The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03
ONLY A FEW LEFT.
Recollections of a Sergean,-Major of Regu-
lars.

lars
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: When
first enlisted, in August, 1854, ! was seut to
Governors Island, New York Harbor, and
from there with $50 other recruits sailed
in the steamer Middlesex for Texas to be
assigned to the LIST u. S., then stationed at
Fort Duncan.
The officers on board with the troops were
Capt. Burbank, Capt. Ricketts, (of Ricketts,
b4ttery fancy, and Second Lieut. Zenas K.
Bliss, who had just graduated from West
Point, and was On his way 10 join the 9Th
U. S., then stationed at Fort Davis, Tex.
We landed at st. Joseph's Island, and from
there reached Corpus Christi in small boats,
having to get out many times during the
trip TO pull the boats over the sand bars.
From Corpus Christi we marched to Fort
Duncan. where we were assigned to the diff
ferent companies OF the foregoing regiment
by the following novel method: The names
of the recruits were writes on separate
pieces Of paper and placed in a hat, the
Captains drawing in their turn, and as each
piece of paper was drawn the name was an
nounced and the recruit answering to it was
assigned to that company and so the draw
ing continued until the whole number was
disposed Of
1t happened to be my good fortune to have
been drawn by Capt. Robert S. Granger, of
Co. K, strict discplinarian, but one always
kind, generous, and thoughtful of his men.
He attained the rank Of Major-General of
Volunteers during the war, and is now living
at GAINESVILLE, o., where l had the pleasure
of visiting him during the Columbus En-
campment, aud although he had not seen me
since 1859 nearly 80 years, he recognized
me- and called me by name. / shall always
remember him with the deepest gratitude, for
from The first day ! joined his company he
manifested deep interest in me, treating my
many wild escapades with leniency and
kindness bordering upon affection. May he
live many years in the enjoyment of health,
happiness and comfort.
1t is Al years ago since first enlisted.
What changes have taken place since then,
and what inroads death has made in the
ranks of the officers and men who went out
in the Middlesex with me at that time. To
my knowledge there is but one officer and
two enlisted men of all that number now
living. The officer is Gen. Bliss, and the
enlisted men are James Gartlan, now resid-
ing at Los Angeles, Cal, and myself If
there are any others have never heard Of
them. Nor had Gen. Bliss, from whom re-
ceived a letter short time ago.
Close upon seven years aiterward / was
again at Governors Island, having enlisted
March II, 1861. When the expedition to
reinforce Fort Sumter was organized, / was
one OF the 200 picked men who went in the
steamer Baltic for that purpose. In this
connection l desire to correct statement
made by Nicolay and Hay in The Life of Lin
coin" 1t says: On the evening of April 8
the merchant steamer Baltic, bearing 200
hn rv,1i
Fox dropped down the bay"
Now, instead of having been recruits in
that sense of the term, they we're 200 trained,
drilled, and disciplined soldiers, who were
selected from amongst the men who were
then On Governors and Bedloe's Islands, be-
cause of the fact that they had served one or
more enlistments in the United States Army.
What benefit, may l ask, would recruits
be to Maj. Anderson, provided they sue
ceeded in gainiug an entrance to Fort Sum-
ter? They were recruits only in the sense
that they enlisted for general service, and
were awaiting assignment to the different
arms of the service.
On our return from Fort Sumter to Gov
ernor's Island, was assigned to Capt. George
Sykes's Co. X, Sd u. S., then stationed at
Fort Hamilton, since which time l have
never met nor heard of any of the men who
were with me on the Baltic. 1t cannot be
possible that all of them except myself have
joined our comrades on the other shore, and
yet it looks like it.
have travelled great deal since left tho
Army, in 1867, and have attended National
Encampments since 1883, synopsis of my
military service has been published time and
again, and it would seem that. if living, some
OF them would have learned of my where
abouts; but if there are any, and this should
come to their notice, / trust they will let me
hear from them.-TIM MCCARTHY, late Ser
geant-Msjor, Sd U. S., Larned, Kans.