Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-12-17
A Boom For John Meehan.

! The Milwaukee Telegraph prints a
good picture of the popular grand
army man, John Meehan, of Dar-
lington, and, among other good and
true things says;
Mr.. Meehan, as a young fellow in
his teens, enlisted for the war III all
Illinois regiment after the distur-
banee rendered 1t necessary for
President Lincoln to call for soldiers
| to uphold the honor Of the country
and protect its national emblem, and
he remained in the service until the
war was over, having participated in
all of the battles in which his regi-
ment took part, and there WAS a long
list Of them. He was one Of the men
who was always ready to volunteer
for any extra hazardous service. A
gentleman of his regiment, In speak
ing of him, not long ago, said; Nee
han may have had feeling Of fear
about hum in time OF action, or when
going into Il fight, but he didn'tshow
it. We called him our Fighting
John,' and he was entitled 70 the
name.n
Mr.. Meehan has for years taken an
active part in Grand Army affairs.
He has served as senior vice-com-
mander of the department and has
been commander Of the post. Some
of these days, and it ought not to be
so very far off, his comrades OF Wis
consin should make him department
commander. lie is worthy OF the
honor; he would fill the bill, please
the order, do it good. There Is a
class of people who think that be-
cause most Of the department COM
manders so far have been republl-
cans that it is political Institution
OF course there is no truth in the
claim, but it might be tho means Of
hushing the critical voices OF these
folks, always ready for fault-hnding,
were the order to elect John Meehan,
life long democrat, department.
commander. He was a member OF
the committee appointed by the de-
partment commander, i'll 1894, to In
vestigate the condition of thln,ge at
the Waupaca home. lie IS III OF
affairs, genial, true to his iritnas
aud a good citizen.
John Meehan's comrades in this
section would especially be pleased
to assist in boosting him to the po-
sition of department commander, and
stand waiting to do it whenever ne
gives the word A well authenticated
incident Of MIR. Meehan's array life
may be properly here recited: In
one of the skirmishes in which be
was participant, MeehAn was cap
tured, and in charge of a squad Of
the enemy started, as he supposed,
for Andersonville at least headed
that way. When the party had pro-
ceeded miles on the journey, they
halted for a night camp in the woods
of North Carolina. John asked per-
mission to go to a spring near by
to get Il drink and was permitted 60
do so under guard of a rebel soldier
with a musket. After John had
kneeled down and taken drink his
guard proceeded to do the same,
| layingshis gun on the ground mean-
while. With the ready-wit of an Irish
| man, JOlln saw his opportunity
Selling the gun he covered the rebel
soldier with it, and in whisper
which only the two could hear CON-
manded him to move promptly but
noiselessly away from the camp.
This lie Of course did, Meehan fol-
lowing with the loaded gun. In this
position they marched to the north
ward through the night, and until
the next dawn when they came to a
| Union camp, and Meehan had not
only made a dashing escape from
captivity, but brought a prisoner
with him through a long stretch of
] hnstilp country.