The National tribune., 1891-04-23
GALLANT BOYS.
Ness or the IIlh IA. that was Nearly Wiped
Ont

4 Out.
EDITOR NATIoSAL TgIBUNE: Tho Can
nonccr" says. on page 49, Of his interesting
book that mo doubt maG- other groups Vi
10 boys in tho army could show better
record, bnt am waiting TO sec IT," etc. Now,
IA my opinion, the fighting aud staying quail
4 ties OF Comra1e BuelPs crew would be pretty
| hard TO down, but as TO casualties | had the
/ honor Of being with squad Of eight that for
| fighting was second TO none aud as to loss
would compare with any squad Of its size in
/ the army. As 70 ago we were boys with two
| exceptions. RalstOn Barr and tho writer were
! 10 years OF age; James HARRISON, Jacob
StraSler, Allison Shields and John Gibson
were under Is, while David Bagley and l., W.
McEcnry were about 30 years of age. We
were what is termed "clcventL-houT soldiers"
except Mclienry, who had served nine months
in the 18TH Pa, i think; were all yo.un-
teers, and all from a patch Of territory about
| four miles square IN the northern part Of In
diana County. Pa. We were placed in Co. G, lIth
Pa, Fighting Dick Coulter" commanding
This was veteran regiment, the majority Of
its members having rc-enlisted. Our company
was composed of men from Westmoreland
County, and was commanded by Capt Ahsa-
Ion Schall. Our other officers were w. III. Nc
Glaughlin, First Lieutenant and Henry d.
Weller. Second Lieutenant.
/ want 10 say right here there was no drawer
or nobler men in the army than the officers Of
our company. The rank and file were gentle
men as well rs brave soldiers. have seen
men that would abuse recruts-generally some
boaster that had seen more service according 10
his own chin music. We had one of that kind
who had a good bit to say while in camp that
was not pleasant for the recruit TO hear, but
when il came 10 fighting said boaster was inter
viewing the ProyOSt-Guard. With this excep-
ton we were used by the old vets of tho IIth
with all kindness and considerations and, boy
rs / was, / was not long in making the discov-
cry that a good soldier had a warm heart for
his fellow-man. The readers Of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE are familiar with Gen. Dick Coulter
so ! cannot say, in this short article, anything
that would add to his fame as a good officer
and soldier
At CuIpeper. Capt Schall allowed us In
diana County boys 10 mess together, which
suited us 10 4, and you bet it made a lively
rs well as a big mess Our first baptism of fire
was on May 5. 1864, in the Wilderness, said
baptism lasting from o'clock till dark Our
mess lost l.. w. Mclienry and James HARRISON,
wounded on the morning Of the 9th the writer
was hit May 8, and Barr and Straslcr were
also severely wounded. At Bethesda Church
Bagley was MORALLY wounded and died few
days after. About this time Gibson was slight
~ wounded and sent to Washington, aud on
account of falling health was transferred 10 the
the regiment in all its engagements up 20 the
Weldon Railroad Aug. 49, where, with Barr,
HARRISON, McHenry aud Strasler, who had
just returned from the hospital they were all.
with exception Of Barr, taken prisoners and
all died in the prison pen at Salisbury.
i returned in the Fall to find my chums all
gone. was informed by some OF the company
that in the fight at the Weldon Railroad tie
color bearer was hit and the regiment at the
time almost surrounded when reb made a
rush for our flag aHd started on a run with it,
when Barr Joined in the race with the John
ny, grabbed the old Gag. wrenched il out Of
has hands, and carried it out Of the fight.
Barr was color bearer after that until he took
sick and was sent "a the hospital, where lac
died Sept. 3, 1SGi. His remains sleep at Point
Lookout. If be had lived he would have been
promoted for his cgIlantTy.
was back in time far the Weldon raid and
was with the regiment TO Appomattox. All ofou
mess were hit but Shields and with one ex-
eept0n they were severe wounds. All died
Of prison cruelty or wounds but Gibson and
myself who rot home at the end.-JAMEs A.
Go. &, 18th Pa Ord, Pa.