Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-04-27
A ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
A RAID THAT WAS MADE ONE DAY Too
LATE.

LATE.
One of the best story-tellers who ever
held government position is Colonel
Clements, the pension agent at Chica-
go. One of his latest narratives to re-
porter of the Chicago Herald concerns,
in some measure, Judge Jesse Phillips,
of HillsborO' ILL.,, once a dashing and
successful Union soldier, now steady
going and level headed jurist and one
of the wheel-hOrses of the state DemOc-
racy. Judge Jesse was practicing
lawyer when the war broke out; that
is, he was lawyer, but he wasn't prac
ticing great deal, for he had mot yet
convinced the public that he could un-
tangle legal knots equal to the dusty,
musty old fellows who haunted his
chosen courthouse. But he was alive,
energetic young man, loyal to the back
bone, and when the first call for ninety
day men came in 1861, Company III. of
the Ninth Illinois InfGnry, was COM
manded by him, and was as proud OF its
handsome young captain as he was of
his very respectable soldiers.
When the regiment was organized a
little strife arose between rival candi-
dates for the command of major, and
while those most favored for that posi-
ton did not share in the strife or it's
attendant temper, the respective
friends were almost painfully in earn
est. Just at the time when the situa-
ton was much strained Captain Phil
lips got up on cracker box and made
one of the best speeches the assembled
soldiers had ever listened to. He ad-
vised union, harmony, mutual trust and
unwavering fealty to the government,
and advised against jealousy, bad tenn
per and eXtravagant words. Even in a
day of much speech-making it was the
perfection of timely oratory, and it won
the union and harmony he had so well
pleaded. 1t wou more. 1t gave him
the office, and from that day till the
summer of 1868 he wore the rank and
hOnOred name of major.
Two years later, long after the nine
ty-day men became three year 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, a detail in
force was sent across the line to Flor
ence, Ala, with instructions to destroy
some cotton and wooden mills in that
city which had been busy for a year OF
two making clothing for the rebel sol
diers. Colonel Phillips was in com
mand, and SO well did he do the work
| that, although quite strong body ol
COnfederates was posted to defend the
town, he won the fight after an houl
of sharp cOntesting and drove the las1
Johnny Reb out OF Florence. Then the
mills were destroyed and detachm EN-
of Union soldiers held the town.
A COMRADE IN DISTRESS.
| oh 1o,,> n ftorpaop onoonn
| ter Billy Neal, a fellow townsman O.
| Colonel Phillips and q member of hi
regiment, was badly wounded and wen
into the hospital at Florence, and into
which the disabled from both armies
were admitted. For the good wome1
of the town turned sisters of charity
and ministered to all the sufferers, re
gardless of the color of uniform worn
And one Of Billy Meals first visiters, af
ter federal control was assured, wal
Colonel Phillips. A few days later the
Colonel came again and sat by his ole
friend while the CHASTITY duty of ampu
tatiOn was performed, Strengthening
him with his sympathy, and cheering
him with the kind words of an ole
friend.
lStThe Union force was soon afterwar(
withdrawn from Florence, but the pa
tients remained in the hospital there
and so strong was the colonel's attach
ment for the unfortunate friend tha
he several times went back to the Ala
bama town to see him. At length tn
Confederates came back and occupied
the city, throwing out pickets and hold
ing the place with all due formality
but with no great force and with no in
tention of making a fight to bold i
lagainst superior numbers. And tn
first time after this re-occupation oc
Cured, with Colonel Phillips announc
ed his intention of going to see Bill.
Meal, his brother officers advised hin
to forego the visit. The boy was il
good hands and doing well, they argu
ed. The women of Florence were a
attentive to him and those of the NOrtl
as to those of the South, and it woult
do no good to go there and chase th'
Johnnies out. But he was going. H
pulled his slouch hat over his eyes ant
started for permission to go scouting
with two hundred men. He swor
quietly as he went about it, and thOs
who see these signs in Judge Jess
Phillips to this day know he mean
what he says.
The Ninth was mounted infantry a
| this time, and if the dashing colone
| didn't take two hundred of the bes
riders and the best fighters it was be
cause he didn't know who they were