Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-18
SENTENCED AND SHOT.
A story that will Interest Wisconsin
Soldiers.

| W ben the war closed L was I'm NJ the
dea,h:" otherwise should not have this
story 10 tell.
Shreveport. 1865, made amends for
Sumter, 1861.
A braggart could have fired the first
gun-none but hero the last; aud
while the first battle was lost by recruits,
the last was won by veterans.
1t WAS simply brave and generous to
fall in the first charge-but it was purely
noble and heroic to die in The last. The
first fresh rush of patriotic blood from
the heart 10 the head could have easily
carried the recruit up to the cannon's
mouth: but it was quite another thing
tha. carried him through a four years
war, flung him into the thickest Of the
last charge. to die as the enemy sounded
The final retreat.
Life becomes very dear when you have
fought your wav from Bull Run to Pc
tersburg-fro Belmont TO Mobile. To
be shot by rebel at Alexa; dria, Nir
ginia, in 1861, is not at all like being
Shot ty your friends at Alexandria, Louis
lana. IN 1865.
returned from Shreveport to New
Orleans after the surrender of Kirby
Smiths army-all that was lett OF it
Just in time 10 be ordered ty Sheridan to
rep, RI to Custer for duty with the second
Cavalry Division Of the Military Depart
ment of The Gulf The orders were to
rendezvous at Aexandria, Louisiana, and
after due preparations to- march across
the country into Texas. for the purpose
of re establishing the authority OF the
govOrnmen,-to follow up the victory
with occupation.
Among the regiments orcered to report
TO the General. there was the i'll faled
Second Cavalry. 1t had suffered some
wha: from different field offlcers, but
more from that bnd fortune which over
took so many western regiments in the
shape Of garrison duty in small squads
or squadrons, so scattered ~ TO make
each sort Of independent command,
which in the end resulted IN the loss of
discipline and the ruin Of those bonds of
sympathy that bound m, st regiments
firmly together. To lead such n regi
meut into holly contest fight would be
blessing, and would effectually set at
rest all such trouble; but their fighting
had heen altogether of the guerrilla kind,
and there was no regimental pride of
character, simply because there bad been
no regimental deed of valor.
Two Colonies had resigned-one TO
accept promotion and the other to return
homeland Lieutenant Colonel had
failed to succeed 10 their spread eagl's;
and the majority of the regiment would
have rejoiced, if in bis wrathfuI disap
pointment, he had thrown away bis silver
leaves and gone home too. But he nev
or dreamed of it. Whether justly or
unlustly, be was despised by his com
mand and only held bis place by sheer
force of will, backed by the authorities
above him.
Such was the condition of the regiment
when il was reported for duty. Tired
out with the long service. weary with an
uncomfortable journey by river from
Memphis. swellering under Gulf coast
sun, under orders to go farther and farth-
er from home when the war was over,
aud the one desire above all others was
to be mustered out and released from a
service that became irksome and baleful
when a prospect of crushing the enemy
no longer existed-all those added 10 the
disaffecliou am"ng the officers, rendered
the situation traly deplorable. In fact
the men of the whole division were more
or less discont, nted. and would have been
troublesome under any commander and
any circumstances that kept them in the
service; but to be thoroughly organized
and subjected to the discipline necessary
TO the maintainance of good order, and
be forced to treat with consideration thu
very people whose country they had &C
quired a chronic habit of devastating
and that, too. BY man whom they called
a "yellow haired circus rider from til,
Shenandoah" this seemed TO them to b.
almost beyond the limit of human endur
ance.
The command had hardly pitched thei
tents and kindied their camp fires befor,
! the spirit Of reckless disregard for au
tho,ity began to manifest itself TIL
men bated the commanding general an
staff ION principle" without regard t
what thew did. mo Eastern man ca
/ put on style over us!" alright button