The Osceola times., 1884-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS BROTHER
An Incident of the War Not Generally


between Chester Arthur and his brother
William" said veteran officer of the
Fourth New York Artillery to a repre-
sentative of the Pres. "The Presidents
elegant dignity of manner is known to
all his countrymen, while William Ar
thur is brusque in his demeanor. Chester
Arthur has been a successful man all his
life, and he has had TO carry his brother
on his shoulders ever since they were
both young men, as William never SEEM
ed able to make any sort of a hit for
himself. Now be has given him COM
Portable life position as paymaster in the
regular army, and so has slowed himself
away in nice and easy berth. But if
the Major hasn't IN nded his manners d
good deal, he will be as unpopular as he
was in the volunteer service, though his
rouqhness may not lead to quite as seri-
Gus result as it did in 1854"
what do you mean?"
ats true story, although it has nev-
er been in print, and was well enough
known throughout our regiment. Did
you ever see Maj Arthur? Mo- 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 regi-
ment was called, was organized in 1862
William Arthur obtained the Captaincy
of Co. II. through the influence of his
brother, who was then Quarter-master
General on the staff of Gov. Morgan.
Even before We went to the front of the
army Of the Potomac his overbearing
disposition had made him the reverse of
a favorite among the men.
ain one of the little skirmishes in the
autumn of !S63 there came into our lines
a young Lieutenant of the tenth Tennes-
see regiment of the Confederate army.
He frankly avowed himself a deserter
from the rebels and asked to be permit
ted to enlist with us. His name was
splendid, dashing, soldierly young fel-
low, as brave as lion and as gentle as a
woman. Like good many other young
fellows in the border States he had sided
with tn. Confederacy in a moment of
impulse and had become disgusted with
it when the old Union sentiment was
Juggling at his heart He was mustered
into Capt. Arthurs company, and it
numbered no more gallant man or bet
ter soldier His family was prominent
or 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.
Everybody in the regiment liked
Roscoe for his sunny temper and gal
antry except his own Captain, who
seemed never to tire of worrying him
with all those indigDities which an Off
Ger can put upon man III the ranks.
The Tennesseean' folks were well of !;
he was an only son and his mother and
sisters were continually sending him
little delicacies and comforts. In thi.
Capt. Arthur found fresh cause of
grievance, and Roscoe's boxes were Of
ten confiscated or kept from him upon
some pretext invented by the Captain
Under such treatment he grew gloomy
and morose. His lively spirit was bro
ken, and he ceased to be the life of the
circle gathered around the campfire of
an evening.
"We had fought our way down from
the Rapidan to the James, and, acting rs
infantry, were in the thick of the disas-
trous battle of Cold Harbor in the mid.
die of the fight rifle ball struck Capt.
Arthur in the right cheek and passed
out the left The wound never threat
ened his life except when there were
some symptoms of blood poisoning, but
il was about as ugly a Disagreement az
any man ever received"
"And it is supposed that Roscoe fired
| the shot?"
There is every reason for that belief
Many unpopular officers III our war, as
well as in other wars, have been shot by
their own men. In the heat and confu-
sion of battle it is impossible to tell
where any particular bullet comes from.
The men of Company fl, however, had
more than suspicion that Capt Arthur
was the victim of his own harshness to-
ward Roscoe, but the Captain had no
friend in the ranks who cared to expose
the culprit. The suspicion became a
certainty not very long aiterward.'
"How SOP"
| Roscoe himself was terribly wounded
in front of Petersburg and taken to the
hospital at Harrisou's Landing. He
knew as well as the surgeons could tell
him that his days were numbered, and
as he grew weaker some distressing Sc
cret appeared to rest upon his mind.
In the same ward of the hospital were
several other boys of the company who
had been wounded in the same engage
ment. They noticed his uneasiness, and
endeavored to soothe his pathway to
death in every way possible. Thea he
let out The trouble that was darkening
his last days. He told the man in the
next bed TO him that while the bullets
were raining fastest at Cold Harbor, he
had been prompted by an irresistible
Impulse TO avenge his wrongs by shoot
ing at the officer had inflicted them.
He had no soouer fired the shot and
seen the Captain fall han he deeply re-
gretted his rash act, his violation of his
loyalty as a soldier Since he had lam
in the hospital its enoImity had cast
him into the deepest despair, although
il was some consolement TO him to know
that the Captains wound was not fatal.
He died the happier for having confess
cd the deed, and almost his last words
were hope that the Captain would for
give him.
"Some of the BOYS of the regiment
| A. II. Al a.. L.. \ l,a