Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-01-11
Brooklyn, Iowa.
The saddest War Story.

1.-The saddest war story that ever &C
CURED has never been fully told SO far
as 1 know" said a man who followed
Lee to the surrender at Appomattox.
II believe that Mrs. Chestnut in her
Diary from Dixie made brief men
ton of the incident.
II had forgotten it until I read the
book. Then 1t came back to me as
heard it from one who was at the
funeral. The man who told it died
twenty years ago.
"The soldier had enlisted in Georgia
from his home where his father re-
manned undisturbed during the strug-
gle. The young man had fought
through the war without a scratch
save a slight wound which had left him
slightly deaf. This affection he had
never referred to in any of his letters.
"After the surrender he communicat-
ed with his father, saying he would
reach home on or about certain date.
Travel then was uncertain and he was
not positive as to when he would ar
rive.
His father prepared to receive him.
Believing that his son would come as
promised, he arranged a spread such as
the condition of his surroundings at
that time would permit He had
brought out mis- best plate that had
been secreted for long time, and with
gold which had been eXhumed he
bought such delicacies and substantials
as the southern market at that time
afforded.
LAS many Of the old time neighbors
as were living in the vicinity were in
vited to the homecoming Of the re-
turning soldier. The ex-Confederate ar
rived on the old plantation the night
before the earliest date he had men
toned in his last letter. 1t was late
and his father and the family had re-
tired.
1.-The only creature on the old place
that sen1ed to be awake was a dog. AS
the soldier entered the gate of the
grounds the dog began barking.
''The sound aroused the owner of the
manor. The country was overrun at
the time with stragglers, some of whom
had not hesitated to commit burglary.
1.-THE father of the returning boy
arose. He stood in his doorway with
his shotgun and challenged the ap-
preaching stranger, as he supposed.
''The young man being deaf, made no
reply, but continued on his way. The
man in the doorway raised his gun and
fired. The stranger fell dead.
1.-The father summoned his family
and the few remaining servants Of the
plantation. An investigation was held
and the tragic truth was revealed.
1.-THE father, of course, was inconsol.
able. He returned to his house while
the servants carried the lifeless form
of his boy to the home that had been
awaiting his coming.
1.-THE next day the invited guests be-
gan to arrive. The father had given
orders that the tragedy should not be
mentioned until he himself told it.
81 do not recall what explanation
was made to the guests as to the alb
sence of him whom they were to honor
But after the repast they were told,
and then they filed past the dead.
1.-The body was wrapped in the flag for
which the brave young man hadfought
The community was used to funerals
Every private burial ground had a.
grave made by the unhappy war. But
no funeral like this had ever taken
place in the vicinity, and doubt if il
ever had a counterpart in any stae,
north or south. / hope not."-New
York Sun.