The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-06-23
A WAN n'EE:;EiIt,ISCEMCE
Scenes at HatcEier'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.
From the Albany, ". y, Journal

When one encounters in print the life story
OF some Scared veteran of the civil war, a
feeling of admiration and sympathy is the
certain 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 a sacred passport to the heart of every
true American. Thousands found their rest
on the field of carnage OF in the hospital, but
their comrades, when the struggle was over
and the victory won, returned to their homes
and began anew the battle of life.
John B. Scace, the widely known ~contrGc-
tor and building mover of Albany, n. y,
has had an unusually interesting life, and
when seen by a reporter recently at his home,
periences and adventures while serving
under the old flag in thel late war. Although
having endured all the hardships and pri-
vations of life in the ranks, Mr.. Scace bears
his more than half O century of years with
an elastic step and q keen mild, taking an
active interest in private and public affairs.
While still a boy, his family moved from
and here he was educated. He mastered the
carpenter trade, became a member of Berk-
shire Lodge, No. SO, I. o. o. F., and was
entering upon a successful business life when
came the call from Washington for men. All
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
one 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
at the time was under the command of Col.
w. F. Bartlett, served in the First Brigade,
First Division, Nineteenth Corps, and par.
ticipated in some of the hottest battles of the
great rebellion.
Mr.. Scace, at the time, was but twenty-five
years of age, Inc he remembers well with
what a beating heart he first fell in line. His
regiment was ordered South, directly through
the enemy's country, with Baton Rouge u;
the objective point. After several months O
weary marches, during which Company 4
passed through several lively scrimrnaCe:
with the enemy constantly lowering abour
the TANKS and rear, the capital city o
Louisiana was reached. An evacuation fol
lowed. Citizens and the rebel soldiery sta
toned in the city fled like frightened sheep
bearing with them what goods they coult
carry and setting torch to the rest. Th'
beautiful capitol building, which had beer
converted into a war prison, had also beer
fred, and the boys in blue swarmed in, jus
in time to save their captive comrades from
perishing in the flames. Mr.. Scace, wh'
had been, while en- route, promoted to cor
poral, was in the thickest of the melee, ant
describes the scenes in a graphic manner
Although the city had fallen almost withou
q blow given or received, a fight was not ia
of, for word was received that a large fore
of the enemy was fast approaching.
A bloody battle ensued at Plain Store.
few days march out of the capital, in whicl
Corporal Scace was severely wounded.
minnie ball struck his left thigh and, grazinj
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. TIL
battles of Port Hudson and Donaldsonvill
followed, with all their thrilling episodes.
1t was not long after this that, by rcaso1
of the expiration of his term of enlistment
he was honorably discharged. His respit
was not a long one, however, for he soon oil
terward re-enlisted, to serve for the remain
der of the war. For meritorious action h
had been raised to the sergeant's stripes, an
ss such served in Company A, Sixty-fr,
Regiment, Massachusetts, Volunteer infantry
under Col Charles F. Walcott. During th'