The Red Cloud chief., 1893-08-18
Written for TIM CHIEF.
"Reminiscences Of Army Life.
thy A PRIVATE
NUMBER IL.

NuMBER II.
! have no apology to offer for having
been a soldier, nor should explanations
be necessary; but since the soldiers Of
the union army have been 80 persistent.
ly villiiicd, not only by the South, but
more bitterly. il possible, 10y the aidcrs
and abettors Of the rebellion in the
North. deem it proper To- say some
thing OF the motives that prompted us
to enlist. More especially is il proper
just now when the vindictiveness of the
soldier. hating element IL ~ conspicuous
ly shown by the doings in Washington.
that il would seem that the pension bu
rcau is being resolved into a sort "
hoax, myth, or something else unreal.
ungenerous and unpatriotic. II some
of our friends in their eulogics on the
soldier slop over a little sometimes. il il
kindly intended. and does not hurt.
But the cutting of OF an old mans pen.
sion on a mere tcchnicality il "the most
unkindest cut Of all" Although Pres.
ident Lincoln's call for $1,000 men was
thought by many to he unnecessarily
large, the rapidly Transporting events OF
the next two months but too plainly
showed that it was altogether made.
quatc to suppress the rebellion. and in
July 1861 another call was made, this
time for 10000 men. Under this call
our company was raised. and Aug. oath,
was mustered in. but some OF the com.
panics. had not their full complement of
men until September. We knew that
the country was in danger, but our ideas
of the extent Of the rebellion was very
limited. We had believed that the first
call was larger than necessary for the
purpose OF nipping the rebellion in the
bud, by a big "bluir" and VIZ had no
doubt would prove a grand success.
Many of us regarded the second cali
much in the same light. and still be.
licved that the war would end in a few
months at most, and that those Of us
who should get home alive. would come
home all covered with glory, and could
spend the winter evenings in telling our
families, and our many admiring friends
who would flock in TO hear us, Of our
deeds Of valor and hair breadth escapes
from death or capture at the hands OF
our vanquished foes, for We had no
doubt that we would be- successful in
putting down the rebellion in a short
time, and that we would all be honorcd
as brave defenders Of our country's flag.
We enlisted with a promise OF sl3 a
month. board and clothing. and expect
ed in addition a land warrant, or it's
equivalent in a 'bounty' to each sur.
vivor. us was given the soldiers of the
Mexican war. but this was not in the
contract. This should protect us from
the unjust charge OF having gone into
the wal from any morcenary motives, as
well as such insulting cpithets as "hire.
lings' and government paupcrs" A
regiment, and each Of its companies on
a small scale is a 'mixcd multitude" be.
ing composed Of leaders and followers.
mon Of all stations from the highest to
the lowest, and Of every grade OF morals
and intelligence.
"They come from the bench and the
anvil.
The forest, the field, and the shop"
Such was the composition Of our rcgi.
ment. and OF u particular company. or
the company that was not very particu.
lar, as will be seen further on. Three
companies Of our regiment. A. ID, and r.,
were made up at Bloomfield. Iowa. the
home of Col. Bussey, Lieut.. Col. II. NJ.
Trimble, and captains Norman w. Cook
OF Co. ID, and George Dufield Of Co. Il.
| lDmDunN ~ WuS TIC luSI OI Tic Inrcp 10
organize and as men who would enlist
were setting scarce. il took some rust.
ling TO ret The requisite number. Some
of whom we're enlisted in n strong soon.
perbead" community along the state
line. Some in Iowa and some in Mis-.
souri in n community where union mon
/ were scarce, and LOYALTY quoted at n biz
discount. Among those of the "bordcr
land" was one Robert Buzzard. n younp
man whose education had been sadly
neglected. Uncouth and unretined, and
with such a name, he was of course the
butt OF many Jokes. but ne made n good
soldier. and had many friends in the
company, When the regiment went
home ON veteran furlough In Feb. 1861.
| the citizens of Keokuk. Iowa, gave us a
grand supper, our company being pro.
vided for atthe leighton House, Fix.
Gov. Lowe was present and when sup.
per was about ovcrwith. he requested all
To remain seated until some toasts were
offered. Now Robert didn't know OF
any other kind Of toast than that which
he had seen prepared for sick folks, 40
he said in a voice loud enough to be
he ,rd by all present, ooh, d-n the