Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-10-21
AN ADVENTURE IN THE WAR.
BY HON. OLIVER P. MORTON.

ments IN the Union army that fought the |
battle of Shiloh, and many OF them
suffered severely. Immediately upon n get
ting the news OF the battle, as the Cover
nor of the State, caused to be prepared
such sanitary supplies as would contrib
ute to the comfort and recovery Of the
wounded and sick, and chartered several
steamboats, to carry them to the field, and
to bring home such Of the wounded as
were capable of being removed. l also
determined TO go upon one Of these boats
to visit the Indiana troops, inspect their
condition, and see what could be done for
their comfort and health. By way OF ex-
PLANTATION, / will state what may not be
familiar to all your readers, that the
battle of Shiloh was fought upon the west
bank of the Tennessee river, about one
hundred and fifty miles above the point
where it empties into the Ohio. It was
arranged that the boat should start from
Evansville, on the Ohio river, which is
on the southwestern border of Indiana,
on Sunday morning, and the supple
were forwarded 30 as to be on board at
that time. To get there myself, was to
leave indianapolis, at eight o'clock on
Saturday evening, on the Terre Haute
train, and on my arrival at Terre Haute,
take special train for Evansville, which
Ia one hundred miles south of that point.
Calvin Fletcher was an old and highly
esteemed citizen of Indianapolis, one of
its pioneers, a lawyer by profession, but
for many years had applied himself to
banking and agriculture, and was one of
the wealthiest men of the State. He was
devout Christian, distinguished for his
benevolence, and welded an influence
second to that of no other citizen. He
was also man of intense patriotism, and
ia xua MT Tyo mir
and heart to the support of the Govern
ment and the preservation of the Union,
He was among the foremost in all efforts
for the relief of our army, and took part
in the first organization of the Indiana
Sanitary Commission, and worked with il
faithfully until the end of the war.
When l announced my purpose to visit
the army he at once volunteered to go
with me, and said he would be in readi.
ness to start at the time fixed.
About three hours before the time for
departure he came to my office, in the
State House, and said that circumstances
had transpired which would prevent him
from going, but that he was determined
to be represented, and would send his son
"Mily;' and said he, "If 'Mily' never
gets back will take care of his wife and
children" This was the familiar name
by which he called Miles ]. Fletcher, a
young man of twenty-eight years, and
then State Superintendent of Public In
struction, an Office to which he had been
elected by the people the year before. He
was o ripe scholar, possessing classical
and scientific attainments of q very high
order, and was, at the time of his election,
Professor in the Asbury University, al
Greencastle. He had an ardent tempera-
ment, pure character, lofty ambition, and
was, perhaps, all things considered, the
most promising young man in the State.
70 l arrived at the depot about twenty min
utes before the train was to start, and
found the old gentleman there. Said he,
have put in the baggage car box con-
tanning two dozen bottles of Catawba
wine for the use of yourself and Mlly,
for the food and water may be bad where
you are going. 'Mily' is not here yet,
and l am in hurry, and if do not see
see him, tell him that if he never gets
back l will take care of his wife and
children" 1t was the second time he had
made the remark, and it struck me with
peculiar force. Had he a presentiment
that his son would never return? The
journey was not entirely free from danger,
for the banks ofthe Tennessee river were in
many places infested with guerrillss, who
sometimes fired upon passing boats; and
there were other perils beyond those at
tending ordinary life at home. He then
bade me good by, and, with "God bless
you," left the depot. In few minutes
the Professor arrived in high spirits, and
] gave him his fathers message. We went
into the sleeping car, and being very tired
from the labors of the day, at once en-
tered the berth, the Professor assisting
me in undressing, and saying he would
call me before we arrived at Terre Haute.
He said he should sit up to see his wife at
Greencastle, which was on the line of the
road, and where his family resided; that
he had telegrsphed her to be at the de-
pot when the train passed, and to bring
his overcoat. Just before midnight he
aroused me, and said: 1--WE will be in
Terre Haute in few minutes" He was
very lively, and said, among other things,
have the advantage Of you. l have
kissed my wife since you have kissed
yours; she received my dispatch, and was
at the depot waiting for me-" at Terre
Haute we left the Car, and entered the
special train which was in waiting to take
us to Evansville, and which consisted of a
locomotive and a single passenger car.
The conductor said we hould make a very
quick run, for they had telegraphed down
tne road to have the track clear, and VIC
II,
soon started at rapid gait, and the whole
party, some nine persons in all, were wide
awake and full of fun. The Professor
produced d small carpet. bag, from
which he took some lunch, which was
served around, and while we were discuss
ing it he told several stories-and he was
an excellent story-teller-of his speech
making tour the year before, in the coun.
ty OF Sullivan, through which we were
about to pass, and after some twenty or
thirty minutes spent in this way, the COM
pany made their several dispositions for
the ride. The stove had been taken out
of the car, and in the middle, where ii
had stood, the seats ran lengthwise, in
stead of crosswise, in the usual way. ]
laid down with my head to the rear, and
my feet forward, on the long side seat, and
the Professor laid down ON the same seat,
with his head TO the front, which brought
our feet together. We were soon asleep,
and about that time entered the
county of Sullivan, in which there lived
class of people who were disstfected to-
ward the Government, and sympathized
strongly with the rebellion, and some OF
them carried their opinions to the extent
OF overt treason, and had already obtain.
ed for the county dissgreesble noto
riety.
We had not been long asleep when we
were awakened by terrible shock and
crash. Immediately sprang to my feet,
which brought me at the side of the Pro-
lessor, and felt that the Car was still on
the track and moving. The Professor
threw his feet off the seat upon the floor,
raised his head from the carpet-bag upon
which it was lying, and with his left hand
threw up the window at his side, and put
his head out to see what was the matter
1t flashed through my mind that this
was dangerous, but there was no time to
speak; it was all the work of moment.
At the instant of putting his head out of
the window, it was darkened as by some
passing object, and his face dropped up
on the window.slll. took him by the
shoulders, and laid him back with his
head upon the carpet.bsg, and he was al
ready dead. The blood spurted from the
side of his head in torrents, and ran across
the floor of the car in stream. A por-