St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-04
IN DAYS OF BATTLE.
Col. Leasure Tells some Interesting
rWar "Reminiscences.

The regular monthly meeting of the
COmmandry of theS tate of Minnesota of
the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of
the United States, took place last night In
the ordinary of the Ryan hotel. Gen.
Sanborn presided. There were about fifty
present among whom where eX-Gov.
Marshall. eX-Goy. Ramsey. DIR. Neil, DIR.
Cross. Rochester; Alfred Shelter. Col
Hicks of Minneapolis; Gen. Il. NJ. New
port, Col. Lawson and Col. j. NJ. Moore,
u. S. A.; Mai. Baird and Others. The
following applicants for membership We're
balloted for and elected: Capt. John w.
Durham, first lieutenant One Hundred
and Twenty-Fifth United States ColOred
infantry; Maj, William Huntington Leon
ard, surgeon Fifth Minnesota infantry;
Capt. Judson Newell Cross, Fifth Veteran
Reserve corps; Lieut.. Alexander Thompson
Bigelow, Fifteenth Vermont infantry;
Lieut.. Col. Josias Ridgate King, Second
United States Volunteer infantry; Capt
John Henry Mullen, Twelfth Connecticut
infantry; Capt. John Henry Upham, One
Hundred and Seventh United States Colored
infantry; Capt. Edwin James Farnum,
assistant quartermasier United States vol
unteers.
The cOmmandeTy adopted a song book
containing number of the airs sung dur
ing the war. and appointed committee on
getting photographs of the members and a
stand of colors. Resolutions on the death
of Gen. Hancock, passed at a special meet
ing held Feb. 13. were adopted. Col.
Daniel Leasure read a paper entitled Per-
sonal Observations and Experiences i'm the
Pope Campaign I'm Virginia in 1862. The
colonel stated that in this battle he was Sc
yerely wounded, and for weeks was con-
fined TO his bed. He recounted his expert
ence reluctantly and only at the solicitation
of Gen. Sanbom. He did il, however,
mainly because the inner history of the
smaller commands that constituted the great
armies of the Union would be lost il all
were reluctant TO give their experience.
The plans of campaigns, he said, including
the mobilization of armies. tactics, strategy
and logistics can only be written by officers
in high command. and their recitals and de-
scriptiOns are necessarily concerning corps
and divisions operating in concert 10 OBJ
tain desired result. This seems now 10
be In fair way of accomplishment through
the able mOnOgrams of officers in high
command i'm both armies, as published in
the popular journals of the day. Many of
the commanders of small divisions, brigades
and regiments are dead and their testimony
to the conduct of the men composing their
commands is lost to history. The personal
experience of the rank and file were popu-
lar with the people, and tens of thousands
of estimable, upright, scholarly men carried
bayonets. and 'bayonets thick" These
would bear out his statements. His conf
mand In the campaign consisted of the
Forty-siXth New York and German regi-
ment. The brigade formed part of the d.
vision Of Gen. Isaac j. Stevens. Gov. Cur
HIS command came near capturing the eel
ebrated cavalry officer Gen. j. L. Il. Stuart,
who only escaped by leaping ont of the
back window of farm house. He related
that at a meeting. Gen. kearney was try
ing to impress upon Gen. Pope the utter
futility of hoping for any help from the
Fifth corps of the army of the Potomac
and was perfectly fierce in his dennciatiOn
of what he called the spirit of McClellanism
pervading officers in high command in that
army. This proved true. The brigade
went into the battle with $50 men, of whom
301 were killed and wounded. He con-
Guided by stating that he never saw more
thorough fighting than in Pope's army of
Virginia. and Ii deserved better fate than
to be made a sacrifice TO the envy or zeal
ousy of disobedient and insubordinate
officer in place of trust. The command
cry then partook OF refreshments and en-
joyed a jovial social time, singing old war
songs and tramping around the ordinary 10
the stirring air: LAS We Go Marching
Through Georgia" 1t was very amusing
to see veterans, with civil as well as mill
tary honors thick upon them. indulging in
the pastimes that enlivened the camp when
they were in their prime, just twenty years
ago. AT 1890 taps were sounded and the
commandery retired TO their homes. after
having spent most social and enjoyable
evening.