Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-24

foot-left- left-devided time, with
the boxing gloves, while Fet Moshel
reminded the boys Of chunks Of
Pudding and pieces of Pie OF
walloped ''the girl [ left behind me-
with the base drum stick.
When As men had enlisted we held
an election of officers in old Magnolia
Hall and the vote was almost unani.
nous for Captain. Dan Howell, first
Lieut. Chas. NJ Webb, second Lieut..
W. w. Botkin. Being now fully
organized and equipped with officers
We made raid on Stevens Point and
| captured it, but after staying day or
so the citizens captured us and We had
to beg off before we could leave with
some valuable recruits. The war feel
ing ran so high that the Captain had
all the male and some of the female
population to choose from, but fears
were freely expressed that we would
not be needed-that the war would
end before we had chance to prove
our devotion-that the world must
remain in ignorance Of the existance
of the only company Of our size that
could thrash the rebbles without any
further aid. Boys did you not often
afterwards wish it had been so? All
things have an end and so did our
pleasant picnic at Grand Rapids.
Some one sent US orders to report foI
inspection and muster at Madison.
The ladies set up all night before we
left, toiling to make US flag and the
boys sat up to keep them company and
merry night it was. In the morn.
ing we crossed the river and tried to
eat splendid banquet set out by the
ladies of Centralia, but the time OF
separation was too close and hearts too
full to do justice to their bounty.
Some one furnished US all with pocket
bibles and needle cases, when the
parting scene took place, and such a
scene [ never want to witness again.
Luther Bangs requested me to keep
him company while parting from his
sister who refused to be comforted by
his cheerful lightly spoken words.
Was it the spirit of prophesy prevail
ing when she cried over and over again
Luther [ shall never see you again,
nature finally asserted itself, Lutte
broke down and | sped along the road
to avoid being witness to an hundred
similar scenes. eve buried Luther
Bangs by the old plantation fence in
Tennessee-the idol of his company
and a model for the regiment.) We
arrived in Madison and were marched
into camp Randall about 9 P NJ, cold
and hungry. We were driven hithe1
and thither for over an hour before
bringing up at the mess house where
cold potatoes, cold coffee, and the cold
shoulder of strangers completed our
misery, but did not keep us long awake
when shown our barracks where many
bright youth slept for the first time
from under the fostering care of a
kind mother. Our beds were COM
posed of Irish feathers enough to
make pigs nest with, rubber sheets
and boots for pillows. "Homesick"
was written on every countenance next
morning as we picked the straws of
from each other, but hot coffee, warm
potatoes, and the friendly greeting of
Col. Bryant, who claimed us as his
property added to that pride which
stood by the soldier even when his
courage failed, soon cheered US and I
may safely say, that no event of our
soldier life was marked by SO much
gloomy feelings as our first "a hours
in camp Randall. Almost Immediately
upon our arrival here we mustered w.
2. Langworthy, II. FL. Atchinson and
other reliable recruits who fully Offset
those who were rejected. When we
were all mustered into the U. S.,
services and assigned to the 18th Wis.
Vol. Inf, Col. G.. E. Bryant, Lieut..
Col. D. G. Pool, Maj VIM. E. Strong,
Adjt. Jas. K. Proudft. And now in
addition to our company comrades we
have 900 regimental comrades, whose
reputation comes next to our own,
whose victory we will devide and
whose hardship or defeat we will share.
Their flag is our flag. their Colonel is
our Colonel, and from the moment
when Gov. Harvey presented US our
colors, to the present day, they have
been to us the dearest, brightest,
copy's of our national aud state en-
blem, our eyes ever rested on. When
mustered into y. S. service we were
re-christened and from thence forward
were to be known as Company G 18th,
Wis. Inf. w. P. Langworthy was a
veteran in our estimation when he
joined US and so Capt. Howell made
him orderly Sergeant, F. H. Putney
second Sergeant and so on until five
sergeants and eight corporals were in
danger of becoming cross eyed, trying
to see the stripes on both sleeves at the
same time. Here the sphere of our
military education was enlarged, and
day after day, week after week, the
strife of endurance was kept up tWixt
the Colonel's horse and the men. The