Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24

only by his faithful negro servant pressed
| forward, his wound remaining undressed dur
ing all that time. On reaching St Louis the
surgeon expressed his astonishment at such q
journey made with . gunshot wound which
had splintered the bones Of the arm and pene-
trated through the body nine inches, declaring
that the arm ought rather to have been ampu-
tated in the field
received his commission a. colonel Of the fifty.
ninth Illinois infantry, for gallantry at the
battle of Pea Ridge Before he was able to
mount his horse without assistance he rejoined
the troop, then hurrying forward to Corinth,
and was at once assigned to the command Of .
brigade.
From May, 1862, to the close of the war he
was constantly at the 'front.' In the Army Of
the Cumberland. as first organized, he COM
manded the first brigade, hrst division, Of the
the dissolution Of the corps, a brigade con-
spicuous In all the engagements Of that army
under Gen. Rosecrans. With IL he commenced
the battle Of Stone River, driving the enemy
back several miles and capturing Leetown.
After the battle of Stone River he was ap-
pointed on a commission to examine officers Of
the Army Of the Cumberland as to their quail
locations, and served upon IL many months,
without, however, yielding the command Of
his brigade. During the Atlanta campaign he
was transferred to Gen. Woods division Of the
fourth army corps, and when the latter was
wounded at the battle of Lovejoy Station and
carried from the field Gen. Post took COM
mand of that division. With it he returned
from Atlanta to Tennessee, to oppose the pro-
gress Of the enemy toward the north, sharing
In that remarkable campaign in which a small
force held tho entire confederate army in check
at Columbia and Franklin, while the scattered
corps of the Union troops were being collected,
when Gen. Geo. H. Thomas attacked and de-
stroyed their whole army.
On the morning of December 15 1854 Gen.
Post attacked Montgomery Hill, the most ad-
vanced fertilization of the enemy, and carried
1t at the point of the bayonet thus, to quote
the language of Gen. Thomas, taking initia-
tive and melting the whole army to the brilliant
deeds of that day." and in the afte, Don he led
the attack on the second line of intrenchments
with equal success. In the following days
fighting he again led an assault on Oveston's
HILL the last stronghold of the enemy the cap
ture of which resulted in the complete discom-
future OF the entire confederate army. Gen.
Post fell at the head Of his command, almost
upon the breastwork of the enemy.
Gen Thomas teegraphed from the battle
field to the Secretary OF War asking Gen. Posts
promotion. and directed his chief surgeon to
go to him personally and do everything he
could to save his life.
A grape shot had crushed through the bones
of his hip making frightful and dangerous
wound, which for twelve DAYS the surgeons
deemed mortal, and. though il was four
months before he could leave his bed, in July,
1865, he again reported for duty. There being
at that time concentration Of troops on the
Mexican border he was appointed TO the COM
mand OF the western district of Texas, with his
headquarters at San Antonio, sixteen regi-
ments being stationed at that point
Gen. Post remained in command Of this dis
trict until 1866. when the withdrawal of the
French from Mexico removed all danger of
military complications on that frontier He
was earnestly recommended by the generals
under whom he served, especially by Gen.
George Il. Thomas and Gen. T. J. Wood for
the appointments OF colonel in the regular
army.
Col. D. II. Patton, Representative from
Indiana, whose proudest title, perhaps is that
of the hero of Jonesboro' skirmish line"
abandoned the study of medicine while but
youth TO enter the Union army as a private.
He served first under Scribner and Gresham.
He was made one of the color guard At the
disastrous battle at Perryville the thirtv-eichth
Indiana, with which he served, took conspicn-
Gus part in the field. All of the color guard
we've shot down except Patton and sullivan
bis comrade. The commanding officer stated
that the colors never got OF. OF Patton's reach
during the battle. Five of the color guards
were II led outright and one was dangerously
wounded.
I be flag staff was shot in two twice and the
cOlors were shot into shreds on that day Their
next severe engagement was Stone River
where the colors We're pierced by thlrty-one
balls. and Private Patton again distinguished
himself so much that Col ScriLner promoted
him. The regiment participated in the cap
ture of Lookout mountain and the battle in
the clouds" in which they again distinguished
themselves. The regiment served in the
Atlanta campaign, participating in all the
battles TIL that city was taken. In the battle
OF Jonesboro' Lieut.. Patton rendered signal
service to his country, and received he highest
praise OF his commanding officer, being styled