Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-07-31
A war REM|MISCENcE
Scenes at Hatcher's Creek and
Petersburg Recalled.
John B. Scace Speaks to a Reporter of Stirring Scenes
Escaped with a Slight Wound, but, Like Other Vet
Grams, Has Suffered Since-A Story that
Reads Like a Page from History. ~

When one encounters in print the lie story
OF some Scared veteran of the civil war, a
feeling of admiration and sympathy is the
certain result. Accustomed though we nre
to tales OF heroism and suffering i'll everyday
life, there is something peculiarly attractive
g,bout these old wal records, serving, as they
do, as a sacred passport to the heart of every
on the field of carnage Of in the hospital, hut
their comrades, when the struggle was over
and the victory won, returned to their homes
and began anew the battle of life.
John 3. Scacc, the widely known contrac.
tor and building mover Of Albany. n. ",
when seen by a reporter recently at his home,
No. Is Bradford Street, told Of his many ex.
periences and adventures while serving
under the old flag in the late war. Although
having endured all the hardships and pri.
vations of life in the ranks, Mr.. Scace bears
bis more than half a century of years with
IN elastic step and q keen mind, taking an
active interest in private and public affairs.
While still q boy, his family moved from
Albany, his birthplace, to Pittsicld, Mass,
and here he was educated. He mastered the
carpenters trade, became a member of Berk.
shire Lodge, No. 50, !. o. o. F., and was
entering upon 2 successful business life when
over the country the word sped, and excite.
ment ran high; All the old-time patriotism
that had made Massachusetts, famous in
Revolutionary 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 a private, became
Company a, Forty-ninth Regiment, Massa-
chusetts Volunteer Infantry. Under the
common impression that the war would be
Of but short duration, the men were en-.
listed for nine months only: Scarcely were
they uniformed and armed before they were
ordered to the front. The regiment, which
". =. Bartlett, served in the First Brigade,
First Division, Nineteenth Corps, and par.
ticipated in some of the hottest battles ofthe
great rebellion.
Mr.. Scace, at the time, was but twenty-five
years Of age, and he remembers we'll with
regiment was ordered South, directly through
the enemy's country, with Baton Rouge Us
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
lowed. Citizens and the rebel soldiery sta
toned 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
ConverteQ into q war prison, had also been
fred, and the boys in blue swarmed in, lust
in time to save their captive comrades from
perishing in the flames. Mr.. Scace, who
had been, while ell route, promoted to cor.
poral, was in the thiclkcst Of the melee. and
describes the scenes in a graphic manner.
Although the city had fallen almost without
blow given or received, q fight was not far
off, for word was received that a large force
of the enemy was fast approaching.
A bloody battle ensued at Plain Store, a
few days march cut of the capital, in which
Corporal Scace was severely wounded. A
minnie bali struck. his left thigh and, grazing
the bone, narrowly missed the great Gartcrs:.
He was retired 10 the camp at Baton Rouge,
but recurerated SO rapidly thut he ENTERED
soon after. aaain into active service. The
battles OF Port Hudson and Donaldsonyiiic
followed, with all their thrilling episodes.
1T was not long after this that, by reason
Of the expiration of his term of enlistment,
he was honorably discharged. Ills respite
was not & long one, however, for he soon ri.
t;erward re-enlisted. to serve for the remain
der Of the war. For mcritorious action he
had been raised to the se~raeant's stripes. an,!
rs such served in Company a, Sixty.f:rs.
Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
under Col. Charles +. Walcott. During tie