The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-01
"TBE CANN0NEER,"
Comrades Mingle Praise and Criticism
of the Gunner.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have just
received letter from Capt. Stewart-one OF
maryland though he intended it to be private
letter. | cannot refrain from giving your readers
some extracts from it, Ny reason for taking
this liberty with our old hero is the fact that
this letter brings ont in strong light one of his
most Ioyable traits. 1t has been my frequent
privilege to refer to his traits of courage, gen.
erOsity and honor. This letter exhibits his
modesty, which is the only trait of his charac-
ter that could possibly surpass tho other three.
had requested the Captain, with the assist
ance of our old Orderly Sergeant, Chas A. SAINT
yer-commissoned in July, 1862 and pro-
NOTED to be Captain Of volunteers,-wOuldp pre-
pare an Introductory chapter for my sketch, il
published in book. bringing the history of the
battery up to the date of my familiarity with
it. And, by tho way, this was no small request
because Battery b was famous battery long
before anybody ever dreamed of civil war;
having under Ed. OBrien, shared the glOries
of Gen. Taylor's Mexican campaign OF PalO
Alto, Monterey and Buena Vista "even up"
with the batteries Of Bragg and Ringgold
The old Captain says:
81 am trying to write few pages every day
about the early history of the old battery, for
your book, as you request, but am afraid that
my efforts will seem very tame and common
place when printed in book with such writing
as you have done. However, when reach the
point where Capt Santmyer Joined us. intend
TO turn 10 over To nllu, alu ne Will make lG
more interesting than | can
"Reaizng as I did the distinguished services
and the already established fame of the battery,
/ often wished that it might have had histO-
rian. When finished reading your concluding
article felt satisfied that Battery b had found
historian worthy of its history.
"You have made me famous in my old age,
and have always spoken of me in a manner
that gives great pleasure to my family and my
| friends, aud | hope that all my boys feel to-
ward mo as you do. In fact, L feel that they
| do because whenever | have met corre-
sponded with any Of them, they seem TO remem-
| Der our association with pleasure. But also
| feel that you have given me too much praise
| personally. Among other things you have
| represented mo rs a man destitute of fear. Let
me assure you, my dear boy, that whatever
! may have been my apparent conduct In action,
! no man ever went under fire with n keener
| sense OF the perils and horrors Of battle than
| did.
But it was my fortune to be placed in com
| mand of men of exceptional pride and bravery.
| No officer having spark of manhood about
| him could have helped doing well at the head
! of such men. / cannot think of them now,
whether they are living or dead, without emo
! tiuu. assure you that it was my men and
boys who held me up to my work in our des-
perate battles of Antietam, Gettysburg. Spott-
sytvania, Bethesda Church, etc. and not l who
held them TO theirs.
The only occasions when fear departed
| from me was when some of the men and boys
whom loved would fail before me- torn and
! mauged by bullets or shot or pieces of shell.
! when the battle was so hot that | could not
spare men to remove them; and they would
| turn 10 me with beseeching faces for he p which
| could not give them for the time being.
Then. perhaps. would become desperate aud
in the fuIlness of my desire 10 avengc their
| sufTcriugs might have appeared to be reckless.
| Whether anyone could have done better than
did with such men | will not pretend to say.
But will say that it must have been very
poor officer who could not have done well.
II wss my men who made my hattery's repu-
tation. It Is their glory, not mine.
| +" In conclusion. l convey TO you the thanks
Of nay family my friends, and myself for the
| history of the battery which you have written
Ii IL has fault il is the fact that you have
| given to me praise which properly belongs 10
yonr comrades in the rauks-who. as | said be-
fore. held me mp to my work much moro than
ever had occasion to hold them up to theirs