The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-11
GENERAL HARRISON AND HIS MEN.
The Rank. He Bore Did Not Hide the Private
Soldier from His Cares and Kindness.

Lawrence Mail.
VIM. H. Bryant, of Bryantsville, is one of the
substantial men Of Lawrence county. After
faithful service in the Union army. until the
close of the war; be settled down to the duties OF
civil life and has the victories OF peace
Mr.. Bryant was q member of the Thirty ninth
Indiana Regiment, Of which General Harrison
went out as colonel. For this reason reporter
of the Mail took occasion, while Mr.. Bryant was
in Bedford last Friday. to interview him. We
found him TO bs q Harrison man from away
back-way back to- go. When We mentioned
the name Of his old commander his face lighted
up and his eyes fairly flashed. 1t was apparent
that we had touched . chord in the veterans.
heart which awoke the memories OF the
struggle for the Union. When We asked HIM
90 . presidential candidate he entered upon
such euloRy as only old soldier. prompted
by love. and pride. and gratitude. can bestow
upon chieftain who led him amid the trials and
not because his words were specimens Of pure
Anglo-Saxon or his sentences OF classical con-
structiou, but because what he said came from
the depth OF his heart. and his whole manner
carried conviction of his earnestness and SINGER
ity. We shall not attempt to print his remarks
as he uttered them space will not permit this.
He dwelt with most satisfaction and greatest
length upon the uniform kindness with which
all the soldiers were treated by General Harri-
He said that considerations of rank never
seemed to weigh with the General. so far as
solcitude for the safety and comfort of those IN.
der his command was concerned; that therefore.
instead of standing in awe OF
him as their commander, they held
him in universal love and esteem. As Mr..
Bryant expressed it, I'VE felt that. instead of a
proud general with shoulder straps, and all
that we had q comrade IN command OF rs. Any
man who has been a soldier will know what
mean; and he will know. too, that it is not often
you find in the army man wearing q generals
straps who knows that there 10 any such thing
az private soldier. except when there's fighting
to do. General Harrison never forgot us-and
We will never forget him.
"lll tell you an incident in my experience
said he, (which will help TO show how General
Harrison treated his soldiers. ! have heard it
said that he 10 stuck up-a sort of kid-glove fell
low; let me tell you that's false. IF shoulder
straps couldn't turn . mans head, couldn't lift
his eyes above the head OF . common
soldier, you may rely OH it that the man don't
belong to the kid glove stock. But must
tell you my experience. It il a small matter; it
wouldn't be of enough Importance to relate ii it
were not for the fact that it is just that kind OF
thin es-small matsers-that show what . man
is made Of in the army; and because what Cen
era Harrison did at the time speak Of was un-
usual for an officer of high rank; and shows tho
real character of the man better even than some
grand deed might have done. You see 1 went
Jul 90 ucuueC VI tue 4Wouey -eosousu 4uof-
ana In September. 1863. my regiment was
consolidated with the Thirty-ninsh. Gen. Harri-
son becoming my colonel One day
shortly after the consolidation, while
,was on detail az Nashville. got an
ofdsr- to report to Colonel Harrison. When
arrived at his headquarters and told him who
was and what regiment had belonged to. he
tnrned to some officers present and said: .sThe
Twenty seventh Indiana was one OF the best
regimen from the State; that was my reason
for wanting is consolidated with mine" His
manner Of saying this was such as to make it
evident that he wanted 70 put me at ease by
prsisipe my old regiment-his remarks seemed
10 be intended to break down the barrier of rank
between me and the rest Of those present It
was kind way TO greet me, and my love for
meeting.
I'm December. 1864. just before the battle at
Nashville. was in charge of some guards at
General Harrison's headquarters. II very
colo, dissRreesble weather, such weather as
made life burden to soldier on guard. About
o'clock an orderly came and said the General
wantsd to sec me. When reported he asked
me if we had GOOD fire out there; said there
was plenty Of wood out there, that he wanted
US to take all We needed to keep warm. As
have said. these things would not be worth
mentioning il they were done here at homo; but
/ tell you it made soldier feel good to know
fort. And what have related are only some of
the constant care of his troops which made them
love him.
81 tell you," he added, 'if tho Republicans
want to make the men who served under Gen.
eral Harrison happy. let them nominate him for
President"