The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-01-26

his lap, sleeping the innocent sleep
Of childhood. on that bright moon-lit
night, his fair face looked more to
me like the face Of young lady than
that of a war-worn soldier.
Gen. Buell. had issued orders on this
campaign to shoot soldiers for less
offenses than sleeping on post, and 1
have always believed II l had re-
ported that / found this boy asleep
on duty, he would certainly have been
shot. AS / am now 70 years old and
near my last camping ground, for
years the thought of having saved
this boys life will be a comfort to
me in my last moments, as 1t has
been for the forty-seven years up to
the present time.
was thinking Of this but few
days before 1 received the following
letter which is the first time ] ever
heard the name Of the soldier or
the company he belonged to:
At home, near Campbell, Mo-, Nov.
oath, 1909. Mr.. Edwin Forbes, Fords-
VILE. KY, Dear Sir and Old Com
rade:-While interested In reading the
many good things to be found in 1.-THE
National Tribune" found your name
containing your sentiments in regard
to the Wirz Monument. heartily
indorse your view of the matter, but
what want to say is. that l have
thought of Eddie Forbes a thousand
times or more since we were in camp
at Bowling Green. KY, in August,
1862. on our march from Nashville,
Tenn, to Louisville, Ky.
While there we were on camp guard
and you was acting officer OF the
guard. 1t was a beautiful moon
light night. The troops were all worn
out by the long march from Shiloh
through a part OF the States OF Mis-
slssippi, Alabama and Tennessee TO
Bowling Green, Ky. While on post
near our regimental wagon train, ]
found an officers chair near a gar
den fence. l sat down on the chair
leaning back against the fence, and
while in this comfortable position /
soon fell asleep. Having a canteen
full of water, / sat my gun down
against the fence and took the watel'
and washed my face to arouse me
from my sleepy condition. / again
took my seat, leaning my gun against
the fence and fell asleep immediate
ly. While asleep the officer of the
guard made his rounds and found me
asleep.
Without disturbing me he took my
gun to the guardhouse and sent the
Corporal to my relief, an old German
member of CompanyK, think. When
he approached me / halted him and
demanded the counte1sign at the point
of a bayonent. The old man SEEM
ed to be greatly astonished at my
having gun and walking my beat
He asked me why / was not sitting
down, taking my rest. l told him
that / had sat down awhile and fear
ing that l might go to sleep,
thought it best to walk my beat. He
was so disappointed in finding me
with a gun that he would not go back
and report.
We talked some time and finally
had him promise that he would never
tell anything that / told him.
believe he kept the secret, as l was
never arrested 70 the offense of steal
ing gun. After awoke have always
believed that you knew that / was the
boy that lost my gun, but would
not claim it. Now as we may never
be permitted to meet in this life TO
talk over this matter, l will be more
particular in explaining the matter
in full
At guardmounting, after the old
guard was in line to be relieved, you
took the gun and held it up SO every
man could see IL and asked who it