Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23

notlceu III last saturdays STAR, Wnere
mention was made OF young Congressman, a
statemen to the effect that Gen. Logan could
hardly have been an officer in the Mexican war
before he fifteen years of age" The
speaker was a medical man of this city who was
a surgeon during the war. "My own expe-
rience," he continued, would prove that a
great many combatants Of rank were mere
boys.
early in May. 1864 Il then being an assistant
surgeon in the confederate service, l was sta
toned at Towards Grove Hospital, near Rich
mond. Shortly after / went there it became
an Alabama hospital, and it was then that l
came across one of the many notable cases to
which l can refer. While my rounds one
morning l noticed among the new cases a
scrawny, sallow, thin-cheeked fellow. He was
an misunderstanding youngster and was
not much SUI prised when in response to a
question: was making up the hospital record
he said he WAS fifteen years of age. When |
asked him what his command was he said,
The fifteenth Alabama, and then gave his
rank as captain. He was such poor, puny
little fellow that l thought Alabama regiments
must be badly off for officers. L don't know
but was somewhat prejudiced against him be-
cause of his urprepossessing youth. although
he had comm snced. to fight when but eleven
wears old. He WAS a decidedly sick bov--not
him. Suddenly he spoke up and said, Doctor,
l want you to get me out of here as quick as
you cam
"'We always do that replied.
WANTED TO BE AT THE FRONT.
eyes, said he. but soldiers don't always
want to get out of hospital. went out at the
first Cali an this is the first time have been
separated from my command
I'm day or two he began to mend-more rap
idly than expected him to-and on the fourth
day he commenced to bother me by insisting
that he was fit for duty. He said lie felt fully
able to get up and he pleaded hard with me to
report him TOR duty. l told him that if l re-
ported him he would at once be sent back
while would be censured. By that time had
changed my opinion OF him. but had to speak
somewhat roughly to him for two days TO pre-
vent him tormenting me. On the seventh day
he again commenced to plead and at last told
him that if he improved as rapidly in the next
twenty-four hours as he had previously would
report him. He held me to my promise and
was reported fit for duty. While he
was in line with others who were about
to be discharged the hospital mail came, and
in it was big letter addressed to
him. He opened it and in moment cried out:
Take this back; | don't want it. 1t was a
thirty days furlough which his father-an in
huential man had procured for him from
Judge Campbell, assistant secretary of war.
Burroughs were very desirable things just then,
but that boy captain positively refused his and
returned at once to his command. Some tire
afterward told UGl. w. c. Oates of tho Young
| ster The colonel. who is now in Congress.
| commanded the fifteenth Alabama and when
| mentioned the little fellows name he said:
| Why, he ID one of the best officers have. He
has been with the regiment in twenty-five
| pitched battles and eighty skirmishes and
| stands right up to fire.. lie has his men under
better control In field and camp than any of the
other captains, doesn't display his authority as
1 so many OF tho less effective do and is alto
! gether most desirable officer
| as y A COLONEL AT SEVENTEEN.
"Oh, could tell you about lots of bows who
| proved themselves worthy the name of men. u
continued the surgeon. There was Col.
| Lowry, who commanded Mississippi repi.
| ment. He came into the hospital with saber
| cut across his face. He was seventeen wears of
| age and didn'tlook day older. Then there was
u captain OF artillery whose right leg was arnpu.
| tated at the thigh. He was from Florida and
| was but fourteen years old. Two South Caro-
lima boys were brought in the same day. One
was thirteen years old and had lost his riph
| leg at the hip; the other was fifteen and his
left leg had been amputated at the knee. The
younger one--a tine, rosy-faced child-suc-
| cumbed to the weakness which followed the
operation. Everybody around the place wal
SO sorry for him.
IATHIR AND TWO soNs.
/ at Vaanst old man ~hnn 7 $1,000 -