Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1895 — AFTER MANY YEARS. [ARTICLE]

AFTER MANY YEARS.

An Interesting Story of Gettysburg Told By General Gordon. In a recent lecture General Gordon, the famous Southern senator and orator, related a personal incicident, which if given in a work of fiction would be discredited by every reader. It goes to prove that occurrences of real life are stranger even than the imaginings of the novelist’s mind. “At Gettysburg, while the fight was hottest,” he said, “I noticed a handsome young Federal officer, whose bravery 'was conspicuous. After the battle had subsided I found this gallant soldier lying on the field. He was dying, and begged me to send a message to the Union lines. His wife bad decided to share with him the fortunes of war, and was at the officers’ quarters in the Federal army. “I ordered my men to take the wounded officer to our camp and make him as comfortable as possible. Then I sent some men with a flag of truce to the Union line, with a message from the dying officer to his wife. Late that night the party returned, and the meeting of the dying husband and his young wife was the most affectionate scene that I ever witnessed. “I was compelled to go elsewhere, but before I left the sorrowing couple I ascertained that the name of the Union officer was Major Barlow, of New York. I often thought of the sad accident, which ma le upon me one of the most vivid impressions that I received in the war. Shortly afterward a cousin of mine, whose name and initals, were the same as mine, was killed in battle . “The war closed. Ten years afterward I was with a distinguished gentleman in New York, who invited me to be present at a dinner he was to give that evening. Among the guests to whom I was introduced was a certain Major Barlow. I supposed he was a cousin or other relative of the man whom I had left dying on the field at Gettysburg with his devoted wife beside him. “ ‘I once knew a Major Barlow,’ I said to my new acquaintance. “ ‘I once knew a General Gordon,’ he answered. ‘And the General Gordon whom I , knew is also dead,’he continued. “I started to tell him the story of the Major Barlow, whom I left dying ■on the field of Gettysburg, when he interrupted me, exclaiming: “ ‘My God, General Gordon, I am that man; but you were killed at Antietam. ’ “ ‘And I know you died at Gettysburg,’ said I, ‘for I saw you. ’ “Mutual explanations followed. It seemed strange to me that the warmest friendship of my life should have been begun during those awful ■scenes of blood and carnage at Gettysburg. The simple service that I performed that day when I sent for that dying soldier’s wife has made Major Barlow and his wife the dearest friends I have on earth, notwithstanding I wore the gray and he the blue.”