Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-10-15
War "Reminiscences.

Leader. From detailed description of
the passage of the Rspidan aud engage
ment with the enemy, by the Union for
ce', on the 4th of May, 1864, we extract
the following graphic description of his
own capture-ths heroism of two Of our
own boys, chow we oil love to claim
ownership by calling them sour boys" }
the unfiinching and tender devotion of
brave and true men-and the death of
Capt RoLLIN p. CONVERSE, who like
many more, breathing words of hope and
patriotic love, gave up life and a bright
future while yet in the flush and glory of
young manhood that the cause of Right
and Justice might be perpetuated:
/ surrendered at discretion and was
Immediately disarmed and conducted to
the commanding officer of tie regiment
when the following conversation took
place:
Rebel Officer-Captain were you in
skirmish line out yonder?
Yank-I am prisoner, sir and must
decline to answer any questions touching
cur position or forces.
Reb.-That's all right, Captain, but
| would like to know whether you have
any skirmishers in there. Do you know
where Gordon's Brigade isl
Yank.-Gordon' Brigade! Why, l
don't know where | am myself!
Reb.-Then there are tao of US in
the same fix. To tell the truth am lost
myself. | got through an interval in
your lines, l think; at all events found
m, self in your rear without knowing
how got here and was tryieg to get
back when you'uns run over us. We
Just lay still and the Yanks passed us.
Yank.-In which direction did they
go9
Reb. Out yon direction.
Yank.-Ihen it strikes me that your
rear is 10 an opposite directions
Reb.-Weil, yes reckon so. "Cor-
poral, take this officer to the rear, find
The Provost Marshal and report him."
and | found myself travelling toward
Richmond in quite different company,
and under less favorable auspices than |
had ever imagined would be my lot
After running around about an hour we
at length found the provost guard of the
rebel army, aud 10 my chagrin, about
1900 companions in misfortune,
Some, like myself, wounded; some ex
pressing chargin and modification; 9th
ers evidently accepting their condition as
inevitable and determined to make the
most of it, expressi z more concern for
the success of our arms than solicitude
for themselves. A little distance from
the prison corrsII were the badly wound
ed, waiting for the minstrations Of the
surgeons.
There under huge tree. on blanket,
lay the gallant Captain Converse, pris
oner, wounded. dying; BY his side, with
one leg already amputated, was one of
his men, Corporal Frank Hare, with
cooked revolver, keeping at bay couple
Of rebel surgeons who were DESTROYS of
experimenting upon the yet breathing
body of bis leader. OH the heroI>m of
those two men was indeed sublime. The
Captain had been shot through the body
and both thighs. Ii WAS utterly iBpos
DAYS, yes, his moments were numbered,
and the end was nigh. He only asked to
be permitted to die in peace. tut the reb
ell surgeons were DESTROYS of experiment
ing upon him by what is known rs a hip
amputation. Converse bad beard the
conversation, and directed Hare to put
bis hand 10 certain pocket and get his
revolver that had been overlooked when
the rebs took his si,le arms, and with it
prevent their disturbing him. Hare did
so, and when they attempted to remove
his Captain be cooked the revolver, aud
in quiet, yet firm tones, warned them
that he y ouId shoot the first man that
attempted to lay hand on him Weap-
ons were pointed at him with threats to
kill him # he did not surrender the pis
tol Hare only laughed a; them, asking
them what they supposed he cared for
life with only one leg, until Disguised with
his persistency. and perhaps ashamed of
their proposition, they left them. One
rebel officer struck with admiration by the
bravery aud stoicism of these men, remark
ed that he would like regiment of such
men. This aroused the dying Captain,
who with eyes flashing with patriotic fire,
told him that he had the honor to lead a
hundred just such men, and said he, "the
north is full of them; sooner or later we
shall triumph, and your rebel rag will be
tramp!ed beneath their feet" With
these prophetic words he breathed out
his young life. a willing sacrifice on the
altar of his country.
You and /, comrades, have seen regi-
ments charge breast works when there
was death in every square foo. of air,
actuated by one common impulse, or in
spiration, when with the poet the could
say:
"Come flashing blade or kissing ball,
give my life, my hope. my all
But that upon yOn rocking height
The Stars and Stripes shall wave to-nightG
There are times when men under the
mad impulses of charge. will face
death with apparent nonchzlence. They
are intoxicated, mad with excitement
But these men were prisoners, both
wounded and one of them dying. Wor-
tbv arc they TO have their names en-