The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-06-01
ALARM AND CHA N GEES

NV last left us encamped at Grand juno
ton, Just returned from an excursion into
the country from visit 10 Col. Hit and
others. VIII mention that one very sick
man among them was Lieutenant Mark q.
Wheeler of Co. f., commanded by Capt
Charles NJ Vaughn, who was MORALLY
wounded at the battle of Hatchle river,
Oct 9TH, 1862.
The universal confusion and purposeless-
ness which seemed to prevail at the head
of our part of the army, and to which
such repeated and impatient reference
has been made, embarrassing TO all, was no
less so to regimental officers, including the
medical. The head of chief headq quarters
seemed TO have been lost, If II had ever
been there. All now alive who were there
and remember events will testify that nc
intelligent, definite purpose appeared to
obtain at the head of affairs--if indeed
there were any.
We had a pleasant camp at Grand juno
ton for few days, and delightful weather
all very favorable for bringing up work,
establishing an orderly hospital, and syste.
matizing business. Routine camp obser.
vances we're resumed. The clock of the
regiment, the martial band, was wound up
and sounded their regular "calls' again in
their proper order. | remember dress
parade or two, the better that Col. Cush-
man broke into my time for performing
urgent work by directing that the surgeon
be present with full equipments" Per
feet discipline must be observed, and the
force kept we'll in hand,' all the more
because of constant alarms and indications
of environment by ever menacing dangers
of attack by the beleaguring forces of
Price and Van Dorm. Our troops were
said TO have been distributed rather widely
over that region of country; and the FREE
quent booming Of distant artillery, and
picket firing in different directions, gave
sound Of not color of assurance Of the
fact. Pickets were captured and stragglers
taken prisoners From all of which 1t
appears to have been part of the design of
the rebel leaders to practice the method Of
cutting uslo off piece meal, to harrass and
annoy, and waste US all possible, (knowing,
too, doubtless that We had been much
taxed by sicknessy, in preference to bring
ing on great general battle, deferring
that till later. The battle of Corinth, the
first day of October, 1862, seen in later
light, very clearly indicates that such was
the preconceiyed design, their culmina
ting.
One night "the long roll" sounded ;
taken up nearly simultaneously through
different regiments, the sounl becoming
more and more faint and indistinct, indi-
Gated how widely our forces we're distribu-
ted. 1t meant "A possible immediate en-.
gagement certainly instant preparation
for probable movement. An extraordl-
nary circumstances In that, when general
battle Is about to ensue the fact Is mostly
determined by preliminary reconnaissance
and through scouts; the minor commands
being cautioned to due vigilance and read
ness. No such intimation had reached us (;
certainly not me; and the surgeon is ever
among the first TO receive secret whisper
of forewarnng. Ii was in this way be -
came among the very first apprized of the
instantly impending horror of the slaughter
at Jackson, Miss, July II, 1868 1T was
In the air. the previous evening that Sc
rious work awaited us. And at the criti.
cal moment was permitted TO read the
order over the Brigade Adjutants shoulder,
knowing It's contents as soon az did Gen
Lauman, for whose victimizing IL was
doubtless designed by the Great Command
or. Just as a fiend will wreck large
passenger train, inillcting untold slaughter
and misery, to Insure the chance of being
maliciously revenged on one OF more for
fancied wrong; or for removing rival for
some desired position. | stand life long
witness to the mOnstrous wrong perpetrated
upon that superior officer, Gen. Lauman,
for the dreadful injustice subsequently
visited upon him, and which hurried him
through mental torture worse than q
thousand deaths, to a premature and dis
honored grave, while yet In his prime.
shall never cease TO protest, on all possible
occasions, while life remains, that while
the responsibility for the order which re
suited in that premeditated, horribly
bloody flasco, has been made chsrgeable e
that miserable Ord, he but acted as cats
paw for an infinitely smarter monkey thar
he was. Probably no dreadful 30 called