Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-05-15

7 Bliss Es Gen. Berry. sa4 ~
| To-day the body Of MAJ. Gen. Berry wa
escorted to the depot by long procession Q
soldiery-artillery, cavalry, infantry, all joine
to do honor to the gallant and honored dead
whilst many carriages filled with citizens at
testcd the respect in which the brave soldie
was held by the people. isi{f aG
My first acquaintance with Gen. Berry
then a Brigadier, was singular, About tn,
1st of June, 1862, I started for the Army O.
the Potomac in the capacity Of reporter 70,
the New York Tribune. reached the
" Chickahominy Swamps" in due time, and
at once entered upon my duties, which, be
assured, were accompanied by difficulties and
dangers. spent my first night in the
"Swamps," about mile and half toward
Richmond (six or seven miles distant on a
bee line) from Savage's Station, with Lieut..
John Andrews, Co. E, Goth Indiana, with
whom had been acquainted for twenty five
years. We had been school boys and college
mates together. He was shot through the
head at Malvern Hill But we had happy
night in our shelter tent, Notwithstanding the
rain. Poor John! He was as whole souled
a man and as brave soldier as ever lived
I cried like girl upon hearing of his death,
all glorious though it was.
The very next day the regiment was order
ed to support Gen. Berry, holding the left
of Kearney's Division, and, I think, the posi-
ton nearest Richmond. 1t was close up to
White Oak Swamp, and there were indica-
tons of an attack from the enemy, or at least
. reconnaissance in force. My pass happily
permitted me to 60 about where pleased,
even to the picket lines. l was perhaps
quarter of a mile beyond the main lines when
| met Captain who wanted to know "what
the ID l was doing there, with column of
rebels coming full tilt toward me, and driving
in our pickets on the double quick ?'' In an
swer to his demand for my pass, l showed
him my "papers," and saw at once that he
was none Of your McClellanites. He evident
ly belonged to the right ''set." 1t was
Capt. G. W. Wilson, Of Michigan, A. A. A.
G. on Gen. Berry's staff, and he had bullet
hole through his arm at this very time. By
this time we had got to an open space, and he
pointed out Gen. Berry, about quarter of a
mile distant, on ball-faced, whlte-footed bay.
But he was not coming our way, and Gen.
kearney soon after telling me that the fight
could not commence for an hour or so l went
back to camp to replenish the inner man.
Mathew" (the contrabands in our camps
we're all named after the evangelists) got me
\ little cold salt hoss F" and cold coffee, and
returned at once. Gen. Berry was taking
dinner as l was passing his tent. "Hold
On ~ said he. stopped, of course. "You
ire reporter for the New York Tribune, I
he continued. l bowed assent.
9 Well, sir ! you cannot pass these headquar-
;ersr' was dumbfounded, and thought
1ere was Mcclellan claquer who would send
ne beyond the lines quick, but replied that
had a peremptory pass from the War De-
oartment, authorizing me to 60 about where
pleased. CO." said the General, II mean
you cannot pass these headquarters without
;aking dinner with me. Mark bring some
goldfish and potatoes, soft bread and rasp-
berry jelly for this gentlemanr' Thus COM
nenced my acquaintance with Gen. Berry
The rebels who had threatened an attack
thought it better to put it off, after seeing the
made to receive them by Cen
zearney, and think never enjoyed din
1er SO we'll in my life.
During my stay in the Chicahominy swamps
became quite Familiarity acquainted with
Ien. Berry, at whose headquarters passed
several rainy days, and few when it was so
lot that you couldn't see straight. Among
III the Generals met in that great army l
ound Berry to be the most frank, candid,
md hospitable, except Hooker and Kearney.
Though from Maine, he had all the glorious
very, earnestness, ardent patriotism, sincere
ooliteness, candor, and unbounded hospitality.
he had fought in all the battles from York
own to Seven Pines, and in all had handled
lis troops with great skill and courage. He
t was who moved to the support Of Casey
Without orders, before it was known at the
of the army that his division
vas in danger; his brigade it was, composed
mostly of Michigan boys, which drove the
'ebels before them all the day long, on the
irst day of that memorable battle, and which,
IN tho next, would have been the first into
had Mcclellan had the courage
md capacity of second-rate brigadier. In
III the engagements since, Gen. Berry has
his reputation as an accomplished
'oldier, and justified the high opinion in
which he was held by such men as Philip
Kearney and Joseph Hooker. ....:..... -.
He has gone. The country has lost one of
It's best defenders, hisState one of its worthiest
citizens. My respect for his abilities, my
high regard for his true manhood, my attach
nent to him as man, my sorrow for his
1eath have impelled me to give my readers
these hasty lines about him. can assure
hem it is no unmeaning eulogy to apply to
him the words which were applied to Brutus:
The elements were so mixed in him that ma
ture might stand up and say to all the world,
this scas a man. LINKENsALE.
Washington City, May 4, 1868. f.
{ az Two decisions of an important militia