The Red Cloud chief., 1893-10-06
Written Tor THE CHIEF
"Reminiscences Of Army Life.
(BY a ~PRIvATE.)
NUMBER VIII.

NUMBER VIII.
l have already alluded to the great
diversity of sentiment that existed at
the beginning Of the war, not only
among those who enlisted but also in
some Of the families from which they
went. Some Of those who enlisted
through motives ef loyalty we're bit.
tcrly opposed in so doing by their near
relatives especially the parents Of the
younger men, q notable instance Of
which occurred in the little town Of
Monterey. Iowa, near the Missouri
line in and around which more than
half the people we're known as ''cop.
perheads," or at least we're p~roslayery
democrats, and opposed to freeing tho
"aiggsrs." The case to which | al
ludsd vas that Of a young man, The
son Of parents who aside from their
avowsd dIsloyal:y, were quite respect
iblc people, the father being one Of
the leading business men Of the town,
and a most cstimsbls citizen in most
respects. The son wanted to enlist
when eur regiment was being raised,
but as he was several months in his
minority he could not enlist without
his fathers consent. Aa soon, how
ever, a. he was his own ma he enlist.
cd, Notwithstanding tho opposition Of
his parents, especially of his mother,
who as / have heard was 90 bitter in
her opposition that shc said that she
wished all those who went 10 the war
from that nelghborhood, her son in.
cludcd, would be either taken prison
ers, or be killed. On reaching the
field he was assigned for duty in Go. d.
Of tie 3D. Iowa Cav, il which he be.
came popular as a soldier, and was
rapidly promoted from the ranks Of
the private until be soon bore tho
commission, and wore the shoulder
straps of a lieutenant in his company.
II his mother was sincere in her de-
nunciation Of his conduct at first,
have no doubt she was proud Of his
record, up to the time Of this prone.
tios, and in her mother heart had to
some extent forgiven him.
If so, sho soox had occasion to de
nouuce HIN more bitterly than before;
for a few months later he added to
his mothers grief by taking a cap.
tain's commission in q colored reg.
iment. This seemed as much as she
could bear and live, but he capped
the climax Of his mothers disgrace
when at tbs close Of the war he
brought a colored woman home will
him. Prior to the last insult she had
become partially %reconciled, and prob.
ably would soon have forgiven hin
entirely, but the thought Of his bring,
ing a "nigger wench' home with HIN
was too much for q fond mother to en-.
dure. She had heard Of it before hi
arrival homo, and although he said he
was bringing her especially for hi.
mother" she expressed her determi
nation to not allow her to come into
her house. But when she learned
that the "wcnch" was not a young
woman as she supposed, but was al
most old enough to have been hel
sons grand mother, and instead o.
being pa'siably good looking was ugly
as sin. She relehted and gave ole
"Auut Jane" a homo in her family
where she proved herself to be no
only a good cook, but in every wa,
worthy Of the kindness shown her By
the young captain, who was not only
interested in finding her a good home
but in securing a valuable help fol
his mother, who strange as it may
seem, soon got over her opposition t
having a ''nigger" in her family, an(
| have no doubt forgavc her son foi
having 'disgraced her.
II still Lying, she is no doubt, no
only fully reconciled, but proud Of he,
son, who is now serving his second o
third term as a republican member .
, congress from one Of the Northwestern
states, 1t vas currently reported
= that his mother was not the only wo
man who made a fool of herself; for i
was SAID that he was engaged to
yourg lady Of the neighborhood, ant
that they we're soon, to be marrist
but when che and her parents hcart