The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-11-02

~ lNYENWEyo by the surviving
IN N9y ing relatives of Il
"' wNggJ soldier | II c d
- kxHIV,J W in the war for the
| Etm LsyYI :. defense of h
'NsANz- GvthAtS :. Union. An one
AIn ~ armed sol Il er,
,.S~r.-ss fYA - named Scott. from
- sAgs1-Eureka Springs,
- esss', Ark, was show
! Ssl@Sp ing to two strnn.
gers an old cantcen that he got from
his brother, who. while member of a
New York regiment, had found it
hanging on cannon. Scott, without
knowing 1t, was exhibiting the relic to
a brother of an officer
who gave his life to
preserve his country from disunion and
destruction. From Scott was learned
the quarters of Lieut.. c. NJ. Greene,
formerly of Co. b. 3d Ark. Cav, who,
with Mai. +. S. Clarkson, recovered the
brothers body from the hands of the
enemy, and from Lieut.. Greene II was
ascertained where Major +. s. Clark
son, Postmaster at Omaha, Neb., Jun
ior Vice Commander of the Grand
Army. cOuld be found, both of whom
gave some particulars not previously
received in the letters to the family
from Col Ryan.
William Hotchkiss Ritter, son OF
Nathan and Elizabeth Ritter. and
brother of n. T. Ritter, of Brooklyn,
n. Y, and u. A. Ritter, Washington,
ID. G., was born in New Haven Sept.
10, 1888. and previous to enlistment
had lived in Hartford. Boston, New
York, Saugertics, and Brooklyn, and
resided at the later place when the war
began.
At the first call of President Lincoln
for $4,000 men to aid in the defense Of
the Nations Capitol. Lieut.. Ritter
joined April 10, 1861, Co. ID, Capt. OF.
tiwell's company, 18th N. V, under
command Of Colonel Daniel Butter
field, and served with the regiment at
Washington and in Virginia until its
return Aug. 0, 1861. With few
friends he enlisted again, to join Gen.
Fremonts Body-Guard ut st. Louis;
but before their arrival at st. Louis
Gen. Fremont was recalled, and Ritter.
with his friends, joined the famous
Merrilrs Horse of Missouri. cavalry
regiment 1000 strong, under command
of Capt. Lewis Merrill, Captain OF
the Regular Army. who was soon pro-
NOTED to Brigadler- General. The reg
iment was organized at st. Louis in
September, 1861. and was composed of
three companies recruited in Cincinnati,
three in Northwest Missouri, two in
Michigan, one in st. Louis, and one Of
men from Michigan, New York and
Missouri
Ritter joined Co. G, and was promot.
ed May |, 1868, from Corporal to Bat.
talon Sergeant Major. Co. G was the
escort or body-guard of Gen. David
son, who, with his IA 900 cavalry, alone
captured Little Rock by crossing the
river ten miles below aud fighting his
way to the city. Ritter described in
n letter dated Sept. 12, 1868, the part
he took: "As our army advanced on
both sides of the river took an Amer
lean flag, with six of the escort, on the
bank of the river to show Gen. Steele
opposite how far our men had got up
the river. We kept on a line with our
skirmishers, saw hard fighting, and
heard bullets and shells whistle about
as close as they generally go and not
hit. Two of our cannons were cap.
tured and again recaptured within 90
feet of me, while did nothing but sit
on my horse and keep the flag all
right. think the rebels didn't like
the Stars and Stripes, for they sent
their lead very thick at me; but no one
of our party was killed. Our rcgi-
ment has been in the advance for two
weeks, and Gen. Davidson thinks there
is none like it. We have lost many
killed and wounded, and have seen
brave boys die, whose last words were
worthy Of the greatest heroes of the
world"
Feb. IA, 1864, Ritter joined the 3rd
Ark. Cav, and was mustered in as
First Lieutenant of Co. l. This was
regiment being formed of Arkansas
refugees. rough and brave set of men
who had done much harmto the rebels.
at the same time protecting their fam,
lilies and avoiding being forced into
the rebel service. After SIX drills
these rough men drilled so splendidly
as to call forth the highest praise from
Gen. Steele.
From Maj. T. S. Clarkson and First
Lieut. c. NJ. Greene were gathered some
facts not previously received concern.
ing Lieut.. Ritter's last conflict with
the enemy.
On the morning of the 14th of May,
1864, when the regiment was encamp-