Mower County transcript., 1907-06-26

v n
ship at West Point, and the
army as a life career. Blessed with
wealthy parents, there seemed nothing
In the way to the accomplis ishment of
his ideal when the opportune time ar
rived. At is he began a course OF
study that woGld At him to pass the
required examination and admit him,
to the United States military acad-
envy. At 18 the opportunity came.
There was a vacancy at the academy
to be filled by appointment from his
congressional district, and he entered
eagerly into the competition for the
coveted place, feeling confident Of
winning the prize.
E His most formidable opponent was
Billy Edwards, the son of strug-
Cling clergyman, into whose path fate
had thrown no special opportunities,
but who had improved every chance5
for study that had been given him.,
and who wished the appointment
merely as means of securing de-
sired education. g
i The two had never been friendly.
and on one of two occasions had had
some boyish quarrels over the atten-
tions each had attempted to be-.
stow upon Blossom Nathan. When
Billy Edwards won the coveted ap-:
pointment every semblance of friend.
ship between the two boys ceased,
and Bob Bryant refused even to as
sociate with anyone who called young
Edwards their friend.
( Grievously disappointed in not win.
ming the cadetship, young Bryant en-
tered a military academy with a deter
mination to prepare himself for y
military career, trusting to his IA.
ther's wealth and influence to secure
for him an appointment to the army.
i During their school days both boys
kept up correspondence with Bios.
som Nathan. until at the end Of three
years, Bryant insisted that she could
mot retain the friendship Of both he
and Edwards, and that all correspond
ence between her and his rival must
cease, or her would have nothing more.
to do with her. The young lady very
promptly informed her angry suitor
that she would choose her own
friends, and he accepted her deci.
sion. !. NJ
& Six \ months after Lieut.. Edwards
had graduated from West Point and
entered the army he made Blossom
Nathan his wife, and took her to this
western post, where his command was
stationed 81 a
Bryant in the mountains had fin.
ished his college course, and not find.
ing it SO easy to secure a civil ap-
pointment to the army had settled
down TO the study Of law in his home
town, and confined his nilitary ambi-
tions to a place in a local company of
state guards. 4Y %, a NJ.
; Then came the call to arms to
save the union. The southern states
had seceeded; the flag had been fired
upon. fvery av<tlable company o.
the regular service had been rushed
eastward for the defense Of Washing
ton Volunteers in companies, bat.
talions and regiments were focking
into the mastering camps. With the
volunteers went Bob Bryant as cap,
tain of his company With the reg,l,
lars sent to Washington went First
I Lieut.. Edwards, while Mrs. Edwards
went back to her old home toNawait
the return Of her husband from the
front. III !. E $ s s$ ajs; s.4
- The four years of war dragged wear.
lily along. Lieut. Edwards stuck to
the regular service and rose to the.
rank OF major and brevet lieutenant
colonel, as which he commanded his
regiment Capt. Bryant Of the vol
unteer service rose to the rank Of
colonel. II 3S.S53 s.ga.i u &; ".
At the battle of Gettysburg Col.
Bryant was temporarily liz command
of a brigade stationed at Cemetery
Hill. During the first days fighting
his command in company with all
others at that point in the line of
battle had suffered severely. With
the reenforcements Of the second day
came the regiment commanded 4 By
Lieut.. Col. Edwards, and during the
fighting Of that day Edwards fell
and was buried on the field 5 Ss3..
The war over, Col Bryant found
the wished for opportunity to enter
the, regular service, and was sent I'd
the far west as lieutenant Of cav
airy. For II years he followed the
trail Of the red man, and then he
good Of the service 4 took him n to
Washington to serve for a time on
s the staff Of the. general commanding
the army. It was this that &C count
ed for his presence on the Gettysburg
battlefield on Decoration day 1875.
n He walked over the ground 50
& shercely contested IN '63 and glanced
at the white. hsadstones loo oking for
the name Of his comrades. At8e each
grave there wag planted ! smal flag,.
ssimilar5ito one hS carried Idly ia his
] hand if AT zone grave he noticed the
frail star had been broken, and the
dag blown away He stopped sto