Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-11-03
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
FROM COLONEL TO PRIVATE.
An Incident of Military Service During
the Late Unpleasantness-

An Aucluent OF Military service OufAuE
the Late UnPleasantness.
Gen H. S. Greenleaf. member Of
congress from New York, told the fol-
lowing story:
In the fall of 1862, when Lincoln
called for three hundred thousand mere,
we were in Franklin county, Mass,
buckled in to raise regiment l had
been an officer of the militia there and
happened to be the first person in Sher-
burne Falls to sign the enlistment roll
When several companies were nearly
full Gov. Andrew acceded in our request
that we might select all of our own Of
fcers-not only those of the line, but,
through them, the field officers also. We
organized war meetings and stumped
two northern counties, and soon the
regiment was full to the minimum. Then
we line officers assembled to choose
our leader. had had in mind for col
onel one Decker, under whom l had
served when he was colonel of the
militia, and who had since been year
at the front as Northumberland l
had seen him and he agreed to accept
and had resigned his ieutenant-colon-
elcy to do so. He was an admirable
mantle most accomplished military
officer l ever saw. When we met he
was the only one spoken of for the
place was chosen to preside, but
inst before taking the chair dispatch
was handed me from Maj. VIM, one of
our citizens then in Boston, saying,
Gov. Andrew will not commission
Decker under any circumstances on ac-
count of white feather shown at front
under Mcclellan. You must nominate
somebody else for colonel
This was bad situation. / read the
dispatch and all was instant confusion.
felt that it was cruelty unjust and
said so. But we had to act and we took
ballot. was astounded when every
ballot save mine was cast for me for
colonel l had no practic Al experience,
and urged the choice of somebody else;
but they persisted, and l finally agreed
to take it until we could inquire into
the Decker trouble. We sent to Boston.
Andrew was immovable. and then the
men who had given the information
were still at the front | saw Decker.
He complained bitterly of the injustice;
said that fever drove him to the hos
pital; but he added: IN go and show
theml Make me your quartermaster
and will go with you, colonelr l ac-
cepted, wrote to the governor in his vim
dication, and nominated him as my
quartermaster. The governor was still
dominated by his first notion and re-
fused to commission him. was greatly
grieved and surprised. Decker acted
like man about it. He held the dis
patch in his hand a minute and then
said: Colonel; I'm going with you.
I'll go as private. Give me the mus
ter ROLL and he enlisted as a private
soldier.
Il was much moved. This was the
man who had been my colonel when
was lieutenant, and who had been at
the front for more than year in alter
nate command of a regiment when
had never heard a gun fired in anger.
Only one thing was left to do-to vindi-
cate Decker. l went to one of our prin-
ciple lawyers and told him the story,
and got him to go to the army of the
Potomac at my expense and get the af-
fidavits of officers of the field, staff and
line as to Decloers conduct. They came
at last, and were unanimous in his
favor. Then the governor tardily COM
misssioned him as my adjutant, for
that place will test his courage, he
said. 1t did test it severely, and it
never failed or wavered Decker was,
l believe, the best adjutant in the
whole army. He was an encyclopedia
of knowledge; a miracle of activity and
industry. He was indispensable; an
admirable drill officer, a fine disciplin-
arian and vigilant in the service of the
regiment. Although he had often COM
manded me, he never once forgot our
changed relations He treated me like
brother and l shall never cease to be
grateful to him. Pittsburgh Dispatch.