The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-12
TRYING TO ENLIST.
An Experience at Camp Yates with Gen. John
Pope.

EDITOR NATIoSAL TRIBUNE: nm very
much interested in Gen. John pcpe's Remn-
| iscences Of early war scenes, and especially
! in his rocollcctions Of Camp Yates for II was
| there first saw the General. Myself and four
companions. all under 20 years Of age, after
having enlisted in four different companies
about Springfield and finding that none OF
them was accepted by the Governor, finally,
through the advice OF Hon. Shelby NJ. Cullum
NOV u. :. Scnator), went out 10 Camp Yates to
try our fortunes there. There was man on
guard with n club at the gate. As / had been
selected spokesman for our little squad, APP
preached the sentinel and demanded entrance,
stating that We were going in to enlist. Some
what TO onr surprise he raised up his club and
told us to pass in. We did so, and in moment
more found ourselves within the Playground
Enclosure among 6,0O0 men, who seemed to
have nothing else 10 DO than walk about and
look Mt one another We five boys felt our
selves completely bewildcred in such n crowd.
We walked about among them till finally es-
pied tall, fine-looking man standing by him
self The only thing he wore Of q military ma
ture was n cap with gold braid in front We
had already learned that that was the insignia
Of an officer. / approached him aud inquired
il he was a Captain. lie smilingy informed
me he was. l then Strengthened myself to full
hight and said: Captain, do you want any
more men in your company" why, yes"
L
list?" 81 do" ] replied; won't ! dor"
After looking at me intensely moment he
said: Yes, I'll take you" then introduced
my OmpaniOns. and after looking at each n
moment, he said "Fll take the lot" We
then asked him on his honor whether his COM
pany had been accepted. His reply was,
Which do you prefer. boys going TO quarters
first or being mustered in2" " Mustered in"
we all shouted in chorus. Come this way,
then" he said, and you shall be aceommo-
dated"
We followed him to what had been the band
stand in the old Playground and there we saw
stout, thickset man, apparently about 30
years Of age with black whiskers Our Cap
tain said, Capt. Pope here are five young men
who have undergone many disappOintments
trying TO get into Uncle Sans service. You
will confer a favor upon me and very great
favor upon them, il you will muster them into
the u. S. service" will be pleased TO aC-
commodate you, Captain" said Capt. Pope.
Young men, take off your hats and hold up
your right hands" Every hat came off and
every hand went up After the oath had been
administered 10 US, Capt Pope said: "Quite a
nice lot Of boys, Captain. Where did you find
them?" "They came 20 me" was Capt Shaw's
reply. needed just five men TO fill my COM
pany, and these boys came to mo while stand
ing over there, and / am fixed now" / con-
graduate you" said Capt. Pope, aud then with
anOther pleasant word 10 US boys ne turned
away 10 other duties. Ii was the only time |
ever saw Captain afterwards General) John
Pope
There were mono Of the men Of those first
six regiments that left Illinois, imagine, who
did not bear away pleasant recolcctiOns OF
Capt. Pope, the Mastering Officer. They
watched his brilliant career as n General, and
sympathized with him in tho misfortunes
which overlook him through the treachery Of
Eastern Generals; and those Of them living
are glad TO know that he is not soured by i'll
usage, but will occasionally let the boys hear
from him through The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
The Captain under whom we had enlisted
that day was Capt. Fred w. Shaw, of Go. b,
llth H., and better or Drawer officer never
commanded men. He fell amidst the deadly
strife at Douelson, and / was one of four men
who bore his dead body from the field. /
served in the company three years and three
months. The regiment lost more men killed
in battle than probably any other in the West
ern army. 1t had for its commanders such
men as w. II. l.. Wallace, II. +. G.. Ransom,
Garrett Nevins and J. III. Coates, all four of
whom became Generals.-J. II. MADDEN, Past
Commander Kenesaw Post, Danville, III.