The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1896-05-14

When one encounters In print the life story
of some SCARED veteran of the civil war q feel.
result. Accustomed though we are to tales of
heroism and suffering in everyday life, there
is something peculiarly attractive about these
old war records, serving, as they do, as q
sacred passport to the heart of every true
American. Thousands found their rest on the
field of carnage or in the hospital, but their
comrades, when the struggle was over and the
victory won, returned to their homes and be-
gan anew the battle of life.
John B. Scace, the widely known contractor
and building mover of Albany, N. T., has had
an unusually interesting life, and when seen
by reporter recently at his home, No. Is
Bradford Street, told Of his many experiences
and adventures while serving under the old
flag in the late war. Although having en-
dured all the hardships and privations of life
in the ranks, Mr.. Scace bears his more than
half century of years with an elastic step and
keen mind, taking an active interest in pri-
vate and public affairs.
While still boy, his family moved from
Albany, his birthplace, to Pittsfeld, Mass,
and here he was educated. He mastered the
carpenters trade, became member of Berk-
shire Lodge, No. So, l. 0. 0. F., and was en-
tering upon q successful business life when
came the call from Washington for men. All
ment ran high. All the old-time patriotism
that had made Massachusetts, famous in Revo-
lutionary days was fred to its utmost. Every
town and village sent out its squad or company.
The company in which Mr.. Scace enlisted
in September of 1862, as private, became
Company A, Forty-ninth Regiment, Massa-
chusetts Volunteer Infantry. Under the COM
mon impression that the war would be one of
but short duration, the men were enlisted for
nine months only. Scarcely were they uni
formed and armed before they were ordered to
the front The regiment, which at the time
was under the command of Col. w. F. Bart
lett, served in the First Brigade, First Divis-
some of the hottest battles of the great rebel.
lion.
Mr.. Scace, at the time, was but twenty-five
years of age, and he remembers we'll with
what beating heart he first fell in line. His
regiment was ordered South, directly through
the objective point. After several months of
weary marches, during which Company A
passed through several lively scrimmages with
the enemy constantly lowering about the TANKS
and rear, the capital city Of Louisiana was
reached. An evacuation followed Citizens
and the rebel soldiery stationed in the city fled
like frightened sheep, bearing with them what
goods they could carry and setting torch to
the rest. The beautiful capitol building,
which had been converted into war prison.
had also been fired, and the boys in blue
swarmed in, just in time to save their captive
comrades from perlshlng In the flames. MIR.
Scace, who had been, while en- route, pro-
noted to corporal, was in the thickest of the
melee, and describes the scenes in graphic
manner. Although the city had fallen almost
without blow given or received, fight was
not far off, for word was received that large
force of the enemy was fast approaching.
A bloody battle ensued at Plain Store, a few
days march out of the capital, in which Cor
poral Scace was severely wounded. minnie
ball struck his left thigh and, grazing the
bone, narrowly missed the great artery. He
was retired to the camp at Baton Rouge, but
recuperated SO rapidly that he entered, soon
after, again into active service. The battles
of Port Hudson and Donaldsonville followed,
with all their thrilling episodes.
It was not long after this that, by reason of
the expiration of his term of enlistment, he
was honorably discharged. His respite was
not long one, however, for he soon afterward
re-enlisted, to serve for the remainder of the
war. For meritorious action he had been
raised to the sergeant's stripes, and as such
served in Company A, Sixty-frst Regiment