The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-07-23
THEFIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell OF
whistiing Bullets. Bright Bayonets'
lsurstin; Bombs. Bloody Battles, Camp
Fire, Festive Bugs, ETC., Etc.
Visited General Getty.

division commander, Salu NlaJor AL
son.. 'whO commanded the Sixth corps
at the battle of Cedar Creek, while
General Wright was commanding Shcr-
iGan's army, when Sheridan was tWen-
ty miles away but coming like the
wind. lives ten miles from Washing
ton. at Forest Glen. l reached there
ut 1 o'clock one day and talked WITH
the old hero for -four hours.
Il rang the bell: an old Tau cane II
the door and welcomed me-. General
Getty, | don't suppose you remember
me- L am satisfied that you are II CT
my soldiers, but my sight has Jailed
the last few months so ! cannot see
you distinctly Then | told him my
name. Why. certainly: member of my
military family. Come right in: ! am
delighted to see YOU And there we SAT-
those four happy hours and talked over
old times. You know how lovely it is
to sit down with Il man you serv@i
with; how the time flies and that you
take no note of it. | want to say tl:at
my visits to Generals Wright ana Get
ty convinced me of this fact as | never
realized it before. The men who wore
stars on their shoulders and who COM
manded corps. divisions and brigadeS.
and even armies. find just as much
pleasure in talking with their COM
rades, whether generals or p~rivatcs. as
the men of The line and of the rank and
file do, and YOU know what that means.
! feel that it should be one of our du-
ties. as it certainly is II Of my great
est pleasures, to never miss an oppOr-
tunity TO call upon and chat with Il
a. commlnders-men who command
{, our companies. regiments, batteries,
boats. brigados. divisions and corps.
DO You remember that Generals
Getty ana Gibbon were very close and
warn friends? They were. | had met
General Gibbon ut Chicago at the time
we elected General I.ucius Fiirchild
commandrr-in-clipf Of the Loyal lie
zion, and was introduced to him. Iii
the course OF our conversation ! men
toned that | had served on the staff of
General George w. Getty. Gibbons
eyes frightened and he extended his
lan,l and said: We will shake again.
George W. Getty was one of the best
friends | had in the army. His friends
are my friends I told General Getty
OF the incident and he said: Yes. Glib
bon told me about that the last time we
met Then the old general Of two
score of battles rose to his feet and
walked back and forth through the
room several times. When he sat down
there was Il tear track on his dear old
face ana a tremble in his voice when he
said: 'Gibbon was n good man. a good
soldier and Il great general. His death
was Il severe shock; | shall miss him
sorcly.'
General Getty has Il 200-acre farm.
lives in a fine residence, his wife AMI
only unmarried daughter making up
the family. His other five children are
married. One is ii paymaSter; another
Il prominent st. Paul business man.
The general spoke of a number of our
rcgimontal officers. including General
j. NJ. Warner. the millionaire merchant
of Albany, y. y, who recently retired
as p0StnaSter: Colonel .Aldace i. Walk
er, WHO holds Il $4,000 position with
a Western railroad: Rev. Arthur Lit
tie, formerly Il Chicago Congregational
minister. now of Massachusetts. ana
Others. When it was nearly time for
my train the general ordered his car
rage and drove to the station, n mile
distant. When we were ready to part,
he said very nearly what General
" lIWIt hltl sail tn C,,tnip nn,IJ ,,l
myself. | repeat il so that others of
the old division and corps who visit
Washington may be led to call on the
Old general. Major. you don't know
how much good it has done me TO have
YOU make this visit. 1t rcnews my
youth. Please never come to Wash
lhgton without dropping out to see the
old m In answer | said: General,
shall visit you whenever an opportu-
nifty is afforded. not only from a sense
OF pleasure. but ii sense of duty. You
were very kind to me when | was a
boy and Il member of your staff-a very
rather to me-and | can never forget it.
II mas been worth much to me through
out my life
when expressed the hope that he
would come West some time, he said.
l would like to. but | am getting pref
~ old 10 travel so far. | would like to
visit my son ut st. Paul. and may do
So. If You come, general, be sure to
arrange TO spend a few days in Mil
Waukee. There are others of your old
division in Il city, and if there were
not, there are hundreds of soldiers who
VIII take genuine pleasure in rendering
your stay IL of joy. They know YOU
know of your services, bravery. kind.
ness FOR your soldiers
How Xix saying goOd-by to the dear