The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-29

hlOHs Ao u WAS more Wiling 70 tculeE hkA
than he.
Shelby county sent a large number OF soldiers
10 the war, many OF whom served under Genera.
harrison Two companies of the Seventieth
Indiana were made up Of the brave boys OF
Shelby co~unty-Company e, commanded BY
Captain Sleeth, and Company F. commanded by
Captain Encsley, the latter OF whom still lives
and resides az Falkland, this county. Many OF
the surviving members of these companies still
dwell IN this county. Some who enlisted never
returned 10 renew the pursuits they abandoned
for the defense OF the stars and stripes. Those
who are In the county among the living are most
all enthusiasts for General Harrison in his can
didacy Tor the presidency. They are still loyal
to the old commander. and will be found in the
front rank This fall leading the way TO q Repub-
lican victory. =,
To-day your correspondent secured the names
OF the following soldiers. who were under Har-
rison from one TO two years during the conflict:
Captain Henry Endsley, Colonel Samuel Rob-
ertson, Lieutenant James Bennett. Carey Smith,
Frank Richey, VIM. Lenox, Nathan Stafford,
r. II. Thralls, VIM. Hendricks, WIN. Lee, Hen
ly Dunn. Charles Marietta. James Nail. Joseph
Fuller. John Wagner. Thomas Thompson, =
Shoemaker. VIM. Barnes. Frod Treon, Lindsey
German, John A. Stringer, VIM f. Collins,
| Alfred Colclazier. George Colclazier, Joseph
Woods, Levi Griffith and Charles Crawdy.
Frank Collins. one of the number, died a few
days ago; Thomas Thompson is on his death
bed; William Mcbride, one Of the brave boys.
resides il Clinton county. Indiana, and II. II.
Thralls in Hot Springs. ARK.
There are others in the county, but their
names were not obtainable at this time. The
battles in which most OF these men took part
with General Harrison were Russellville. Re-
SAGA. Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mount
ain, Kenesaw. Marietta, Peach Tree Greek. At
lanta, Savannah aud Bentonville. Each year
since the war the survivors OF the Seventeen
Indiana have met together and talked over the
scenes and incidents in which they figured. This
year the reunion will be held at Clayton, Ind,
and will be of unusual interest on account Of
the recent honors showered upon General Har-
rison. General Harrison will attend this reun-
ion and will no doubt deliver o superb address
to the old soldiers.
Captain Endsley. who commanded Company
F, of the Seventeen Indiana, as stated above,
resides at Farmland, and is very enthusiastic in
his support OF General Harrison. He was with
the Shelby county delegation last week when
they went to indianapolis to pay their regards
to the Republican standard-bearer He stood
in the vast crowd and heard General Harrison
speak as follows of him:
Irecollect q little story Of Peach Tree Creek that
may interest you. When the Seventeen Indiana,
then under the command of Col. Sam Merrill. swung
up from the reserve into the front line to meet the
enemy's charge, the ad acknowledgement of the brigade,
who had been directed to order the advance, reported
that the left of the Seventeen Indiana was exposed.
He said he had ordered the bluff old captain of Com
pany f, who was commanding the left wing. to re-
fuse his left in order to cover his flank, but that the
old hickory had answered him, with an expletive,
which have no doubt he has repentsd of-that he
could not see it: that he proposed that his end of the
regiment should get to the top of that hill as quick as
the other end.
Captain Endsley greatly enjoyed the joke told
by the General at his expense. and afterwards
went into the house and warmly congratulated
the General upon his nomination. With a view
of ascertaiEing the feelings OF the old soldiers
who served under General Harrison. as to what
they thought OF him as an officer and of how he
treated his men on the field of battle ana in the
camp, the Journal correspondent interviewed q
few of them, with the following result:
Capt Henry Endsley: 10 answer to your
question as to my opinion Of Harrison as an off,
cor in the struggle for the preservation OF the
Union, / will say that he was one OF the grand
est that went out from the State Of Indiana.
Brave as a lion and cool and deliberate in all his
movements, he had in him by nature the ele-
ments which go to make up a fine soldier. Well
/ remembe the times when we marched togeth-
er in defense of the blessed stars and
stripes. He had q big heart in
him, and was very kind to his men.
To me he was as generous and kind as a father,
and | shall carry with me 10 my grave q kind
and aifectionate remembrance of his noble and
manly treatment of the boys of the old Seven
tieth Indiana. To give you an idea of the SYM
patty he had for his men, | remember on one
occasion a soldier who was sick and unable to
keep up with the march. Harrison came riding
along and saw the condition of the sick soldier.
Quickly he got down from his horse and putting
the soldier on the back OF the animal he took
his position in the ranks and for several miles
marched side by side with the soldisr1 Under him.
The kindly act upon his part was a Csssed helm
to the sick soldier and saved his life. In 1876,
when Harrison was a candidate Tor Governor,
this soldier that l have spoken of, who was a
Democrat. gave Mr.. Harrison his earnest sup
port. AT Peack Tree Creek, when the soldiers
lay bleeding all around him, General Harrison
took q white shirt from his back, tore it into
strips and used the same TO bind up the wounds
OF the suffering soldiers. Harrison was q strict
disciplinarian, yet he was also q kind hearted
officer. and had the love and esteem of the msn
under him. Since the nomination OF General
Harrison L have talked to a numb Der OF the boys
of my company, q few of whom are Dem
and they all state that they are red hot for Har-
rison, and will do all they can for his election.
Harrison has a warm place in the hearts Of the
soldiers of Indiana. and they will give him good
support. Why should any soldier vote against
him and IN favor of such a man as Cleveland.
who has time and again treated them with con-
tempt and vetoed many just claimsl Harrison
Is President would carefully protect the rights
of the soldiers, aud see that they were properly
paid Tor the h~ardships OF the war. | Am for
Harrison and Morton. and l believe most Of the
brave boys will vote the same way.
Charles Marietta: As an old soldier / am
more than well pleased with the domination of
General Harrison. l fought under him in the
Seventeen Indiana. and know that be is one of
the best men that ever lived. i saw MIN on the
field OF battle. and he never told the boys in
blue TO go on, but no was always in the lead
saying come on" As an officer, he was en-
TITLED to ride during the march, but when q SOL
der would come TO him and say he was sick and
could walk no further Harrison would get down
from his horse and put the sick soldier en-.
Harrison would then take his position in the
ranks and carry the gun shoulder to shoulder
with the humblost.
Henly Dunn: / was q soldier under General
Harrison. and can add that every word stated
BY comrade Marietta is true; l shall support
Harrison with great pleasure.
James Nail: At several elections heretofore
have voted the Democratic ticket, but this year
L shall support Harrison and Morton. Before
the Republican convention was held | made W
my mind to vote the Republican ticket on the
issue OF protectiou, and, after the nomination OF
General Harrison, L was more convinced thai
eyer that l would do so. l was out in the late
war for nearly two years under Harrison, and
can testify to his worth as an officer and soldier.
he was strict upon his men when duty required
1t, but. when any OF them needed sympathy and
assistance. his hand was always outstretched 10
their behalf.
James Bennett: Nothing gives me more
pleasure than TO express n favorable opinion OF
General Harrison, for he was. indeed. a brave
soldier on the field of battle and very kind to hi.
mer. l served under him during the war al
lieutenant. and had an Opportunity of watchips
him In his treatment Of his men. He was a
tender-hearted as q child. and be permitted NJ
soldier TO suffer when it was in his power TO re-
leve him. Often L have seen him carry bucketl
OF warm coffee to strengthen his men, and d.
many other acts OF kindness which were greatly
appreciated by his men. Ishall attend the reunion
of the Seventieth Indiana at CLAYTON. Ind, and
do all / can this campaign for his election to TIT
presidency. III you were able TO see all the sol
diers In Sheioy county who served under Ii ar