The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-06-17
CALKINS GETS LETTER
FROM OLD FOE

E. d. Calkins. veteran Of the Civil
war, who. lost leg at Antietam, has
recently been corresponding with Z.
G. Boland, of Brewton, Ala, a solder
of.the Confederaey. who was among
the forces that faced Mr.. Calkins when
he was shot Despite the fact that
they were foes on the battlefield half
century ago, Mr.. Calkins and Mr.. Bo-
land are now bound together by a spirit
of eomradeship, as the following letter,
written by MIR. Boland, will testify
Your letter of May Is has reached
me. was rather surprised, but ap-
preciated hearing from an old comrade
who wore the blue. There is no doubt
about US having faced each other on
the battleields of Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania. Indeed, il is good
to hear from you as have. You know,
it is only the brave who can fight over
principles which they think right, and
then shake hands and be warm friends
after it is all over with. We can join
hands and be brothers and uphold the
flag that waves over all OF US, and
fight for it against the foes of our
land.
"You say you lost leg at Antietam,
butting up against old Sonewall at that
fight. He was my corps commander,
being in Colqiutt's brigade, d. Ii. Hills
division. | fought on the Hagerstown
road about mile or SO from the vii
lage of Sharpsburg. | am sure we
faced the Iron brigade on the Sunday
before at South mountain, to the left of
the Pike, (your right.
"At the reunion of Gettysburg we
met some of them at the ReynOld' s
monument, where General Reynolds
fell, in the corner of Mcpherson S
woods. | found them fine, polished
gentlemen. One of them, Chas. A.
Ambrech, had been shot in the face
just in front of where had been sta
toned. He and shook hands over the
matter, and he ana his friends invited
me to make their headquarters my
home while at the reunion.
my comrade, this is the way brave
men feel about their differences. You
and are now, and have been since the
war closed, comrades. This is so of all
the men who did the real fighting. II
was unfortunate that the camp follow
ers and politicians discovered that
there was something to fuss about al
ter the war was over.
"In reading the newspapers ] often
get fretted about that talk of changing
the flag. thing that we never think
of down here. Some go so far as tC
say that we are still hotbed of rebel
lion and treason.
''ln fact, do you know we now have
many old soldiers who wore the Blue
living among US. Our country is set
Ting up with people from the north
We have thousands of business mel
travelling and stopping with US. North
ern people spend the winters at our ho
tells. Others rent houses and enjoy oul
mild climate. ALI will witness the fac
that we are the best of Americans, mo-
from fear, but from the high and lofty
principles of patriotism.
"And in all the south | don't suppose
you could find handful of men, witt
will not tell you that we are proud th'
war ended as it did; that we are agail
united people.
1--WE are somewhat excited here nov
over the European war. People ar
taking different sides as to the neutral
ity Interpretation, just as 'everywher
else, suppose. hope we will stee
clear of war. feel deep sympath
for the poor of all nations, the me
who bear the brunt of. the fighting.
From the bottom of my heart, oil
comrade, deeply sympathize with yo
in.your condition, and hope that 20
are surrounded by true. and goo
friends, that your last days will b.
happy and pleasant ones. 1t will onl
be few years.now until all of US VIII
participated in the war of '6l to 9
will have passed over the river. 5
let US by word and deed do all we ca
to bring about cordial and friendly re
lation between those who will follo'
after us"