The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-08-06
JOHN A. HURT,
The Gallant Major OF the 1O6ih H., and the Fight
Ing Lhnnlain.

lug Chaplain.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The subject
OF this short sketch was, few years before the
war, Sheriff OF Mcnard County, III. When Co.
X OF the l0Gth was organized, Hurt was elected
Captain, and when the I0Gth was organized he
was elected Major Of the regiment. lie was
man Of the people, always ready to sympathize
with those in trouble, ienient in command,
yet stern in the discharge Of duty, unfolding
the right and condemning the wrong. Instead
Of spending his time in drawng-rOoms when
not on duty, he was circulating among the boys
with simple yet dignfed dcmcanor. While
the regiment was on its way down the Missis-
sippi, our transport. the old Metropolitan. was
fired into by the rebels at Island No. 81 They
had n small cannon planted behind tempo
rary breastwork, and as the boat had 10 run
close 10 shore at this point, the rebels supposed
they had Us, but they reckoned without their
host"
OF course there was confusion on board M
the first fire. rs il was unexpected. But amidst
the excitement Of our sudden bOmhardmeut in
close quarters. a voice sung out in full, unquiv-
erinE tone. Give EN- hell, boys; give 'em
hell" This was tie Major, who bad grasped
tho situation in a moment aud was equal to
the emergency. lie was standing out IA bold
relief against the rejecting waters Of the
mighty Mississippi, upon the most exposed p0r-
ton, the bow Of the boat. lie remained al his
post until VIC silenccd the rebel battery upon
the shore, by pouring into their ranks mimic
hail. The Majors commands were invariably
the same throughout the fight. GIVE 'cm hell.
boys" Sometimes perhaps there was a little
more emphasis on the last word 0f his COM
mand than atothers. Anyway, we thought the
Major used very appropriate commands, and We
Obcycd with alacrity.
The Colonel G.atham) who was a very nice
man, given 10 social chats in secluded aristO-
cratic circles, had boiis which neccsstatcd
him 10 take his meals standing was ia the pas
senger cabin, from which the private soldier was
excluded. nursing one Of the aforementioned
boils, aud having good time generally, when
the battle opened, aud he remained there until
its close. Then he poked his head out the door
aud drawled out: What's this pro-m-is-cu-
Gus firing about2" The brave. noble. battle
SCARED Major replied, 30, the boys will fight
'em, Colonel the boys will fight 'cin. Take
your scat" forgetting that the Colonel had
boil.
The Majors dander was up TO its fullest fight
ing pitch. and when the gunboat patrolling the
river came TO our relief, ordering US 90 take
down our flag, the Major, supposing that
/ rebel guuboat had run the blockade, couldn't
sec il, and was just commencing 10 give one Of
his bloOd-curdling commands in the old-fash-
toned way; but when the Captain Of the boat
explained that il was contrary 10 rules TO run
]
measure was paciiicd. Yet still the Major
lovingly eyed our regimental flag, that proudly
waved aolt the pilot house. deGantly floating
out toward the rebel vacated fort, and while
the Colonel meckly folded his handsand walked
1 back into the cabin, the Major wanted 10 argue
the case with the gunboat Captain. Why was IL
forbidden TO hoist our glorious flag, for which
one man had just been slain upon our boat aud
/ two OF three wounded, that the flag Of the
/ Union might wave forever Then why haul il
DOWN
The Major reluctantly folded IL up, however,
4 but was very Rrum about 10 for day or two.
After We arrived at the mouth Of The Yazoo
4 River, above Nicksburg, in June, 1853, we were
4 sent up The lazoo 10 village called Sartartia.
4 in Mississippi 10 intercept Johnston and pre-
vent him from raising the siege at Ncksburg.
/ We landed III SaTtartia aud soon had work TO
/ do, as Johnston was there in strong force. Our
1 Colonel, us usual, had very bad boil here. We
supposed that the jar Of Grants siege-guns at
/ NlcLsbuIg had something 10 do with il; any
way, his boil was fearful and the gallant Major
was In his glory. IL took something more than
a caIbunclc to down the Major. lie SMILED the
battle from alar, and his eyes would snap aud
twinkle with delight while mingling with the
boys, encouraging them 10 make il hot for the
rebels.
Soon a column Of troops was seen advancing
| upon as. The Colonel while ginCcTly feeling
nih CaID hutlc Nn0tT hls COdL-ldll with one mana,
grasped the fOregate Of the ambulance with the
other, aud quietly stole away 10 commune with
nature and silence. Mai. Hurt mounted his
horse and gave the command, DOublc-quick. -
The Tooth being already in line started on the
double-quick 10 meet the advancing foe and
get good position behind fence. In running
down lane we gained this position, and were
kneeling down behind the fence awaiting "a
fire at close quarters, when our Chaplain, all
bridlod and spurred, rugged out in fun fight
ing trim, with a cheese knife dangling at li.
side, astride Of his beautiful black charger
came dashing down the road like a whirlWind
Ia cloud Of dust. The Major, ever ready Il
shield the boys from unnecessary annoyance
such as dust, etc. was thunderstruck at The
dashing display, and for a moment came very
near tumbling OF his horse Then he righted
Strengthened up in his stirruPs, aud, with
fiery look in his eye, exclaimed: Chaplain
don't kick up such a - Of a dust" The
Chaplain's patriotism seemed 10 suddenly sub
side aud the good man retired rather crestfallcn
of course we all Toared with laughter, Whiel
made the Chaplain feel bad.
After the capitulation Of VicksbuFg we wen
20 Little Rock, Ark. The roar Of artillery a
Nielsburg had long before this covered tht
} Colonel with boilsr and he resigned. Maj