The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-29
A WAR "REMINISCENCES.
How Young Indiana Volunteer Officer
Resented an Insult from Regular
Army Lieutenant.

Reading Gen. Lew Wallace's letter to the
Eleventh Indiana regiment, defending his course
at Shiloh, was reminded of an incident which
happened shortly after that conflict" said vet
eran of the war. SIT happened at Louisville,
and General Wallace and the late General E. o.
c, Ord, his son (who acted one of his fathers
| aides), and Major James r. Ross, of this city,
who was at the time acting as Waace's aide-de-
camp, were the parties interested. There was
always an air of superiority worn by the Off
GERS of the regular army toward those
of the volunteer service, and this feel
ing was so bitter on the part of some as to be the
| cause of feeling amounting almost 90 positive
hatred. Ord was a general of the regulars and
his son was lieutenant in the same service, of
equal rank with Ross, a volunteer, and young
Ord frequently took occasion to snub his COM
rade, but the latter was not the kind of man
| to toady to anyone. 1t was after the battle of
Shiloh and a number of general officers and
members OF their stats were at Louisville with
| headquarters at the Louisville Hotel, among the
number being General Ord and his son. They
never omitted an opportunity to speak sneer-
ingy of General Wallace, or for tnat matter, any
volunteer officer. One night young Ord was en-
gagged in playing billiards in the bill1ardroom of
| the hotel, and his father was in
| the corridor talking with some other officers.
1t was proposed that the party take walk
| aOOub Inc Clbyy anu DIS Gn6 nlguD was COOl, GHo
| General turned to Major Ross, and in tone of
command, said; Lieutenant, go to my room and
| get my overcoat." The young officer turned
sharply. and, without Offering to obey the COM
mand, replied, jerking his thumb over his shout
| der in the direction of the bilard-roOm: There
| is an artist in there, sir, who can act your
| servant" The General said nothing, but was
forced either to make his son stop playing to do
the errand or climb the stairs himself, and chose
the former course. After this occurrence young
| Ord was even more overbearing in
| his demeanor toward Ross than
| ever before, and the feeling of animosity
between them was greatly embittered. One
night shortly afterwards General Wallace was
| standing in group of officers at the hotel and
| near at hand was young Ord with mixed par
| ty of soldiers and civilians. Some one in the
| party singled General Wallace out and address,
| ing Ord asked who that officer "Oh, that
| is Lew Wallace, the man who tried so hard to
| lose SHILOH - answered the lieutenant. Scarcely
| had he finished speaking when Ross, who had
| brisky forward and struck his commanders
slanderer stinging slap on the cheek, following
| it up with o blow which sent the young man
| sprawling on the floor. lyon have (thump)
| slandered General Wallace in particular,
| (thump) and the volunteer soldier in general
| stood all l can of it (thumpl; and now, damn
| you (thump), propose to show you Uhump)
| that there Is at least one volunteer officer
| (thump) who Is more OF a man than regular of
| equal rank" and bumpety bump went the young
| mans head against the floor. The thumpin g
process continued until the bystanders pulled
Ross off and allowed the other to escape After
| Difference paid the volunteer arm of the service
| by at least that portion of the regulars / was
| an eye witness to the occurrence, and can GER
| tify to the truth OF the story"