Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-04-08


but he wasn't practicing greal deal, for
he had not yet convinced the public that
he could untangle legal knots equal to
the dusty, musty old fellows who haunt
ed his chosen courthouse. But he was
live, energetic young man, and when
the first call for ninety day men came in
1861, Company II, of the Ninth Illinois
Infantry, was commanded by him, and
was as proud of Its handsome young cap
tain as he was of his very respectable
soldiers. When the regiment was or
ganized little strife arose between rival
candidates for the command of major,
and while those most favored for that
position did not share in the strife or its
attendant temper, their respective friends
were almost painfully in earnest. Just
at the time when the situation was much
strained, Captain Phillips got up on a
cracker box and made one of the best
speeches the assembled soldiers had ever
listened to. He advised union, har-
mony, mutual trust and unwavering
fealty to the Government, and advised
against jealousy, bad temper and extrava-
gait words. Even in a day of much
speechmaking it was the perfection of
timely oratory, and 1t won the union and
Armony he had so well pleaded. 1t
Eon more. 1t gave him the Office, al d
hom that day until the summer of 1868
ne wore the rank and honored name of
major.
Two years later, long after the nine
ty-dav men became three-years soldiers,
Major Phillips was promoted to the rank
of Colonel, and one day, while the Ninth
with others of the Government troops,
lay in Corinth, Miss, detail in force
was sent across the line to Florence,
Ala, with instructions to destroy some
cotton and woollen mills in that city
which had been busy for year or two
making clothing for the Confederate
soldiers. Colonel Phillips was in COM
mand, and so well did he do the work
that, although quite strong body of
Confederates was posted to defend the
town, he won the fight after an hour of
sharp contesting and drove the last
Johnny Reb out of Florence. Then the
mills were destroyed and detachment
of Union soldiers held the town.
But in that sharp afternoon encounter
Billy Neal, fellow-townsman of Colo
mel Phillips and a member of his regi-
ment, was badly wounded and went
into the hospital which was established
at Florence, and into which the disabled
from both armies were admitted. For
the good women of the town turned
sisters of charity and ministered to all
sufferers, regardless of the color of uni
form worn. And one of Billy Meals
first visitors, after Federal con-
troll was assured, was Colonel Phillips.
A few days later the Colonel came again
and sat by his old friend while the
ghastly duty of amputation was per-
formed, strengthening him with his
sympathy and cheering him with the
kind words of an old friend.
The Union force was soon afterward
withdrawn from Florence, but the
patients remained in the hospital there,
and so strong was the Colonel's attach
ment for his unfortunate friend that he
several times went back to the Alabama
town to see him. At length the Con-
federates came back and occupied the
city, throwing out pickets and holding
the place with all due formality, but with
no great force and with no intention of
making fight to hold itagainst superior
numbers. And the first time after this
reoccupation, occurred when Colonel
Phillips announced his intention OF going
to see Billy Neal, his brother officers ad-
vised him to forego the visit. The boy
was in good hands and doing well, they
argued. The women of Florence were
as attentive to him and those of the North
as to those of the South and it would do
no good to go there and chase the
Johnnies out. But he was going. He
pulled his slouch hat over his eyes and
started for permission to go scouting
with 200 men. He swore quietly as he
went about it, and those who see these
signs in Judge Jesse Phillips to this day
know he means what he says.
The Ninth was mounted infantry at this
time, and if the dashing Colonel didn't