New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-30
GhNERAL HARRISON IN BATTLE.
HIS GOODNESS UNDER FIRE AT REsAcA.
RrcoLLHcTIoSs OF THOSE VINO SERVED UNDER
urM-A STRICT but KIND COMMANDER

pECoILRCTfoys OF THOSE WHO SERVED UNDEh
urM-A STRICT but KIND COMMANDER
rBY TELEGRAPH TO rms rRrBuse1
indianapolis, June 2o.-one does not hnd any OUT
ward Indication In General Harrisons mousse 'na' no %
n veteran OF the war OF the Rebellion. NO picture
adorns the walls of his paror his library depicting
n war scene. There arc no crossed swords over inc
mantcpIece. No muskct stands I'm corner. FOR
all that the callers would know, Benjamin Harrison,
llbe Grover Cleveland, might have sent substitute
to the wal. 1t was with some difficulty today that
Mrs Harrison found for a correspondent OF Inc
Tribune the battle sword OF her husband After some
hunting about, she discovered It standing behind
large chair in dark corner OF the library. The old
sword has many indications that II has been through
a campaign 1t Is straight officers sword, with
steel blade and handle of brass and pearl us
guard is of brass and It's handle Is surmouDted with
brass representative Il the head and cap OF soldier
tho soldier wearing the cap OF 1900 The scabbard
of silver and had pearls set In IL at certain inter-
vals but the rough usage of campaign and battlc
have rubbed them out OF their setting, and now there
are only holes In tho scabbard where the pearls once
were The brass Of the sword is discolored and dim
with ago, and all in all It presents shabby appear
apce compared with the beautiful weapon tho citi-
gems Of Indianapolis presented to Colonel Harrison,
Of the roth Indiana as he rode away to tho war In
1862.
At the battle of Resaca there were two private
and Daniel H. Ramsdell, who both werc shot In the
right arm and both aferward had to have that arm
ampuated. On returning from the war, Coionei
Harrison led q movement TO elect Ramsdell clerk OF
the county Of Marion in which this city Is stuated'
Harrison nominated Ramsdell for the office In the
Republican County Convention and succeeded In hav-
Ing him nominated and then elected. Ramsdell held
the office, which Is lucrative one, for eight years
Harrison then before the Republican County Con-
vention and advocated the nomination of the other
crippled veteran, Moses McIain, for the place
and he also nominated and elected.
Both McIaIn and Ramsdell naturally think
tho world OF their old commander. McLan said to-
day:
Il pever saw drawer man than General Harrison.
The battle of Resaca was fought bright spring
day May Is, 1864. Our brigade which was COM
manded by Colonel Harrison, owing TO tho wouldnS
OF Bngadler General Ward, had To charge across an
open field and up steep ridge at the enemy Hairi-
led the way waving his sword and his revolver
Tho rebels poured most destructive fire into US
as We crossed the open field and killed many OF our
AT the foot of the ridge there were little trees
We struggled through these and then dashed at the
entertainments of the rebels on the ridge above. In
front OF their works they had four cannon which
blazcd away at we climbed tho ridge. They
had time to load again before could reach them,
bur close to them that one OF our men was
knocked down with cannon rammcr by rebel
AN"'i'
were about to fire the cannon again. but he, HIMSELF
was the last man to drop. The rebels fired over U.S.
and we dashed their works and captured the
cannon. They were the only cannon taken In the
campaign Harrison captured one OF the caRnoneeIs
himself, dragging him from beneath the cannon. l
was shot BY rebel infantryman just before the
cAnnun."
Daniel NJ. Ramsdell, the other onearmed veteran
referred TO said to day: AS officer General Harr-
son was ptco a, a disciplnarian Many Of his men,
who had been unused to restraint thought him at
first tyranncal and cXacting but when the regiment
got into active service they all saw the immense
bene1t resulting from his strict discipline, and what
they thought Of 1t at first, forgave him for IL
anejward. Remarkably cool under fire. no one ever
saw him manifest the slightest indication OF fear
lie shrank from duty, however dangerous 1t might
be, nor did he ever shlrk the slightest response
bility. Conscientious and faithful 10 tho last de-
gree he threw his whole heart and soul into the
service. No officer was moro beloved by his men
than Genera. Harrison. The privates OF his
regiment would have died for him to man. His
call TO them was always Come on, boys and never
Go on, boys His motto was Il know at least, his
conduct showed III Il VIII never ask my men to do
anything that l would not do myself and Of course
COO and lost 257 killed and wounded General
Harrison in thb thickest Of the hight,
aud never hinchcd once. | remember charge on
a battery in one Of the battles eS where
Il
rebels. \ whole corps was supporting that battery;
We ran up the hill, fell down on our breasts loaded
and sprang up again. and SO on until we got within
few PAGES of the enemy | remember seeing General
Harrison standing up there right in front Of the rebels
waving his sword in one hand and brandishlng levol-
yer I'm The other. tell you there discount on
him as soldier lie was good as the BEST as every
on garrison duty for some time after went out and
know II was great dissatisfaction To General Harri
son TO be kept at that kind OF warfare lie chafed
under Il and wanted to get TO the front, and when he
GOT there he rendered valued service lie was pecu
iiarly kind TO his men i have him give up his
horse on long march to a weary soldier, and shoulder
the prvate's gun and march along with the regiment
/ remember once he did me that kindness. / have
always loved him ard admired him, and might say
/ have always insisted that he would one day be |