The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-03
A War "Reminiscences.
philadelphia Press I

There's all the difference in the world be-
tween Chester a. Arthur and his brother
William" said a veteran officer of the Fourth
New York Artillery. "Did you ever see
Major Arthur? No? Well, if you ever do see
him take notice of the terrible scar that he
carries on his cheek. When the Fourth
Heavies, as our regiment was called, was or
gained in 1862, William arthur obtained
the Captaincy of Company Fl through the
influence of his brother, who was then Quar-
termaster-General on the staff OF Governor
Morgan. Even before he went to the front
of the Army of the Potomac his overbearing
disposition had made him the reverse of a
favorite among the men. In one of the lit
tie skirmishes in the autumn of 1868 there
came into our lines young Lieutenant OF
the Tenth Tennessee Regiment of the Con-
federate army. He frankly ayowed himself
a deserter from the rebels, and asked to be
permitted to enlist with us. His name was
Low Williams Roscoe, and he was a splendid,
dsshing, soldierly fellow, as brave as a lion
and as gentle as a woman. Like good many
other young fellows in the border States, ne
hal ssided with the Confederacy in a mo
ment of impulse, and had become dis
gusted with it when the old Union
sentiment was Juggling at his heart.
He was mustered into Captain Ar
thurs company, and it numbered no
more gallant man or better soldier. His
family was a prominent and wealthy one
living near Memphis, and as soon as they
learned of his whereabouts they moved to
New York and took up their residence
there.
Every body in the regiment liked Roscoe
for his sunny temper and gallantry except
his own Captain, who seemed never to tire
OF worrying him with all those indignities
which officer can put upon a man in the
ranks. The TenneSseean's folks were well
off; he was an only son. and his mother and
10
delicacles and comforts. In thisCaptain Ar
thur found fresh cause of grievance, and
Roscoe's boxes we're often conhScated or kept
from him upon some pretext invented by
the Captain. Under such treatment he grew
gloomy and morose. His lively spirit was
broken and he ceased to be the life of the
circle gathered around the camp fire Of an
evening. We had fought our way down
from the Rapidan to the James, and, acting
as infantry, were in the thick of the disas-
tr0us battle of Cold Harbor. In the middle
of the fight rifle ball struck Captain Arthur
in the right cheek and passed out the left.
The wound never threatened his life except
when there were some symptoms of blood
poisoning but it was about as ugly disfg-
urement as any man ever received. Many
unpopular officers in our war as we'll in other
wars have been shot by their own men. In
the heat and confusion of battle it is imp1s-
sible 10 tell where any particular bullet
comes from. The men of Company II, how
ever, had more than suspicion that Cap
tain Arthur was thu victim of his own
harshness toward Roscoe, but the Cap
tain had no friend in the ranks who cared
TO expose the culprit. The suspicion be-
came certainty not very long afterward
Roscoe himself was terribly wounded in
front of Petersburg and taken to the hos
pital at Harrison's Landing. He knew as
well as the surgeons could tell him that his
days were numbered, and as he grew weaker
some distressing secret appeared to rest
upon his mind. In the same ward of the
hospital were several other boys of the com
pany who had been wounded in the same
engagement. They noticed his uneasiness,
and endeavored to soothe his pathway to
death in every way possible. Then he let
out the trouble that was darkening his last
! days. He told the man In the next bed to