Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-31

urSt regiment over the DreastWOrkS at
Donelson. was In Company A, first rank,
going up the hill-a hard hill to climb,
sir-but that charge was something more
than life and death to us. The reputation
of the Second Iowa was at stake, and
Grant was watching us.
Before we went to Donelson we were
In camp near medical college. There
were some wild boys In tho Second Iowa
and was one of them. We got into that
college one night and we raised the old
Harry. We unjointed some of the skele-
tons and the others we stuffed full of baled
hay. We put soldiers clothes on some of
them, with caps cooked ON the side Of their
heads, and stuck pipes in their mouths
and had good time generally. The next
day we were off for Donelson, but we had
not gone far before we discovered that
something was wrong. All the other regi-
ments were marching with their flags fly
ing and bands playing, while we were
tramping along with furled colors and
muffled drums. The doctors had reported
us to Colonel Tuttle and he had ordered us
to march that way to punish us. We were
disgraced. The other regiments heard Of
1t and made sport Of us. We felt pretty
bad, but we laughed among ourselves over
the way we fixed those skeletons.
"The Second Iowa wasn't in the first
charges on Donelson that were repulsed.
We were sitting around like schoolboys
with ounces caps ON their heads and we
were getting madder and madder all the
time. Something had to be done to redeem
the honor of the regiment We, hit ON a
plan that pleased all the boys It was to
send delegation to Colonel Tuttle with q
request to allow the Second Iowa to lead
the next charge on Donelson, and we told
him we would take the fort or not man
would come back. The colonel didn't ap-
prove of 1t. He said 1t was throwing away
human lives, but he agreed to send our
regiment to Brigadier General w. f.
Smith. The brigadier said he couldn't do
it, that he would not be responsible for Or
dering another charge on the works, but
he was willing to submit the request to
General Grant.
"a courier mounted his horse and started
for Grants headquarters, and we were on
the anxious seat till he got back. Our
blood was up and we meant business.
Among ourselves we threatened all sorts
of things if our request was denied. But
Grant did not disappoint us. He never did.
You could always rely on Grant when it
came to u question of fighting.
"When the courier came riding back on
the dead run, he waved piece of white
paper which looked like an order and the
Second Iowa set up yell. General Smith
had written on our request an official ref
erence to the commander. Under this Gen
eral Grant wrote with pencil:
"Tell them TO charge. U. S. GRANT.
"Short and to the point. That was like
the general You never heard such a cheer
as we gave. We were going to show the
other regiments that the Second Iowa was
not regiment to be made sport Of; that it
was fit for something besides turning q
medical college topsy turvy.
"We went up that hill and over the out
er works-some of us did. We lay all
night in tho rain on that hillside, ready to
take the inner works next day II Grant
should give tho word. There were enough
of us left to do it, too, but you know the
balance of the story. What terms9' says
Buckner Unconditional surrender, says
Grant. Never wasted words the general
didn't.
"No, sir, I didn't lose my arm at Donel.
son. was at Appomattox and came home
q sound man.
"a majorp No, sir; only private.
went in private, and came out pri-
vate, and Pm proud of it. Tho general
thought as much Of private soldier rs he
did of an officer, II the private did his duty.
Didn't you notice, sir, that in Mast 8 pic
ture OF the surrender, unveiled mt Galena
today, Grant has on the uniform Of
private, with shoulder straps to show his
rank. Ain't that enough to make man
proud that he was only privatcp
"Pensionp No, sir; made living by
hard work until 1884, when lost my arm
In sawmill Went through tho war from
Fort Henry to Appomattox, and then lost
my arm In a sawmill. Toughp You bet
Yes; / asked for pension In 1885,
couldn't make much Of living with ono
arm. Getting poorer and poorer, and Mag
gie working herself nearly to death to help
earn our living, but they rejected me. 1
amt complaining. Maybe they were right
about 1t. didn't get hurt In the war. I
got mad about 1t mt the time and said I
wouldn't take n pension after that IL 1t was
offered to me. Yes, sir; that's what 1 did.
said I'd I'd be d--d IL would
maggie chccrcd mo up a good deal. |
She said she'd help me get along and sho |
has"
He had been talking so earnestly that no |
had not noticed the opening of the doors |
pf the great hall, and that crowds wero |
passing In.
just then carriage was driven To tho
curb where he was standing, and the whito
haired widow and lovely daughter of tho
great general alightcd. The veteran drew
himself up straight uncovered, and stood
,t attention" with his hat held by the
'ido of his head rs they passed.
As ho turned to follow thom I'm no said
N voice TINT tremblcd little;
~ wlsh Maocie was here "-Exchange