The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-29

not escape my fire after enduring that of Antietam
and Frederick sburg-I n homesiciz boy IL
years old. and FIVE months asoldier. The fact is
never realized how loved pa and and idolized ma
until just about the time was transferred TO the
battery. Old Fred took me in hand He told me
what must do. He put his hand on my shoulder.
He said /: My son. you must brace up; will be
your friend. You must stand by me when want
you. Keep clean; be on hand always; and, above
all, keep stiff upper lip! and always come to me
when you want anything or complain to me when
you think you are not treated right. will stand
by you"
That was all. But it was enough TO make a
stalwart man out of homesck boy in five minutes
l at once threw back the points of my shoulders,
extended my chest TO the 'front.' cooked my cap
over my left eye, polished up my boots and belts
and planished my buttons Till near-sighted man
could have seen his face iu them, worked on my
team the full stable hour and then amused myself
on their coats between times oiled my harness.
made a devil of a fuss about some faint symptoms
Of grease in the heel on "Old Blaze the of-horse
of my swing team got some corrosive sublmate
from the farrer Of tile First Corps Artillery Brigade
TO rub on it, and then slept with the bottle under
my head for fear that some of the Wisconsin boys
would mistake it for the Iog-camp whisky
which they had been wesned and steal it.
This may not seem to be to the point but still,
If you knew those Wisconsin ruffians-I mean
heroes-as well as j did, you would forgive me.
L once made personal census OF the Wisconsin
men in the battery. Al that time-September,
1S63-we had 81 of them left out of about l20 The
others had been killed disabled in action Those
who remained claimed to run the battery. We
allowed them to do so because we loved them.
This census that made exhibited the fact that of
the 62 alleged and boasted 81 Wisconsin men" in
the battery six natives of that State, while all
the rest were natives of New York. Pennsylvania
and Ohio, except a dozen or SO who were born in
Ireland.
However, boys-and girls, too-because we are
all here think am departing from my proper
theme. / will not detain you longer My object
was simply to call your attention the fact that
the old Regulars" had received scant justice in
our warlike history. There seems TO be no one TO
speak for them. / have tried to do hope /
have at least arrested your attention for moment
In their behalf Most of them dead. Those
who yet live are modest, humble citizens. As SOL
diers they had none of the incentives of State
hood or locality which actuated the volunteers.
But they were there all the same You never saw
their tracks, hit always the front side of their
bodies, standing there. fighting for tn Union, not
Tor State pride, not for home. mother sweetheart,
like the volunteers did, but grim, silent. stocal,
for sake of DUTY alone and their oath to the Con-
stitution and their fagi So served 80 fought,
bled and so died those whom have described
the =" Old Regulars" of our Grand Army.
AS detached volunteer in one of their batteries,
before this assemblage of the Iron Brigade claim
the prond privilege OF invoking at least one tear
for the Old Regulars" who FELL and at least three
cheers for the "OId Regulars" who are with US
here Tonight! At this point the Iron Brigade
gave considerably more than three cheers.
II may be said of them. and beg them to accept
this tribute from York State volunteer, that.
humbiy, You would generally notice. when you
picked up the corpse of one of our Old Regulars
killed in action and shrouded his poor clay in
bloody blanket, that
The death wound on his gallant breast''
r.-A -.