The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-09-09
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES"
BY ONE OF THE GOLD VETS.

A large turtle was captured on farm
near Lexington, Lafayette county, having
ga. II. N, First Illinois Cavalry, 1861"
inscribed on its upper shell. The in
scription was no doubt made by mem
Der of that company while stationed in
Lexington, in 1861.
An incident of the character of Admiral
Foote occurred at Columbus, on the deck
Of the flag steamer, after a consultation
which he held with his commanding Of
flcers. As we'll as can remember, Foote
said "Gentlemen, expect you to sup.
port me, as Aaron and Hur stayed the
hands of Moses until the victory was won
over Amalek.n
A few days before General Lees death,
he remarked; 81 am rejoiced that slavery
is abolished. believe it was for the in
terest of the South. So fully am I salts
fed of this as regards Virginia, especial
ly, that would cheerfully have lost all
have lost by the war, and have suffered
all have suffered, to have this object at
tanned. This he said with much earnest
ness.
While the flagship Hartford, at the bonn
bardment of Fort st. Phillip, was in q
perilous position and her entire destruc-
ton threatened, Farragut showed all the
qualities of great commander. He walk
ed up and down the poop as coolly as
though on dress parade, while Command
er Wainwright directed the firemen in
putting out the flames. At times the fire
would rush through the ports and almost
drive the men from their guns. 'sDon't
finch from that fire, boys sang out Far
ragut, "There's a hotter fire than that for
those who don't do their duty" The
Hartford was struck thirty-two times in
hull and rigging, and had three men killed
and ten wounded, in the capture of Fort
st. Phillip.
At reunion of Crocker's Iowa Brigade,
comprising the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fiji
teenth and Sixteenth Iowa, at Cedar
Rapids, at which General ID. G. Goran,
brave Division Commander of the Con-
federate forces was present, he brought
with him flag captured from the Six
teenth Iowa Regiment, at Atlanta, July
22d, 1864. He presented it to them in
the following words: SIN behalf of our
exsoldiers, beg leave to return to you
the flag. i trust you will bear it as hon
orably as you did on that former occa-
sion; and assure you, that should it
ever again be assailed, the men who OPP
posed you that day will stand by you in
the future and vic with you in its defense.
| hope that flag may float as long as the
everlasting hills endure, over free, pros
porous, happy and united peoplc-as long
as tho water flows to the great ocean,"
At the end of the second days battle Of
Fair Oaks, to the troops which with great
peril had been able to cross the Chcka-
homlny before the bridges were carried
away with the flood, the situation was
one of great peril. But General Sumner
was equal to the occasion. After making
his disposition TO receive an attack, he
sent for General Sedgwick, his special
friend, and like himself, a man of the
most undaunted courage. When he came,
General Sumner said: "Sedgwick, you
perceive the situation the enemy will
doubtless open upon us at daylight. Re-
Inducements are impossible. He can over
whelm and destroy us, but the country
cannot afford 10 have us defeated. There
is just one thing for us to do; we must
stand here and die like men Impress it
upon your officers that we must doth to
the last man-to the last man We may
not meet again goodbye, Sedgwick.p
Major White, in command of the
Prairie Scouts in their charge on the rebel
garrison in Springfield, Missouri, gave to
his officers the simple order: "Follow me
do as | do |" and then drawing up in
| front of his men, with voice full Of emo
ton, he spoke: ''Fellow soldiers, COM
rades, brothers this is your first battle.
For our three hundred the enemy are one
thousand. II any of you are sick, or tired
by the long march, or il any think that
the number is too great, now is the time
to turn back" He paused-no one was
sick or tired. "We must not retreat; our
honor, the honor OF our General, and our
country, tell US TO go on. will lead you;
your watchword shall beth Union
and FremontP Draw sabre by the right
flank, quick trot, March !" Bright swords
flashed in the sunshine, passionate
shout burst from every lip, and the day
was won.
On the gunboat Essex, at the battle of
Fort Henry, solid shot struck the Essex
boilers, causing the steam to escape, seald-
ing several of the seamen, among whom
was one named James Coffey, who was
shot-man to the No. Gun. He was on
his knees, in the act of taking a shell from
the box, to be passed to the loader. The
escaping steam and hot water struck him
square in the face, and no met death in
that position. When Captain Porter told
him we were victorious be Immediately
rallied and raising himself on his elbow,
called for three cheers, and gave two him
self, falling exhausted on the mattress in
his effort to give the third. Another sea-
man named Joseph Brcas, who was badly
scalded, sprang to his feet, excaiming:
Surrendered must see that with my
own eyes before / die" Before anyone
could interfere, he clambered up two
short flight of stairs to the spar deck. He
shouted, "Glory to God," and sank ex-
hausted on the deck. Poor Jasper died
that night.
After three weeks experience with a