Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-02-22
SOLDIERS COLUMN.
GENERAL nosECRANs.
"A Soldiers ltecoliections of His Cour.
tesy-Thc Battle ut Buxzards
ROost.

Having noticed m article undcr the
head OF hickamauga. by w. S. Flu,
ray, in which q long-dolayed need of
praise is justly bestowed on ono of the
graadest and noblcst OF men that ever
wore star-a man whom the common
soldicry almost worshiped; man whose
patriotism, horoism, courage and vaol
can never be successfully challenged; q
man whom we have always believed was
cast in tho shade by tho grecn-eyod
monster of jealous rivalry, thus obscure
ing in great measure the brilliancy of
his previous military career, aud injur-
ing his future usefulness to very great
degree during the remainder of tue
"times that tried mems SOULS"
Welt do l remember whea "Old RIOS,
cy" marched his men from Jacinto, Miss,
to luka and attacked the rebels on the
the afternoon of Sept. 10, 1862, where
We fought one of the most hotiy con.
tested little battles of the war. Our
left centre was at one time forced buck,
and for time il seemed that an utter
rout was inevitable; but, thanks to the
darkness, which put an end to the con-
ilict, we were enabled to hold our posi-
ton until morning, when the Johnnies,
learning of the nearness of Grant and
his men, sought safety in flight; and all
this time Grant was in hearing of OUT
muskctry and never fired gun. Now
to illustrate one of tho principal causes
ct difference of esteem of commanding
officers by the rank aud file Of All army.
l wish here to relate couple OF little
Incidents OF our soldering. The writer of
this was. by special request of II taamstcr
detailed to take care Of six -mulc team
while the teamstcr was on the sick list
for few days. This was during the
siege of New Madrid, Mo- had scarce,
ly taken control of the team until was
ordered some three miles to the rear. to
the Post Quartermastcr, 10 bring I'D
somc intions. The rain was pourinr
down when started in the direction of
the Commissary, and after arrived MS
supposed, in the vicinity of the Com.
missary, 1 brought up in front of clus-
ter Of tents, sat there on my saddle
mule and hallooed Justify number of
times. Presently the tcnt,door opened.
aud out stepped II pompous- looking fell.
low. 1 saw ut II glance that had Stop
at the wrong place. l imputed if he
could tell me where | world find the
Post Commissary..
DO you sec those tents over thcrcr
'Yes, sir
THAT is the Post Commissary.'
Yes, sir
DO you know my rank, sir2'
NO, sir
am Gen. -, sir. After this when
you desire Information of that kind, you
will call on my Orderlics, sir
believe Gen. - is still living. and
want him to know that his demeanor
pm that occasion is indclibly stamped on
my memory.
Now for the other incident. We were
making rapid march some place in
Mississippi. About eleven o'clock our
canteens were all empty. We crossed n
little shallow brook. One comrade took
my gun, another my cartridge box, an
other my haversack, and took about
SIX cantccns, besides my own, 10 fill and
ovcItakc my company. After having
filled them, started OIL the long trot to
overtakc them. They must have been n
full half mile in advance of me by this
time. The cantccns, full of water were
heavy. They were pounding me most
numerically on the buck, in tho short
ribs ana in the TANKS mt every jump. |
was about exhausted when General and
his stall came rafting past in sweeping
trot. The General says: "Don't run
soldier; don't run. L am going to halt
the column as soon rs get to the front,
aud you will have ample time to catch
up; don't run" This was General Rose
Grams. This, too, is indelibly stamped
on my memory. Which do you suppose
is the most happy reccollection2
These are, of course, very small mat
tiers; bat there hundreds and thousands
OF such little incidents Transporting all
the time under such circumstances. and
they all have tendency to fix the likes
or dislikes OF an army for their com,
mander.
Now, while l am proud to see my old
commander receive in part that praise
which is SO justly due him, and l am
glad to know that he still lives and may
know the kindly feeling that still exists
III the minds of many of his men, l can
not agree with MIR. Furay, or the re bel
Gen. Loring, as to the paramount inns
portance oil Chattanooga or Chickamau-
ga. True, the former was very strate.
glc point; but to my mind it cannot
compare with either Gettysburg OF
Vicksburg. BY the fall of Vicksburg
the Confederacy was cut in twain; and
if Slr. Furay will notice the statistics,
he will see that Government bonds de,
preciated from the start until Vicksburg
surrendered. That was the turning
point, and bonds began to appreciate
at that time. and have continued to ap.
preciate until this day. This we believe
to be the very best indicator of the pub
lie feeling with reference to the stability
OF the Government n. IL. ROM, CO.
a. 10th Iowa, Edison, Neb., in Ma,
tional Tribune