being pro-
vided with the latter's address went
direct to his house and at the very
moment when the man was exciting
60 muoI interest by his inquiries at
the station Mr.. ERgert was snugly
tucked away in be in his friends
house taking u nap.
Mr.. Eggert still Possesses the "com.
fort bag which fell into his hands in
1864, when he was an artilleryman in
Battery F. Second Pennsylvania Art
illery, and which led to the friendship
between himself and Mr.. Bullard so
oddly maintained during forty years
OF their life. The "bag" is quite or.
namental in its way. the colors red.
white and blue predominating. Upon
being unfolded several little pockets
disclose themselves in which are still
contained the different colored threads
and the needles and pins sent out from
that New England home so many years
ago to minister to the needs of the
boys In blue.
The comfort bag was made by the
mother of Charles Bullard who was
then only twelve years of age. The
bag was sent to the Sanitary or the
Christian Commission whence it fell
into Mr.. ERgert's hands Commonly
the bags contained the names of the
maker. but in this case the little slip
Of paper enclosed bore the name of the
boy, Charles L. Bullard.
Richard wrote to the lad and during
some time correspondence was kept
up but it was dropped before the close
of the war. About nine years ago Mr..
Bullard became curious to know
, whether his soldier friend had surviv-
: cd the battles of the Civil War and if
so how he had Jared during the long
iatervsl Of thirty years following that
D.. conflict.
>, He accordingly wrote to the war de.
epsrtment and with assistance from
that source traced Mr.. Eegert to Dan
vile, when the correspondence WAS
renewed : The grand snoampment at
Boston gave Mr.. Eggert an opportun-
ity to visit Mr.. Bullard.