Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-04-09
MY FIRST BATTLE.
What Was Experienced BY n Recruit In
the Regular Army.

What Was Experienced BY Recruit in
the Regular Army.
/ was sixteen years of age when
Lieut.. S. opened a recruiting Office in
my native town, an historical village on
Lake Champlain, where years before,
when only a kid, l pushed my way
through mass of people to the hotel
steps, where Gen. Winfield Scott
the OLD hero of many battles-was ad-
dressing the citizens of the town, and,
interrupting him by pulling his coat
tail, told him mother named me after
him, Winfield Scott. / remember he
lifted me and stood me on the railing
in front, and it was some time before he
could speak, and | recollect of seeing
tears rolling down his cheeks. Many
of my playmates were in the audience,
who began to hurrah for Scott (of course
they meant me). After some pertinent
remarks to his audience on my account,
he asked me if / attended school
regularly. 1 answered that 1 did.
''That's right" said the general, ''and
promise me that you won't leave school
until you are n smarter man than /,
whom your good mother so honored."
promised.
Nine years later broke that promise,
left school and enlisted. An attach
ment sprung up between Lieut. S. and
fair schoolmate of mine, lovely girl,
which subsequently ended in an engage
ment- Miss c., we will call the young
lady, said she wished l would go with
the lieutenant: that she was sure /
would like the regular army best,
though my choice was the volunteer
service.
However, visited the recruiting Of
flee of her atfianced, with the result that
was mustered into Uncle Sans serv-
ice. A week later we, a squad of four
teen, were on our way to Fort Preble,
Portland Harbor, to join our regiment,
which was soon after ordered south.
My first fight was single-handed
combat with Johnny b., one of the four
teen who enlisted when / did, and the
fight took place on the night of our ar
rival at Fort Preble. We arrived at the
fort about nine in the evening; / re-
member taps sounded soon after. We
were marched to "a large, bunllless room,
and We're told to make ourselves as com
Portable with the floor for bed. In
little while a sergeant came in and
said: Boys, come with me and get
blankets" We We're taken to the quar-
termasters, received blankets, and re-
turned to quarters; that is, all except
Johnny b, who was out looking for the
suffers store, which he did not find
f, however, nor did he get blanket. 1t
was Il cold night in September, and the
room was without fire. / had Just
rolled myself up in my blanket, when
the door opened and in walked Johnny,
who asked where he could get blanket
told him, but instead of going he said
he guessed he would have part of mine,
at the same time trying to pull it from
me, and further said that if kicked he
would take it all.
"All right" said I, you or I shall
throwing the blanket behind me.
"Let the best man have it,
1t was not a scientific bout, perhaps,
but we got there all the same. 1t last
ed one round, with the result that had
scratch on one ear and the enemy was
bleeding at the nose and had both eyes
damaged.
Johnny rushed from the quarters, say.
ing: 'Ill get even; just wait"
rolled myself up again and waited.
1t was half hour, perhaps, when he
returned, both eyes in mourning, and
with him came tall, heavy-set, black.
bearded giant, wearing quartermaster.
sergean.s stripes, and in hand heavy
cane.
"Who did you have the trouble withP'
said the piratical-loolSing martinat
Johnny pointed to me, and whaclS
down came the cane on my shoulders
and half-dozen more on my back.
'Ill learn you to fight" said the
binte. You'll have different kind ol
fighting to do before long"
agreed with him on that point, bu,
he did not accompany the regiment
south, and after leaving Fort Preble
never saw him again.
Holmes was the sergeant's mare, anG
alive he can vouch for the truth o.
his narrative, so far as he was con
,rned in it. In all these long year
nee that night of the clubbing have
1T grown any taller, and am bald
AIDED and gray. But now for revenge
Next morning an old sesr-f1ced vet
in who saw the fracas of tie previous
sht said TO me: "Young man, ! saw