The National tribune., 1886-10-07
"REMINISCENCES.
Some Breezy RocOllectiOnS of an ILL
nOiS lnfantyman.


COMRADES: Here's your mule" and
mighty well fed mule he is too, just at present.
] should not have responded SO promptly 10
vour call had consulted my own inclination,
but j make ID a rule never 10 desert friend,
and certainly soldiers had no better friend
during DE war than the mule. In some respects
he resembles the soldier. and they had mutual
interest ia many things the natural result OF
their condition, the nature of their service and
the size of their oXtremities There was great
waste of raw material in the construction OF
the mules ears, which is all the more surpTis-
ing on account Of the large quantity used by
the contractor in the manufacture OF the mules
voice. ] suppose, however that the animal had
10 be built IN accordance with the plans and
specifications. The most prominent attraction
about a soldier was his enormous feet. 1he
army shoe the sole of which was constantly
tryiug 20 change places with the upper, was not
calculated to develop handsome or symmetn-
cal foot.
Al Chickamauca. on the second day Of the
fight, I saw from behind the garden fence
where Bartleson, Buuell Scanlan, Backus,
Remission, Dalle, Roach, Lyman and Others
were killed, wounded and captured, the ad-
vance of Longstreet's men. There wasn't
man in all that magnificent line of battle less
than
SEVEN FEET IN HIGHT.
have often wondered since il j was really
frightened then, or were those men actually
tall as they seemed. I have seen Onion sol
diers in line many times, before and after
Chickamauga, but so much Of their legs had
been turned mp TO make feet that would ft their
shoes that their average hight never appeared
exceptional or extraordinary. These few re-
marks in regard TO the mule, Mr.. President,
while they fail 10 do Justice 10 that animals
valuable services, are due those soldiers who,
on occasions like this, are always anxious 10
hen i inu ahanf aksRuf mnmhRrs a fhpiF
family.
Nou were ali acquainted with the soldier who
was etenally spelling for a fight, and who
break tasted regularly every day on a certain
number OF rebels killed by his own hand.
You could not fail TO know him, for his type
was In every company, or at least IN every
regiment His own bravery was the one SUBJ
ject of his ceaseess discourse the one virtue he
never tired of praising. How often around the
campfire, at the picket post and ON the
march have You listened TO the story Of his
valicnt deeds, as related by himself You
knew be was a brave man and good soldier,
because he said SO, but somehow you could never
reconcile the fact with the manner in which he
"pannod out when under fire. 1t was some
time before you could realize that the most dan
gerOus weapon such a soldier ever shot Of was
his mouth. j believe that ] am talking now 10
as brave soldiers as ever shouldered musket or
wore a Government sock, but j do not believe
that any one of you loved war for the mere
sake of killing and being killed. Speaking for
myself, and indirectly for all, / can say that in
battle ] always realized the danger 10 which
was exposed, and knew that j was as liable 10
be killed or crippled al any moment as the COM
Tades who fell at my side.
Only on one occasion, however, did have
premontian or presentiment Of death. This
was at kenesaw Mountain, on june %, 1864,
when ID men Of the little remnant Of the Tooth
were killed and wounded in less than half as
many minutes As we stood in line waiting for
the order 10 charge, i felt as men must always
feel when standing
FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH.
The soldiers engaged In that assault, even while
the lines were forming, knew that the under
taking n which they were about to engage was
utterly hopeless, and the failure of the assault
was merely cumulative evidence. The affair
was successful only IN demonstrating that Union
troops would assault intrenched positions as
brayey aud fight as obstinately when defeat
was inevitable when victory was certain.
There WAS but one man in either Federal or
Confederate army who doubted this, aud even
he was convinced after thousands of brave men
bad been necdlessly slaughtered. To my great
surprise and contrary 10 my expectations,
came out Of the charge alive, n circumstance
that j have never regretted When courage
fails pride sustains the true soldier, for pride,
and not nsensbllity TO fear, is the foundation
of all true courage.
Some soldiers, as you all know by observation
and experience, were more expert and accom-
pllshed l0ragers than Others. Ii does not follow,
however that they were any better soldiers than
their less successful comrades whose knowledge
OF the art OF foraging was an acquired instead
OF natural accomplishment. In fact, one OF
the best l0ragers ] ever knew was Of no account
whatever as soldier except 10 stand guard and
count ns one when ra5Ons were issued. His
accouterments were generally IN good condi-
tion, bis dress as neat and hls kit as complete as
possible, and he seemed az brave as the bravesi
when on parade or inspection, but doubt il ht
ever fired a shot at the enemy during his three
years service and he certainly did not allow
the enemy TO fire any at him, except at long
range. ue WAS the most finished specimen o.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL COWARD
ever met, and was only tolerated in the com
pany on account Of his general usefulness
Capt Burrell repeatedly declared, with proiant
emphasis and hot ndiguation. that IN the next
light this man should " face the music" but
when the next fight took place Burrell alwav,
found something to do more important Than
hooking after skuikers, and the fellow wOulc
pursue has usual tactics, TctrOgrading so quietlN
and un0stcntatiousy that no man could tel
exactly when OF where lac dropped out Of line
The length Ol his absence would be regulated
by the severity Of the battle, but any time from
A. hunlN ~ AMD AhAh alAcl IL was over nG would
turn az, serene, self-Complacent and composed
with something good 10 cat in his havcrsack
and load a 10 the muZzlc with accounts cf hii
wonderful exploits some other part Of the
Held which he would relate with much volu
bility anu great eXactness a. 10 time aud place
The number OF times his presence on a certain
part Oi the battlefield saved the day to Ia,
Union army is represented by the number O
engagements in which the regiment partici
pated. OF course he served through the war
an has way, unharmed by disease and uninjureC
by rebel lead, for he always managed TO B,
travelling 80 rapidly toward the rear when !
battle commenced, that nobullet could possibly
Oyertakc him.
IN the eternal fitness Of things he must b,
still living and
DRAWING A PENSION,
because a man Of this character would prov,
has claim la some way. His evidence would b,
giit-edgcd, the dates would be correct IN,
places accurately located, the events minutel,
described, and his witnesses would DE selected
with judgment aud discrimination. IL is onlr
necessary for soldier Of his class If an appi
cant ioI pension, 20 know just what proof III,
PensfDn Bureau requires in his case and d,
will furnish il IN quantities sufficient 10 satisf,
any person not familiar with his record of Ia,
validity aud jusiEess Of his claim. Every regi
ment probably every company ina the service
had one ~ two soldiers of this description.
Of different caliber, bat more numerous
were the soldiers who. on some one occasion
most likely that of their initial battle. eNer
cised the discretion that is said 10 be the bette
part Of t4lor. j remembcron one in the compan,
nFI MI ..r.#. Hua.a