Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archive

The National Tribune from Washington, District of Columbia • 2

Location:
Washington, District of Columbia
Issue Date:
Page:
2
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

west of the Mississippi never had credit for the amount of work, hardships, and exposures they endured. The fact of there having been fought there but two groat battles, Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge, and two minor ones, what they did was swallowed up in the great events that occurred east of the Mississippi. Even rope's campaign opening up a portion of the Mississippi is hardly ever spoken of. The battle of Wilson Creek, the first signal contest west of the Mississippi, was fought before my command reached St. Louis.

The history oi that battle, and the credit that is due to the commander of that army, Gen. Lyon. and his men, are well known. There participated in the battle many officers who were afterward greatly distinguished; among them Schotield. Sturgis, Hunter and others.

It was the tirst battle that called attention to the West and to the troops west of he Mis' sLssippi. That battle was lost because a portion of the command did not com prehend and fulfill Gen. Lyon's orders. This mistake would have been overcome if it had not been for the loss in the battle of its commander, Gen. Lyon.

But the fighting of the troops and the boldness of the movement immediately attracted the attention of the country, and held it until after the battle of l'ea Ridge. BATTLE OF I'EA R1IK.E. The Army of the Southwest, which Gen. Curtis commanded, and which traveled JHK) miles from its base without water or rail communication, and lived oif a barren country, and which fought that decisive battle of l'ea Ridge and cleared the country until nearly the end of the war of any organized force of the enemy, had more marching and endured more suffering than the great armies 1 was connected with ea-t of the Mississippi, and three days' fighting at Pea Ridge compared favorably with any of our battles, when the numbejs engaged are considered. Then, again, at the end of the war, the sufferings of the troops that I took onto the plains in the Indian campaigns in the Winters of lSTo-Or.

were far beyond any of the sufferings of snv of our during the civil war. Their exposures through the cold weather, and the brutalities and butcheries of the Indians, which it was impossible for them to avenge retaliate, were beyond any description. Our early campaign in Missouri was. without previous experience. It was simply one soldier standing up against another in battle, and we had to learn all the tricks of camp life, and from experi ence how to take care of our soldiers.

A YOUXG QVAP.TERMASTER. There were a great many funny incidents in the l'ea Ridge campaign. The Southwestern Army was organized at ltolla, of which post i was in command. My (Quartermaster was Capt. Philip li.

Sheridan, and my Commissary Capt. M. P. Suiail. No one who knew or saw Sheridan then thought of the great position he was to occupy in our army, but when he took hold of that army and stripjied it and fed it.

TrfHJ miles away froui rail or water communication, we all knew that lie was a master mind. When he came to me at ltolla. the first order he gave was to take away, about three-quarters of our transportation. I think we had about two wagons to the company, and he brought u.s dewn to about four to a regiment. You can all appreciate the rebellion 1 had on my hands when I undertook to enforce oider.

I know7 he stood by and watched to see what I going to do. Every regiment and command entered a protest, and said some very unkind things of him. denouncing liim as a Regular olLcer who had no mercy ujkui a volunteer, but 1 had then had experience enough to appreciate our necessities, and star led in stripping my own regiment, and then enforcing the orders upon the others. were not long on that march before they appreciated the foresight of Sheridan. He had great energy and great resources.

lie had to run nil the mills along our line of march; he had to forage in every direction, and the punishment that he gave to some or the people to make them tell where their horses, forage and sweet potatoes were hidden would astonish those of our people who have been so horrified at the mild persuasions used for purposes in the Philippines. To show you how little we knew of war on our first inarch in January. 1S02, from ltolla to Springfield, ail the we had obtained were that Price and his army were in Springfield. The troops of our army divided into two commands, those under Sigel, composed of two divisions, commanded by Osterhaus and Asboth. mostly and two divisions of Americans commanded by Col.

Jeff C. and Col. E. A. Carr.

I commanded a brigade on the extreme left, in Carr's Division, and, in accordance with instructions. put out a company in front of me as skirmishers. It was dark, and impassible for us to much, and the first thing I knew I had los? ray skirmishers, and was in great distress until about daylight in the morning, when Sigel's guns and our own were booming away at Springfield. Mv company came back mounted on Confederate horses and mules -yold hacks that the enemy had left behind brought us news that there was no enemy in Springfield, and had not been for two or days. THEY GREW WISE.

As we marched along toward Pea Ridge through the country, Price's army faced us with a rear-guard only, hi- main body keeping a long distance ahead of us. At every stream they would halt our advance, and move out a couple of of their artillery, and put out a strong skirmish line, which would force armj into line, thinking we were going to have a battle. My brigade led the advance most of the time on that march, and a- soon as they would line up the officers would have the boys strip. They would throw down their chickens, sweet potatoes and everything they had gathered, and by the time thev had gone forward, and the enemy had the 111., or some other regiment, would come up and gobble what they had b'ft. About the third time bp lined up 1 discovered that every was hanging on to his chicken-, potatoes ami provender, and when I gave orders to the olonels to have them throw them aside, the boys made answfr: "No you don't! Colonel! You can't fool any more; we have fed those 111.

fellows as long as we propose to." VAN DOK.N's At Pea Ridge we were surrounded by Van Dorn, who placed two divisions in our rear, and he iomself on our right flank with McCullo.igh'* and Mcintosh's I The great l'ea Ridge divided his so it was iiopos-ihle for one part to supjiort the ether. His aruiv was twice as large as that Curtis, arid the fjet that it was dividoj enabled Curtis to whip his army in detail, so that Van army was virtually whipped before urtis got his entire force into the only coming battle after A an Horn's Arkansas forie had left for the South, Jeff C. having killed its two division commanders, and an Dorn had given Price orders to set out the best way he could, which forced linn to retreat to the toward White Ilivar. After the Pea Ridge campaign the battle of Prairie Grove was fought, under the command of CJen. F.

C. Herring, who was Lieutenant-Colonel of the iuh Iowa Inf In the battle of Pea R.dge. but as it was not in my command, I have no knowledge Of the detail of it, but from the reports it evidently was a sharp fight. JEFF THOMPSON'S M'RRFXPER. In the Spring of IKiT, Jeff C.

Thompson and his command surrendered to me on the Arkansas line. His command consisted of 0,000 men, but he found he could not gather them, and claimed that not half of his command was present. When I sked him how it was possible to get them all together, he suggested that I should them rations. I therefore loaded two Steamers from St. Louis, and sent them round by the White River, and Thompson issued his celebrated order bringing Ihe men all in, and there was gathered twice the number he had present Wif to my forces.

When Cked for his transportation he said that would show It to me, and out of the rtrers and bayous be run down about 100 canoes and flats, as the transportation he had to move his army with. It was at this time hp made that celebrated speech. When his soldiers came in without bringing their funs, as he had instructed them to do, bringing along old shotguns and muskets that were of no use, he said if they were not satisfied with the generosity of this Government they should emigrate to Mexico, and he denounced more than half of them as being soldiers whom he had never seen, stating that they had stayed in the brush and along the rnor banks in Arkansas until the had grown upon their heads and backs. rom this speech of his came the celebrated saying of "mossbacks." A part of my corps fought under that callant General. A.

J. Smith, in the Ranks campaign up the Red Iliver. and there is 'loubt bur that his generalship and the ghtiuff ol the two divisions of the Sixteenth orps saved that army from a great defeat. The commander of one of his dilutions. (ten.

T. K. Ransom, was a school-mate of mine, and afterward came to me in the Atlanta campaign, and. commanded a division under me in the Sixteenth Corps. When I look at the history of all of the operations west of the Mississippi River, and see their results, it is a great gratification to me to know that all the campaigns.

except possibly the one of Ra.nks, were victories for our side. AN INDIAN CAMPAIGN. When I returned to the command of rhe IJepartment of the Missouri in November, 'W4. I found all the Indian tribes on plains at war, occupying all the linos of communication through to the Pacific, and there was a great demand from the peopie upon the Government that those i.iics should bo opened. Gen.

Graut sent a dispatch, asking if a campaign upon the plains could be made in the Winter. spent eight or ten 3'ears of mv life the plains before the war, I that it could, if the were orojierly fed and clothed. His answer to 'hat was to place all the plains and Indian tribes within my command, instruct.ng me to make an immediate campaign them, and I had, therefore, to the troops that were at heaven worth, and other points onto the plains Midwinter, and I think it was the 15th Kails, that had 13 men frozen to death on the march to Fort Kearny. Those troops on that Winter march up and down those stage and telegraph lines id 40 davs opened them up. repaired the telegraph had the stages running.

Then came the longer campaign of the ne? Summer and next Fall, where Gen. command suffered so much, and Gen. Conner fought the batii- River. I remember of the Indians capturing a company of Michigan roops that were guarding a train that was going to Fort Ilalleck, loaded with rations and bacon. They tied some of the soldiers to the wheels of the wagons piled the bacon around the wagoas.

burning them up. A band of this partv of Indians was captured by a battalion of awnees who were far north of them and i tra.il aml surrounded the band that had committed these atrocities. The iff of them, an old man, came forward and spoke to Maj. North, who commandled the I awnees. and holding his hand up to his mouth he said that he was full of white men up to here, and was ready to lie.

he Indians virtually cleaned out the white people along the stage lines thev captured. I took from them a great main of their prisoners in the Fall of when they came into Laramie to make peace, and the stories of the suffering of the women were such that it would be impossible to relate them. "galvanized yanks." In connection wtih this campaign on I it is a singular fact that nearly onfederates took part. When I took command at St. Louis I found the prisons full of Confederate prisoners.

The war was then virtually at its end, and very anxious to be relieved from prison life, and as we needed forces on the plains, I obtained authority from the Department to organize what was fie United States Volunteers, and nJIed the regiments with these Con. federate soldiers, placing over them as officers men and officers selected from our own command, and thus organized a very effective force, which did excellent service on the plains, three quarters of which remained in that country after the war was over. THE MINNESOTA. The Largest Bbip Tnat Carries the Flag. The greatest cargo-carrying ship in the world is the Minnesota, whose measurement has just been completed by Bureau ot Navigation at Washington, i).

C. I his gives her a gross tonnage ot' 20,718 which exceeds that of any other vessel in the world. She is one of the vessels built tor the 1 rans-Paeifie traffic, and will ply between Seattle and China. She has ainim for fettle a cargo of 1,000 of coal, in order to give her steadiness and pay her expenses. he Minnesota, although not so long as her other steamships, is the largest American-built ship and the largest ship flying Stars and Stripes.

Although not of fth-aVix 8teamships, deeper than any other vessel. i he Minnesota has the greatest freight-carrying capacity. IIer extreme breadth is exceeded by that of only three other vessels. IIer enormous cargo-carrying capacity lies especially in her tremendous depth. The most remarkable feature of the new ship, and the one that made the deepest impression on the visitors, is her groat depth, the effect, when licking through the upper deck hatchway to the nreLuinnetb0tt0I? "lost impressive.

From the outer bottom to the navigating bridge there are 11 distinct decks or platforms. First, there is the thifi of Mix feet above this is the inner bottom of floor; then the orlop, the lower, the between, the main. Tind the upper decks, all of these within the plated structure of the vessel, and every one of them being built of steel plating. The whole inclosed structure is 50 feet in height. Above the upper deck are the 0 "pper promenade deck, and tin boat deck, the boat deck being 25V, feet above the promenade deck or HIV, feet above the keel; while another eight feet above this, or 00 feet above the kee is the navigating bridge.

Now since H.o vessc at her full draft will draw feet it follows that the navigating bridge will at that draft ho 57 feet above the va er she ntered lork Harbor, she drew something less than 20 feet, consequently the outer bottom of the ship; six feet above the water and the passengers on the upper JhTwLTeMin ahout 02 fwt above the water-line, When we remember that I waves seldom exceed feet in height, it follows that in the stormiest passengers on the Pacific will be able to look down upon the Pacific of observation 30 feet above their crests. Accommodations are prov ided for first-class passengers, 100 second-class passengers, 100 third-class passengers, and 1,000 steerage. There are Ton? Absent Minded. (Lippincqtt An old gentleman who was very absent tv hld for now ZeXr'hat "nd And then James would book AnT 8ir' or checkbook. And so on, until the old efntleman would sav at the old fentleman had to his room and all were in bed when hi? openT the the "I OOW "Wasn't it to go to bed, sir?" Of said the old gentleman, "so it was.

Thank you, James UST DAYS OF I ANDERSONVILLE PRISON. Ending the History of the Torture-Pen. Prisoners Shipped to Vicksburg and to Sight of the Old Flag. BY J. w.

COT KM, CO. 12th IOWA. Some comrade that the last days at days when the prison was broken written up, and wishes to know the feelings of the comrades when they look their departure from that place, when they hrst beheld the old Flag, etc. Having been there, 1 will endeavor to give the time of our departure, how we went and where; but the emotions that possessed the hearts of the men must ever lemaiu imaginary to those who were not there, and to those who were, the memory of a dream almost lost, the result of their physical and mental condition then, and the lapse of time since. The following, though written for another purpose, is sent in response to the comrades request: It is useless to attempt a description of this place.

Language is as powerless to convey as the mind of has not been to conceive an idea of the horrors of that place. Imagine, if you can, want, tilth, vermine, disease, and death, each at its worst, all conspiring to make the lot of man miserable, and you have then but a faint idea of a place which, for want of anything else with which it can be compared, will simply be called Andersonville. The prison, after July, 1804, consisted of a rectangular field containing about acres, extending nearly north and south, nearly three times as long as it was wide, fenced by a stockade of logs hewn so they would stand closely together, set five feet into the ground and 20 feet in height. Outside this stockade were two others, partially completed, at least, one lt? and the other 12 feet in height. At intervals were covered perches (on the inner stockade) for the use of the guard, 35 in 'number.

Within, about 20 or 23 feet from the stockade, was a row of posts, perhaps three feet in height, on top of it had not at some time been a light strip of pine; this was the dead line, to cross, to touch, or even to reach beyond which was sufficient to justify the guard in shooting without warning. Across the prison, near the middle, from west to east, flowed a small brook, bordered on either side by a strip of swampy brook entered the prison after receiving the wash and filth from the Confederate camps and the wash and off-flow from the slaughter and cookhouse of the prison. This furnished all the water for the use of the prison until, after a heavy rain storm, Aug. 13, 1804, when a spring of clear, cold water broke out. between the "dead line" and the stockade, on the north side of the creek, so far up on the hillside that the water was con-1 veved by a trough, resting on the line" to the prisoners.

Thus was the famous "Providence Spring." On the west side of the prison were two gates, one on either sjde of the creek, known as the North and South gates respectively. Each of these had a sifialler stockade around it, and outside the line of the main stockade. The doors, both outer and fastened on the outside, and the inner door was never opened until the outer one was closed and fastened, except, perhaps, when a large number of new prisoners were admitted; at such times a strong force of armed guards were in attendance. The South gate was the only one in general use when the 12th Iowa boys were there. To this place came lark.

Cotes and Koehler. with the other Macon prisoners. On their arrival an ofii cer came to take the name, company and reariment of each. Clark said to one near for him; 1 know him. I hats old Wins: he's a devil." Clark had VCT.o Prisoner at Tuscaloosa, in 1S02 when Wire gained an unenviable reputation as commander of the prison.

While thus employed, an old German, a prisoner, had noticed that Wirz spoke in broken English, sought to gain his good will, presumably, by answering him in German. Wins sprang at him like a dog, caught him by the neck, threw him to the foot of the little hill on which they stood, and poured forth a vohrme of abuse and profanity too vile for repetition anywhere. As soon as the record was completed they marched to the South gate and were at once admitted to what proved to be their home until the war was over Hut what a sight met their eyes! No pen can describe it; this pen shall not try. There they were in the stockade, no shelter save what they brought with them; the weather cold, their raiment thin. 1 was inter, the coldest that had ever visited the region the ground was frozen ami the mercury was indicating but 10 degrees above zero.

They entered the stockade, as barren of trees or anv other vegetation as a city street. All felt'that in order to live something must be done or 10 of the new prisoners, including the Iowa boys, decided to go to work on the cooperative plan in building a shelter. Five men in each hundred were allowed to go out each day for wood; they were obliged to go to the woods for it, and could have such as they could bring in on their shoulders. In time, they would have enough timber to build a house, provided none of it was used or stolen. To prevent the latter, every night, until their home was erected, the met.

tied the accu mulated pieces of wood to their bodies, that they might not be taken without their awaking, and simply lay down on the frozen ground to get what sleep they could They leveled a place on the hillside large enough for all to lie down upon, arected one instead of wood, brought In a lot of nine boughs, with which the frame was cpvered and, lastly they covered all with severai inches of sand, from this time they were SPafnnnHeIyi, one trouble they found, however, it rained about six hours in their cave after it stopped rain mg outside. 1 1 In March, they began to parole men from the prison, and send them through the lines near Vicksburg, Miss. Officials around the prison made quite a speculation of this. Those who had money and were willing to pay for the privilege could go first. In fact, "chances" to go as openly sold as at an auction.

Who will give for the chance to be paroled and sent through the lines on the first was cried out at the gate time after t.me. On the promise made by a prisoner, his name was entered on the list, the money paid when he was paroled; when the train arrived, his name was called, and he was known no more at Audersonville. As time passed the rate was reduced, until a blanket, a pair of shoes, or anything of any value whatever ZTJ Jvs until the road to Vicksburg was cut by the Federal cavalry, when, for a short time, no more men were sent out. On the evening of April 5, ISO5, it was announced at the gate that all would start r.IHr0,?1"* nnion and i Hi- anniversary of Shiloh (the men named had been captured at Shiloh) they wpnt by rail to Albany, crossed Flint River, and down its eastern The Itch Fiend That is Salt Rheum or of the outward manifestations erf scrofula. It comes in itching, burning, oozing, dtying, and scaling patches, on the face, head, hands, legs or body.

It cannot be cured by outward blood mast be rid of the imparity to which it is due. Hood'sSarsaparilla Has cared the most persistent and difficult cases. Accept no substitute tor Hood's (no substitute sets like it. bank about five miles to Blue Spriug. Here chey curapeanintil April 11, when they returned t(J the stockade again.

One shortly utter their return there a good deal of cheering in tlie Cunfedclite camp. One of the boys a guard 4ts tneauiug, who said: "Peace is laml.t'i When asked on what terms he said: "Inbelieve then recognize our independences" And for an instant he felt he would rarfhert stay there until he starved than lmthat prove true. At a venture the prisoner said: "That can not be; you know Left has The guard the fact, but said they haJ been on pain of death, not to tell the April -ill, iiat evening, the Confederate calling out men. When asked how many would be taken, he replied that every man would be out of there before morning. Before midnight the last of the prisoners left the stockade, never to return, and as they went they burned everything they could not carry along.

While marching toward the station, as they looked back and saw the thick, black smoke roll up from within the stockade, lit up by the red flames of the burning pitchpine beneath it was frequently said it was a perfect picture of hell. They went on board the cars and moved northward, reaching Macon. shortly after daylight, where they remained about one hour. While there Capt. irz, in classic language, told them they had to go back, but not to prison: they might kill him if he took them back to the pen.

In a few moments they started. hen they passed Fort Valley everybody was moving, taking what valuables necessities they could with them. Wilson's Cavalrv were coming. It was later reported that Wilson reached Fort Valley from the west only half an hour after the last of the passed going south. They stopped at Andersonville Station lone enough to draw rations of hard bread, and passed on to Albany, then made a three days' march to Thomasville, thence by rail to Lake City, where new paroles were made and signed: thence eastward by rail to Baldwin, a station 20 miles west from Jacksonville, and at that time the end of the railroad track: the territory between Baldwin and Jacksonville being neutral ground.

Here, on the 29th day of April, two weeks after the assassination of the immortal Lincoln, 3.3(H) men were literally turned loose. Capt. Wire standing on the rifle pits, beside the track, pointing to the railroad embankment, said: "Boys, there vour an order they were not slow to obey. That was the last they saw of Wirz. who, alone, of all the guilty, was so soon to pay the penalty of his jnisdeeds.

A man more cordially or more justly hated by every one whom misfortune chanced to place in his power probably never lived. Some reached Jacksonville that day: others. not so strong, camped out where night overtook them. Among these were Cotes and Koehler: the later, on account of hfs broken leg. becoming so lame he could scarcely walk, when they had traveled about half the distance, was compelled to camp for the night.

While moving from one prison to another in the South prisoners were always told they were going to be exchanged, as they were then much less trouble to the guard. So these two men, fearing they yet might deceived, went so far away from tiie'i railroad embankment to make their camp that they could scarcely be found in the event anything should happen to interrupt their passage through the lines. Here, entirely alone, on the borders of a swamp of unknown extent, separated from any human beings by a vast thicket of scrub pines, they built a fire, baked their last corn bread, and went to bed. that is. lay down on the ground.

Hardly had they fallen asleep when they were awakened by the most unearthly noise, like' feroaning of some huge beast in pain. -Frightened, they asked one another what it could be, and finally concluded it miist be alligators. Then the question arose' if they had not better go hack to the old embankment; it was settled by theirTemaining where they were. as these saurians and their late guards they preferred the alligators. In tjie morning they crept cautiously forth, peering' through the stnnted pines; to discover which way the prisoners were going, before they exposed themselves to discovery.

Finding them going toward Jacksonville they joined the crowd. After going two or three miles, they had passed the end of the track from. Jacksonville, Koehler became so lame they began to fear he would be unable to get through, and, finally he was compelled to stop. Soon -the whistle of a locomotive was heard: thinking the cars were coming to their relief, the crowd seated themselves and awaited their arrival as patiently as men could under the circumstances. They had not long to wait when they became fully satisfied by the sound of the whistle, which was sounded at brief intervals, that the train was certainly approaching them.

About half a mile from them was a curve in the road, which was bordered with tall timber that cut off all view beyond. As far as could be seen nearly every railroad tie had a man sitting on either end of it, each one trying his utmost to preserve self-control, yet not one able to refrain from craning his neck to its fullest extent, and in so doing slowly rising to his feet, suddenly to make the discovery that he was standing on tip-toes, looking down the track in the direction of the approaching train. Upon making this discovery he would sit down as quietly and as quickly, as if in obedience to a military command, only to repeat the maneuver in a few moments. But when the train came nearer, and the music of a band was heard playing "The Star-Spangled Banner." "The Red. White and Blue," and other patriotic airs, all restraint was thrown aside.

The cars appeared in sight, backing around the curve: on the first, a box car, stood a man with the old Flag! lag they had so longed to see for so many terribie months! The Flag jfor which they had endured so much! Yes; there could be no mistake! It was there, the same old Flag, Old Glory, and, gathered around it was a full band playing as if their lives depended on it. The men did not cheer: they scarcely knew what they did; their joy was beyond expression; for certainly they never before saw, and probably will never again see a more welcome sight. And yet there was a deep sorrow in their hearts for the thousands their fellow-prisoners who slept, and stiil sleep, at Andersonville. As the train came nearer they discovered that every member of the band was black! what cared they for that! They had long since learned to regard the blacks as iritfads, and what could be more fitting thannthflt men who had suffered so long and tnach for freedom, should be welcomed bade beneath the liberty-giving folds of the ftld Flag by men they had helped to The traOfc picked up the men along the road and them to Jacksonville. Upon theft arrival at that place they were conducted Yo a campground, where rations were issuM immediately.

They were ordered intof'line and a small loaf of bread was given man. They were told that men would be along with more rations soon. As they stood there momentarily expecting Hemething more, they could not refrain from picking at the bread and eating It, which- doon had disappeared and nothing elfee hfrd come. The wisdom of this manner of issuing rations is seen, when attention Is called to the fact that they had for their first meal eaten a light one and had eaten it slowly. For several days rations were issued to them three times a day, It not being considered safe to give them a whole day's rations at once.

The 8urgeon who examined them while there testified before the Military Commission that tried Cant. Wire that of the 3.300 men examined by him there were less than 200, who did not require medical treatment, and not one-half of those who survived would ever be fit to resume their former occupations. These men remained at Jacksonville about two weeks, and while there were supplied with new clothing. They went to Annapolis, by steamer; thence to their respective States, to be mustered out. LINCOLN AND STANTON.

(Continued from 1.) rafting war that had divided the country had lulled, and private grief was hushed by the grandeur of the result. The Nation had its new birth of freedom, soon to be secured forever by an amendment to the Constitution. His persistent gentleness had conquered for him a kindlier feeling on the part of the South. His scoffers aiming the grandees of Knrope began to do him honor. The laboring classes everywhere saw in his advancement their own.

All peoples sent him their benedictions. And at this moment of the height of his his humility and modesty added charms, be fell by the hand of an assassin: and the only triumph awarded him was the march to the grave. Not in vain has Lincoln lived, for he has helped to make this Republic an example of justice, with no caste but the caste of humanity. The heroes who led our armies and ships into battle and fell in the service Hid not die in vain: they, and the myriads of nameless martyrs, and he, the chief martyr, gave up their lives willingly 'that Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." ommander and Companions, may I not, in closing, borrow other well-known words as fittingly applicable to our beloved Chief Martyr: He spoke among you, and the men who spoke: Who never sold the truth to serve the hour, paltered with Eternal God for power; Great in council and great in war, Rich in saving common sense. And, as the greatest only are, In his simplicity sublime.

"hose life was work, whose language rife vim rugged maxims hewn from life; Who never spoke against a foe;" To him: The path of duty was the way to glory; He that walks it, only thristing For the right, and learns to deaden Love of self, before his journey closes. He shall find the stubborn thistle bursting Into glassy purples, which outredden All voluptuous garden roses. Let his great example stand Colossal, seen of every land. And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure: Till in all lands, and through all human story The path of duty be the way to glory; And let the land whose heartha he saved from shame. For many and many an age.

At civic revel, and pomp, and game. Attest great Commander's claim, With honor, honor, honor, honor to him. Eternal honor to his name." 000 Yea. "Let the sound of those he. wrought for, And the feet of those he fought for.

Echo round his bones for evermore." A MISSOURI BULL RUN. An Ex-Confederate Tells a Fanny Story of His Experiences, In the Summer of 1801 Col. Martin Green was appointed a Brigadier-General of the Secession forces in the lift Congressional District of Missouri, and he gathered up 1,800 men to stamp out Unionism in that section, and particularly to wipe off the earth Col. David Moore, and his "1st Northeastern Missouri Infantry," which were stationed at Athens, Mo. Dr.

J. T. Norris, now a prominent physician of Kahoka, was one of Green's band, the flower of the land," as the Secession papers described them, and gives this account of the battle: "Our men got off their horses and tied them to trees and fence posts. They were armed with shotguns and squirrel rifles that would shoot possibly from 75 to 150 yards. Then we had two cannon, a six and a nine-pounder.

"The Federals lined up in the form of an L. Our cannon were unlimbered and the gunners went to work. To me it looked homicidal to point those grim monsters at human beings. Remember, none of us knew any more of war beyond what we had read in the books. "The cannoneers applied their matches.

I shuddered and turned my head. Two awful detonations the balls lit in Iowa. They graciously traveled about 300 feet above the enemy, who jeered us. "For two hours the battle raged on flanks and center. Word came to us that the Des Moines River was almost choked with the corpses of the Federals.

It was said the river was becoming a rich carmine irie' cheered and started forward. I hen we made a disagreeable discovery? the enemy's muskets would shoot more than twice as far as our hunting guns. We might just as well have been shooting in the air, for all the good we were doing. 4 Of course, the thing to have done on learning of the superior range of their guns was to charge 'em. There were enough of ns to have gathered in the whole crowd, brass buttons and all.

But their guns could outshoot ours, and it was as easy as adding two and two to fignre out that they must necessarily be able to lick us. Every blessed Confederate turned himself into a lightning calculator to work out this result, and then made a break for his horse. "Did I run, too? Yon bet I did. It seems funny enough now, but I thought I had a fine reason for it then. In spite of the Des Moines River being dammed by dead blnecoats, we felt certain there were enough left to reach us with those terrible long-range muskets.

"You never saw such a mfx-np as when the fugitives tried to unhitch their horses Few waited to untie them. Some slashed the bridles with a knife; others tried to jerk them loose by main force. The horses imbibed the terror of their masters and jumped around frantically. Many broke loose and rushed wildly across the field adding to the uproar. Some of the excited soldiers struck out across the country without taking time to get their horses.

The terrible engines designed to terrify the dragged off the field and hidden in some hazel brush. "The rout didn't stop until the Confederates got back to their homes in Marion Lewis, Shelby, Scotland, Knox and Schuyler Counties. You never saw men so homesick in all your life. During all this panic and confusion there was 110 attempt by the enemy to pursue. While Col.

Moore's soldiers could outshoot us, they couldn't outrun that day. "After the excitement had worn off a bit, and the boys had rested, they met and reorganized. Every man said he wasn't scared up there at Athens; he 'just wanted to get They laughed over their display of panic, but were grimly determined it should never occur again. "Those men who ran the hardest developed the finest soldiery, yon ever saw. They joined the regular Confederate army, and many of them atoned with their lifeblood for their scare at Athens Inconsequential as the battle was, it gave them in after days the equipoise of veterans and taught them how to stand and be shot at without flinching." Wall Defined.

(Philadelphia Inquirer.) "What your idea of a truly good wife?" asked the youth. "A truly good wife," answered the Commmsville "is one who loves her husband and her country, but doesn't attemnt to run either." Thousands of people come or send every year to Dr. B. F. Bye for his Balmy Oil to cure them of cancer and other malignant diseases.

Out of this number a great many very old people, whose ages range from seventy to one hundred years, on account of distance and infirmities of age, they send for home treatment. A free book is sent telling what they say of the treatment. Address the home office. Db. B.

F. Bye, Indianapolis, Ind. (If not afflicted, cut this out and send it some suffering one.) TEST IT FREE! 5,000 Packages to be distributed free to all who apply. Gloria Tonic for Rheumatism Gout. For rheumatism that horrible plague, I discovered a harmless remedy, and in order that every suffering reader may learn about it I will gladly mail a box free.

This wonderful remedy, which I discovered by a fortunate chance, has cured many cases of 30 and 40 years' standing, among them persons of upwards 80 years of age. No matter what your form of rheumatism is. this remedy will surely cure you. not mind if other remedies have failed to cure SMITH AND HIS GUERRILLAS. He Kills an Unarmed Soldier of the 6th Iowa.

An Exciting Midnight Adventure to Capture Him, and the Burning of Hie House. Editor National Tribune: Comrade V. Nevins, in a recent issue of The National Tribune, asks for information of Smith's Guerrillas. While I admit that I ain not competent to give a complete histry of this notorious character, who kept middle Tennessee and northern Mississippi at a fever heat for many months; but by reason of being quartered within the region of his operations, and having had some experience with his methods of warfare, I will narrate what I know about him, as I believe that part is unwritten history. On Wednesday, Jan.

7, 3 p. the 6th Iowa went into camp at Davis's Mill, on Wolf Itiver, about five miles southwest of Grand Junction, Tenn. The army was returning from its disastrous central Mississippi expedition, where it had been subsisting for several weeks on corn served on the ear, and in the evening above mentioned two comrades of Co. started out foraging, but as they took no arms, their mission was purely a peaceful one. They proceeded some distance, and it was getting dark when they came to a large frame farmhouse standing back from the road.

They entered the gate, and had just reached the steps which led up to the porch, when a man came out of the door with a gun in hand, which he aimed at the nearest soldier and fired. The charge went through the head of the first comrade, who fell dead in his tracks. In the seconds intervening after the discharge of the gun the second comrade jumped behind some shrubbery in the yard and had the good fortune to hear the second charge of the gun tearing through the brush; but, owing to the darkness or the distance, the second shot did no harm, but greatly stimulated the soldier's endeavor to increase the distance between himself and his would-be slayer. Having reached the woods, under cover of darkness, he escaped, and returned to the camp of the regiment as soon as possible, and reported the facts to headquarters Whether the incident was reported to brigade or division headquarters I know not, but about 10 p. m.

three companies of the regiment were called up and ordered to prepare for marching without haversack or blankets, but 40 rounds, the usual business accompaniment of the soldier of that period. Maj. Corse (afterwards General) had charge of the expedition, and we started out, and proceeded cautiously with many stops, until 1 o'clock, when we halted in front of a large farmhouse. We were then informed that the owner of the house had shot and killed Noah Webster, a member of the 6th Iowa, and we were there to get the body of the dead comrade, and. if possible, capture the man who did the deed.

The troops were placed at positions so as to surround the house, and a detail of six men, of which I was one, was ordered to go to the house and search it. On reaching the steps that led to the porch I saw the dead body of the comrade, and reaching the door we rapped it in no gentle manner, but getting no response, the order came "Knock the door down," when Comrade John Kee and myself put oar shoulders against it and forcetfit open. On entering we struck a light, and proceeded to search the house, going from one room to the other until all were examined. In the kitchen we found a long dining-table set, as if just ready for the family to sit down and devour. Everything looked very inviting to a hungry soldier, but then we thought that when a man would shoot and kill an unarmed soldier, he would not be too good to place poison in the food if he thought he could thereby inflict more de? struction to his enemies.

We, therefore, wisely left the supper alone. In the parlor was an old-fasliioned piano, which Comrade Fleming opened, and a moment later was on the keys with his feet stamping vigorously, showing as he said, "how a Yankee boy could play the piano." In a room upstairs were several bales of goods, which we cut open and found they contained blankets of the best quality and were evidently for shipment south. In a stand drawer I found papers and pictures. Among the papers the following pass was found, and has been retained in my pos-? session ever since: "Headquarters Thirteenth Corps, Department of Tennessee. "Lagrange, Nov.

13, 1802. "Mr. R. W. Smith has permission to come from his house southeast of Lagrange.

to this place and return. Good for four days. "By command of Grant. 'Wm. S.

Hilbyn, "Colonel anl Provost-Marshal-General." To statexthe case more correctly, tliis man, R. W. Smith, was posing as a loyal Tennessean, and had permission to pass in and out of our lines, and at the same time was Captain of a guerrilla company which were making night attacks and capturing our pickets, and hanging or shooting them as soon as captured. The frequency with which such events occurred made it necessary to change the position of the pickets every night, so that this band, even if through the lines during the day time, could not tell where the pickets would be at night and appear in their rear and surprise them. At this juncture the croaking voice of Corse was heard calling for all to come out, which we did with some reluctance, as we all wanted more loot.

I had a pair of the new blankets and a fine volume of the Life of Bonaparte when I left the house. On reaching the outside I found the boys busy building fires around the house and some of the outhouses, which were soon shooting upward the red flames of destruction. The negroes, too, were aroused by the noise and fire, and came out of their house in squads to see Massa's house on fire. Among the crowd that gathered was an unusually well-dressed man. with redtopped boots, pants stuffed inside, as if of some consequence, and Maj.

Corse immediately spotted and grabbed him and placed him under arrest. The man seemed perfectly white, and begged off, saying: "I am a nigger slave; don't take me." Other negroes confirmed his story that he was one of Smith's slaves, so that he was not retained a prisoner very long. A picture was shown to him. and he recognised it as a son of W. it.

Smith, who was at that time south, in the rebel army. j'ou, nor mind if doctors say you are incurable. Mind no one, but write me at once, and by return mail you will receive the box, aUo the most elaborately illustrated book ever gotten up on the subject of rheumatism absolutely free. It will tell you all about your case. You get thia remedy and wonderful book at the same time, both free, so let me hear from yoa at once.

Address JOHN A. SMITH, 370 Gloria Milwaukee, Wis. We remained long enough to see that the fire had thoroughly destroyed the house, when we started back to camp carrying the dead comrade with us, and arrived about daylight, after a tiresome but eventful night trying to capture Smith.For the next six months Smith's Guerrillas were quite active in that vicinity, but in the end were captured, and he and several of his men were shot by one of the cavalry regiments guarding the W. P. Kramer, Co.

I. 6th Iowa. RECENT LITERATURE. SANTA CLAUS' CANDY CIRCrS. Verses and sketches by Olive Aye, by A.

T. Williamson. Published by Laird Lee, Chicago. An unusually clever and original holiday hook for children. Freddie takes a trip to Santa Claus Land, and on his arrival he finds Santa's palace is made entirely of candy.

Good old St. Nicholas shows him through his mysterious palace, his gorgeous rooms and candy halls, exhibiting his "Wonderful Candy Circus." HISTORY OF THE 2D PA. HEAVY ARTILLERY. By George W. Ward.

Published by the author at 40 North 5th Philadelphia. The 2d II. A. was a regiment with a most notable history. It was originally organized as the 112th and then changed into a heavy artillery regiment.

It was in the fortifications around Washington until 18G4, when it joined the Army of the Potomac, and thence forward it had a tumultuous history in the very thick of the fighting, until the capture of Petersburg. Its history has been well told by the comrade, who is the Secretary of the Survivors' Association. The book is embellished with many portraits of the members of the regiment, and with maps of the battles and marches, and it contains a complete roster of all who served in the regiment. It is a fine monument to a magnificent fighting body. and Notes.

Capt. Ma ban's history of "The War of 1812" reaches in the October nnmber of Scribner's the sea fights between the Chesapeake and Shannon and the Enterprise and Boxer. A Canny Widow. Genuine Scotch canniness shines through "this story which The Philadelphia Ledger publishes: "A widow one day in Spring was seen by the clerk of her parish crossing the churchyard with a watering pot and a bundle. 4Ah, Mistress said the clerk, 'what's yer bus'ness sic like gear as that y'are 'Ah, weel, Mr.

replied the widow, 'I'm just to my gudeman's grave. I've got some hay seeds in my bundle, which I'm going to sow upon it, and the water in the can is just to gi'e 'em a Spring 'The seed winna want the rejoined the clerk. They'll spring finely 'That may well replied the widow, 'but ye dinna ken that my gudeman, as he lay a-deeing. just got me to promise that I'd never marry again til! the grass had grown above his grave. And, as I've had a good offer made me but yestreen, ye see, I dinna like to break my promise, or be kept a lone widow, as ye see me Not Worth Mentioning.

Customer (getting his hair cut) "Didn't you nip off a piece of the ear then?" Barber Sah, a small piece, but not 'nough to affect da hearin', Sah." PROTECT YOUR IDEAS Patents procured. No allowance, no fee. Send rough sketch and description for free opinion. confidential. MILO B.

STEVENS Estab. 1834. 89914th St N.W., WASHINGTON, D. 0. Branches at Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit.

P. PENNEBAKER. JOHW PAUL JONet PENNEBAKER JONES Attorneys and Counselors, 1331 STREET, WASHINGTON, D. a Special attention to adjustment of of civil war Volunteer We think very tew officers were property Widows (even if remarried), or other are aiUltied. Write for details.

We are especially anzioas to eommnntcate with officers (or their heirs) who(l) were not paid fbr recruiting services, or for services rendered prior to muster in; (21 who were denied bounty by reason of promotion; (S) who were dismissed from the servloe; (4) who were dented travel pay by reason of resignation fbr personal reasons or convenience; (5) who were not mustered and paid because command was below minimum number, and who luet U. pay by reason of stale payment. PENSIONS Over 94,000 secured. "The firm is worthy of confidence upon the grountf both of competency and Natiowai Tbibttxr, April 1, 1897. Founded 1884 by MUo Stevens, 14th Ohio Battery- MILO B.

STEVENS 14th Kt. K.W., Waakiagtea, D. C. Brandies at Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit. Wanted, Land Warrants.

will pay Caah fbr Land Warrants Issued fbr services in any war. whether they are properly assigned or not If original warrant has beau lost of destroyed, I will procure duplicate for ownera Correspondence solicited. WL HOIKS, Balltflac, Wsaklaitea. D. C.

JOSEPH H. HUNTER, WASHINGTON. D. C-. Is a very successful Pension and Patent Attorney.

Now wrttA him THE 1804 COLONY. Those wlsbiqgto Join our New IB04 Georgia Colony WUi.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

About The National Tribune Archive

Pages Available:
13,791
Years Available:
1877-1911