White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-09-17
Maj. Gen. John E. WOol-The Bloody
i-rsd Twenty.ninth." igrA .

% 4WCuGy eu1uIU. --at ~
A writer in the Washington Union, who dates
his Communication from St. Louis, after expires
sing his qualification at the recent presentation
Of sword to Major General John E. Wool,
gives some interesting incidents in the life Of
that gallant and veteran officer. We quote:
General Wool deserved this need Of iistinc.
ton from bis county at an earlier dAy, when a
Major in command of the Twenty ninth Regi-
ment Of Infantry at the battle of Plattsburg,
September, 1914, 49,.
He was one of the best diseiplinarfans in the
army and one on all occasions prompt to duty
himself, and requiring all under his command to
come Ito his own standard On this account
some considered him hard and severe, but this
discipline was the glory of the regiment.
On the morning of the 9th of September,
1914, when Governor Provost was marching on
Plattsburg, with an army-of 1880 men, mostly
the inrineible troops of Lord Wellington, Major
Wool, with 300 men of his regiment, at two
O'Clock in the morning, marched out the Beck
mantown road, eight miles distant. At sunrise
for refreshments; at thesamO time Major Wool
rode on in advance to reconnoitre the advancing
enemy. Very soon he returned rapidly, waving
his sword for US to form and take position in the
road. We Immediately fell into column, and
half way to the road we received the first fire of
the enemy. Pursuant to orders, We formed in
the road, and accepted the mode of street firing,
the first company firing and falling in the rear to
Dad, and in turn to fire again. In this way, grad
ually falling back in good order as the enemy
pressed upon us, we disputed every foot ofground.
Major Wool's horse was soon shot, and given to
his Sergeant Major Bedsford, who was badly
wounded, to ride into town, where Bodsford died
of his ound.
When we had gradually fallen back to within
two miles of Plattsburg, Captain Leonard came
up to our support with two pieces of light artil
lery. as also did a battalion Of rifemen; these
latter took position near the road by a stone
fence Here We made stand, formed in solid
column, until our foes came within pistol shot
We then fred, and opened to the right and left
when the artillery fred with awful effect; at the
same time the rihemen sent in their deadly mes
sengers. Here the enemy was thrown into mo-
mentary confusion, but instantly recovered,
pressed on, and came within an ace of taking
Capt. Leonard's guns,
Colonel Wellington led upon US battalion of
cavalry with great fury. Fifty men of our COM
pany leveled their muskets at his head, and he
fell to the ground nortally wounded, when his
command fell back
Afterthis bloody conflict, where our foes suf-
fered dreadfully, we soon fell back in good order
to the south side of the Saranac, taking off the
plank of the bridge in the face of the enemy,
and there making final stand, compelling the
assailants to take shelter behind the houses. The
bravery displayed by Major Wool and his men,
and the admirable regularity in their movements,
taught the British army lesson which helped
much to our glorious victory, after an unequal
contest of FIVE days and nights.
The severest forlorn hope that ever tested the
courage of a soldier was performed by twenty
men Of the Twenty-ninth, and ten more of an.
other regiment, in going unarmed with hay and
tar, and firing the dry pine anderbrush in the
very face of the British batteries.
1t is harder. for a commanding officer to be
,ool and firm in battle than it Is for his men.
After the first onset the men become excited and
eager to revenge their falling comrades, and
link but little of their own danger The great. |
st trial of soldier is in matching up to the foe
before actually engaging. He feels like he had
IN egg in his threat; and snOt relieved until the
Effect of powder and lead is seen.
"The bloody Twenty ninth, )" as twas called,
$ now about extinct-nearly all the men and
'ficers having gone down to the grave. Major,
low General Wool, and this writer, so far as
Known, are the only survivors Of this gallant reg
ment of infantry.
-