Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-21
GENERAL o. 0. HOWARD.
Ms Friendship for a Soldier Well Known in
Augusta.


Howard from the United States army
Nov. sth, after forty-four years of militar,
eeryice. SAYS the Lewiston Journal recall
several episodes in the life of Capt Solo
mon A. Nelke of Livermore Falls, VIII,
was associated more or less with Gen
Howard during the war of the Rebellion
Cant. Nelke was born in the city o
Berlin. Germany, in 1910, where his folk
now reside, and lived there until he wa
fourteen years old, when he left the plac,
If his nativity and came to Augusta, Me
m learn the English tongue; and after ac
miring the language he was so inuret
70 the ways of the people and liked thu
country so well that he decided to remain
in America few years longer and fount
= nosition in dry goods house in Angus
"a where he remained until the breaking
listed in Co. r. of the Sd Maine Volunteers
If which Gen. o. o. Howard was colonel
and went from Augusta with his com
many into camp at Meridian Hill at Wash
inoton. and while here he was detailed a,
orderly to General, then Col Howard
After the battle of Bull Run, in which
Can't Nelke took part, he was disabled in
service and returned home. Thoroughly
recovering from his injury he again en-
listed in the First Maine Sharpshooters as
sergeant Of Co. A., but he was called
upon most Of the time to take charge Of
his company, and while in action one day
near the battle of Five Forks, n general
commanding the brigade of which Capt
Nelke's company was member, rode W
and inquired of him where the commits
stoned officers of his company were, and
upon Capt Nelke's informing him that he
did not know, he rode off, but soon re
turned with belt and sword in his hand
and riding up to Capt Nelkc he said,
Take these, sergeant Whcreupon
the sergeant inquired, What shall l dc
with my gum
pitch it to hell replied the com
handing officer as he rode away to an
other part of the battle field.
Capt. Nelkc staid with this company
until the surrender of Lee at AppomattOx,
and his company formed "A part of the
brigade before which Lees army laid
down their arms at the close of the war.
This was Co. l. of the goth Maine to which
Nclke was transferred after being pre-
sented the belt and sword Nelke re
ccived commission as captain of said
company from Coy. Coney after the en-
gagement at Five Forks, for his bravery
during the fight.
While General Howard was detained in
Auburn after the amputation of his arm,
Captain Nclke and two of his comrades
called upon him and his brother, General
Charles Howard, who was just recover
ing from a wounded leg and after pleas
ant chat, Captain Nelke and his comrades
were about to leave, when General o. o.
Howard said, "Hold on Il moment,
captain" and calling his wife to his bed
side he sent her to an adjoining room and
when she returned she counted out 500
from round box which she had in her
hands. Handing it to Captain Nclke,
who was greatly surprised, General How
ard said, Take that, and hope it will do
you much good. y And Captain Nelke
accepted it with thanks, as an appreciation
of his services while under Names great
general
Politically Capt Nelke is Republican
and has always been, and in all these
United States there is no Republican that
takes more pride in the recent victories
of his party. Capt. Nelke is member OF
the Commandery at Augusta, where he is
very popular. and as n member OF Kim
ball Post, No 49, g. A. r., he has always
made himself active Capt. Nelkc has Il
family of boys and girls, the oldest Ct
which, Oliver Otis Nclkc (namcd for Gen
HowartD, is one of the young business
men of Lewiston, being the Junior mem
her of the firm of George b. Haskell q
Co., dealers in agricultural implements
seeds etc. Because of disabilities rcCcivct
during the war, Capt Nelke receives
good pension, which was granted in less
than two months after his affidavit, signeo
by Gen. o. o. Howard, Gen Charle'
Howard and other prominent army OH
GERS, was made out.