About the beginning of January, 1893, Dr. Thomas O. Hynes of Brenham, Texas, was handed a copy of the
Atlanta Constitution by an acquaintance, who said it contained a letter which would probably interest him. The letter was from an Oregon man, S. F. Blythe, regarding some reminiscences of the Civil War, in which he served as a private in the 22nd Ohio Volunteers. Blythe mentioned, just in passing, that he had in his possession a sword he had found on the battlefield of Shiloh on April 7, 1862; it was inscribed "T. O. Hynes, Co. K, 17th Regt. La. Vols." He would be happy to return it to its rightful owner, if the man was still living.
Though already a doctor at the time, Hynes had served as Captain of Company K, the "Cattahoula Guards." It was on April 6th that he was rushed into a hospital tent, his left arm shattered by an enemy shell. The surgeon, Dr. J. C. Nott, unbuckled Hynes sword and laid it aside, while he amputated the arm. "Before the operation was fairly completed, the tide of battle swept so close that the tent … had to be abandoned, and Capt. Hynes was hastily placed in an ambulance and carried to Corinth. It was some time after he left the tent before he missed the sword."
A few days later, on Dr. Hynes wrote:
"Brenham, Tex., Jan. 28
"S. F. Blythe, Hood River, Ore.
Dear Sir and Friend: I take the liberty to call you friend, now that the war is over. I was much surprised when I read your communication in the Atlanta Constitution informing me that you had my sword, the same that I lost on the 6th day of April, 1862, on the field of battle at or near the old Shiloh church in Harden County, Tenn., the particulars of which are set forth in a clipping from the Brenham Banner herewith enclosed.
Though I was a physician at the time, I was nevertheless in the line of trying to make wounds instead of healing them. But, since that time I have been as diligent to heal the animosities between the two sections as I was valiant as a soldier. And ere long I hope they will all be obliterated. Between you and me they are so now. Allow me to stretch my one arm over into Oregon and shake hands with you across the bloody chasm. Please send my sword express, and I will pay all charges here, and much obliged.
Your humble servant,
T. O. Hynes, M.D.
Samuel Blythe, in Oregon, received that letter just about a week later, and wrote back:
"Hood River, Ore., Feb. 4, 1893.
Dr. T. O. Hynes, Brenham, Tex.
"Dear Sir: I was much pleased to get your letter of the 28th ultimo. Evidently you are the original owner of the sword I have had in my possession for nearly thirty-one years. I got the sword about 4 o'clock on April 7, 1862. Next day I had a chance to send it home by Sergt. Toby Adams, who was wounded in the first day's fighting and was taken on board a hospital boat, which went to Cincinnati, and those of the wounded who were able to travel were allowed to go to their homes.. At Cincinnati Sergt. Adams was offered $50 for the sword, but it reached my mother's house, where it remained until 1876, when my mother sent me a box of goods and traps belonging to me to Portland, Oreg., and among them came the sword. I thought then that I would return the sword if I could find the owner, and always intended to hunt you up, but kept neglecting to do so until recently I had occasion to write to the
Atlanta Constitution, when it occurred to me to mention the fact that I had in my possession the sword with your name on the blade.
"When I picked up your sword I was a boy; now I am fifty and an old man. Thirty-one years have rolled along since we faced each other on the bloody field of Shiloh, and while thousands of our comrades have gone before we still live to shake hands, metaphorically, across the bloody chasm, fellow citizens of one country with one flag. About the time you lost your arm, if anyone had told me I was good for thirty years longer on this mundane sphere I think I would have regarded it as a joke, and laughed in his face. Yes, we are friends, and it seems like we are old friends. I served in the army till the close of the war, and then left it without prejudice. As you say, the war has been over a long time between the old soldiers. I have never forgotten the sentiment expressed in the song we used to sing, which was written by a Kansas colonel in answer to the 'Bonnie Blue Flag,' the concluding verse of which read:
"'And when his war is over
We'll each resume his home,
And treat you all as brothers
Wherever you may roam,
We'll pledge the hand of friendship,
And think no more of wars,
But dwell in peace beneath the flag
That bears the stripes and stars.'
"I send your sword by express. You will not find it as handsome a weapon as it was the eventful day you parted with it, but you will welcome it back just the same. It may look as if it had seen hard service, but it has been hanging in my house since 1876, and only taken down when some visitor wished to examine the 'Sword of Shiloh.'
"You have recaptured the sword. I hope you will be able to retain it and show it to your friends for the next thirty-one years to come, at least.
"'Peace has her victories no less renowned than war.'
Yours truly,
"Samuel F. Blythe
"P.S. Let me hear from you when you receive the sword." S.F.B."
The sword and letter arrived at Brenham, Texas on March 3, 1893.
This story is told in numerous newspapers across the country early in 1893. The two letters above appeared in the Columbia (S.C.)
State of March 6th.
Dr. Thomas O. Hynes Find-a-grave memorial.
Samuel F. Blythe Find-a-grave memorial. NB: the long articles attached there contain some
very interesting reading.
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