Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-11-28
TREGO COUNTY.
A sketch of Edward P. Trego,
Whose Name Our County
Bears.

We are often asked: "From whence
did Trego county deriye it's name?"
And, although the question has been
answered in these columns before, per-
haps but few know anything about Capt.
Trego's military record. Our lamented
Governor Martin delivered the Decora-
ton day address at Wichita in 1886 and
in referring to some of the Kansas
heroes who we're members of his own
regiment, Col. Martin said:
:" first met one of them in the winter
of 1862. There was re organization
of Kansas regiments, and Captain Trego
was transferred to mine with his COM
pany. He was born in q small village of
New York, he was country bred, and had
fair education. Square shouldered,
strong imbed, graceful in movement,
and with every muscle and fiber of his
body vigorous and healthy, his was
handsome figure. Whether some
remote ancestor had Transmitted to him
the blood of a soldier, I do not know,
bnt I doubt if he ever thought of war or
q soldiers life, before the flash of the
gun at Sumter startled the slumbering
nation. He was modest as he was manly.
If he was corrected or reproved for mis-
takes such as young officers frequently
make in the early days of their service,
he would blush like school girl But
he was a born soldier. His blue-gray
eyes were alike steady, quick and fear
less. After three months drill he
walked with the erect and martial bear
ing of regular. His prompt military
salute, never forgotten or omitted on any
occasion, was given or responded to with
a grace that was at once easy and nat
ural. And his voice, clear as the tones
of silver bugle, had in it the ring of a
true commander. He was captain and
his company was made up, as most vol
unteer companies were, Of young men
and boys who had been the schoolmates
and friends of their officers. His affect
ion for the boys deepened and strength
ened during every day of his service, and
they idolized him. But not one of them
ever for a moment forgot that he was
their captain, nor did he forget it. The
willing respect, the cheerful and prompt
obedience he gave to his superior officers
he expected from his men, and they gave
1t. not so mUCQ DoCduS0 Ii was cuIOICcO
as because it was deserved.
I don't think I ever heard him utter q
complaint concerning any feature Of a
soldiers life, however hard and perilous
il might be. The dusty marches along
the Southern pixies. beneath the blazing
heat of q summers sun; the cold and
dreary tramps of mid-winter; the lonely
vigils of picket duty; the weary duty Of
camp life-none of these ever extorted
from him murmur. He was always and
everywhere the same cheerful. patient,
willing soldier: the same kindly, brave
snd manly gentleman.
On the morning Of the 18th Of Sepem-
Der, 1863, our division moved from near
Crawfsh Springs to the battle field of
Chicamauea. The march was rapid,
dusty and exhaustine. The thunder of
artillery smote the air, and the crackle Of
musketry at the distant fords told of q
closer conflict. The troops that had
passed along the road during the night
had fred the fences on either side, and
they were etill smouldering, filing the
with sitting smoke. When
We reached point near General Rose
GRAMS headquarters, we were ordered
into the woods to the right, and I halted
10 Rive instructions to my regiment 81
passed by. Near lis center marched the