The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-03
: s.ruIne Star ana Catholic Messenger.
ssr,-1v opIEANr, nUNpAY, FEBRUARY lEs
OF THE CIVIL
WAR.

Ia o., Richard TAYLOR In North American Review
ICsnslldedl
'In camp our army experienced muen enner-
n and loss of strength. Drawn almost ex- |
naiyely from rural districts, where iamiiies
ved isolated, the men were sconrged Win
,umps, whooping- cough, and measles, diseases |
,h;ch in urban populations are readily over
cma by childhood. Measles proved as virulent |
4 smaiI-pox or cholera. Sudden changes OF
drove the eruption from the sur
aca to the internal organs, ana fevers-lung
nd typhoid-snd dysenteries followed. MY
s~iwsnt was fearfnlly snnitten, and passed
nSny days In hospital, nursing the SICK, ana
WING to comfort the last moments OF many
ZOE fads, dying so far from home and friends.
.ifne and frequent chaoges of camp brought
bot my own health gave way.
persistent, low fever sapped my strength:
md impaired the use of my limbs. General
johnston kindly ordered me on to the rauqe,ec
'nrip es-sulphur-w waters-some twenty miles
& the south. There was joiued and carefully
I{srsed by devoted sister, and, after some
yeeks. slowly regaped health and strength.
& my promotion to brigsdier, to relieve Gen.
rsl Walker, transferred to the command OF
sSorgia troops. This promotion seriously em-
trrsssed me. OF the fonr colonies, whose
3Riments constituted the brigade, was the
Sior in commission, and the other three had
|lsen present and " won their spurs" at the late
4ttle, 80 far the only important one OF the
- Besides, my known friendship for Presi-
g.,
4skh my elder sister, WAS nearly connected,
auld Justify the opinion that my promotion
- duo to fasefieisH,- Arrived at -haadqu
1, II obtained leave to go to Richmond,
ere, after an affectionate reception, tne
t4sident listened to the story of my feenngs,
'a|4 Reasons on which they were based, and t1e
3lzsest that the promotion be revoked. lie
lied tha be would take day Ior renection I
s fzIsre deciding the matter. The following day
7s13-ss told the answer to my appeal would Do
'6E .sarded 10 the army, to which l Immediately
l&<Hrned. The President had employed the
5ay in writing a letter to the senior officers
6 s6e brigade. He began by stating that pro-
s&ions to the grade of general officers were
|z5teusted to him, and were made for considera-
<r1s of public good, OF which ne alone was
&3lke He then, out of abundant kindness for
went on to soothe the feelin 60 OF these 9TH
"A with a tenderness and dellcacy of touch
Rhy a .womsn's hand, and 40 ehectually as
4. secure me the hearty support OF these pa,
'ssss and soldiers, many OF whom attained
>5Snence in the war. No wonder that all who
{ay the friendship of Jefferson Davis love
|slsA as Jonathan did David. Several weeks,
boat notable incident, were aeVotea 10 lh-
ction, especially in marching, the only
\, ,skary virtue for which Southern troops had
j aptitude. Owing to the good traditions left
81 my predecessor in command. Walker, and
f12H zeal of officers and men, great progress was
i3Sie, and oil the credit for the proficiency OF
A brigade was given to me. In the army at
tk*a time was q battalion of three companies
4,n Louisiana, commanded by Major wheat.
fether previous to the fight at Manasgas,
Nk kere Wheat was severely wounded. The
&fRongest of the three, and giving character to
All was called the "Tigers." Recruited on
fA8 levee and in the alleys of New Orleans, the
Eaan might have come out of Alsatla," Where
they would have been worthy subj ects of that Ina
INDUSTRIOUS potentate Duke Hldeprod" Inc
3sptain, who had suoceeded to the immedlate
46nmand of these worthless on the advance
<s;@sss. @ called himself White" perhaps out Of
spect TO the purity OF the Pstrhlotlo ITO oH gatp
ton achieved by the battalion that every com
REnder desired to be rid of 1t. At lest, Gen.
d itnston assigned it to me, despite my efforts
~ ffBcIine the honor of such society. he pro
sSsSs2ia. however that I should be sustained in
~ u measure to enforce discipline, ana out
zs hours elapsed before tie tulhliment OF the
MI mise was required. For some disorder a1ter
x {2tsoo," several of the Tiger" were arrest.
ID and placed under the brigade guard .
&lIaif comrades attempted to force the 'guaro
ana Release them. The attempt failed, ana the
tl 6ingleaders were captured and put In irons
f6t The night. Next morning an order for q
rfSsral court martial was obtained from army
.6naaduarters. The court met at 10 A. NJ. the
'sS4IfS day. AS there was no doubt of the facts
ANhdiug was speedily reached-the prlsohers
EH IS shot-time fixed by brigade comm snder'
FsbNIected sunset, aud directed the " nrlng-
fssIf$F - to be detailed from the prisoners' com
SAa$. Major Wheat end his officers begged 20
81 6pared this hard duty, fearing the "Tlgers'
3ld refuse to fire on their comrades. in:
"a, for the sake of the example, and pointed
q & the fatal consequences of any disobedlence
The part of tkeir men. The brigade, under
Ssste, was marched out, and as the news spread
ann3fy thousands from other commands hocked
"a Witness the scene. The friDg-paTtyy ter
fvers," was drawn up fifteen PAGES from the
Hi acners, the brigade provost gave the com
sns1d to fire, and the unhappy men fill dead
1ffhont q struggle. The account is given, be
fndss 1t was the frst military execution in tbs
81 Aymy of Northern Virginia" and the pnnish
nt, SO closely following the offence, pro
"a marked effect. The Tigers" gave nt
her trouble, and proved hardy, excelien
iers.
kior Robert Wheat deserves more extend
= a6tice, and to furnish it some anticipation
a. ? eVents is necessary. In the early summer
-nfter the first actions OF the war witt
Eico, 7alo Alto and Resaca de la Palma-th
Isted S;tates army, under General Aachar!
ATlor, lay near the town of Matamoras. Flslt
the hospital of q recently joined voiuntee
ass5s from the States, 1 remarked beautiful
hi 1ht.eyed boy OF some eighteen years, dow
ift disease, bat CHEEKY witha!. The lnteres
Inspired led to his removal to army head
aters, where he soon recovered health AM
me pet. This was Robert Wheat, son
piscopal Clergyman, from the old town o