Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-26

commander of the armies of the Ten
nessee and department Of the Cumber-
land
The lieutenant colonel was that
splendid soldier, Stanley Matthews,
who. after the war, became "A senator
Of the United States and then eminent
rs justice of the supreme court.
The major was Rutherford b. Hayes.
afterwards brigadier general. and then
governor of Ohio and 18th President of
the United States
When the war began Mckinley. then
a boy of IS, was teaching country
school. The first gun that sounded the
commencement of the titanic struggle
awoke in the breast of the young
school master all the fervor and pa -
triotism that the times called forth.
and he was one of the very first to re-
spond to the call of duty. cnlisting rs
private soldier in Company l.. June
II, 1851
For fourteen months he carried the
nusket, attaining the rank of sergeant.
April Is, 1862. Years afterwards, in re-
calling this period. Private William
Mckinley then governor of Ohio, re-
marked to some friends: Il always
look back with pleasure upon those II
months in which served in the ranks
They taught me a great deal. ! was
but a school boy when | went into the
army and that first year was forma-
tive period of my life. during which
learned much of men and affairs
have always been glad that l entered
the service as a private and served
those months in that capacity"
September "a. 1862. the sergeant was
commissioned second lieutenant of
Company d. Five months afterwards
he became first lieutenant of Company
+, and on July %, 1864, he had risen
to be captain of Company G.. Every
promotion was we'll earned. However,
no sooner had he been commissioned
than his value as an officer was recog-
nized, and three months after Teceiv
ing his first commission he was de-
tailed as aidde-camp on the staff of
General Rutherford b. Hayes. From
that time until the close of the war he
served continually as staff officer,
being at different times on the staffs
Of Generals S. S. Carroll, George Crook,
afterwards the famous Indian fighter.
and Winfield S. Hancock, the superb
all of these men famous for their fight
ing qualities.
He was breveted major. on the re-
commendation of General Philip H.
Sheridan. for distinguished anu gallant
conduct at Cedar Creek and Fishers
Hill.
With his regiment or while on staff
duty, he fought in West Virginia. in
the Army of the Potomac under Nc
Clellan. and in the Shenandoah Valley
under Sheridan. He was in all the
early fights in West Virginia. at South
Mountain and Antietam, receiving his
shoulder straps one week after that
last named bloody battle and ex-
changing his musket for the sword
His first battle was at Carnifex Ferry,
West Virginia, September 10, 1861.
Here the Ohio schoolboy. his face
aglow with patriotism and hope his
heart Overlooking with love of country.
stood elbow to elbow with his school,
mates of yesterday, his comrades of
today. offering his young life, as hun
dreds of thousands of other youths
We're doing. in defence OF right, and
that the Republic might not perish.
Thus. for four long years he fought. in
every battle and skirmisl. until the
very end, doing his whole duty, gath
ering honors. and adding to his fame
as soldier. fearless and without re-
proach. fighting at Townsend's Ferry.
November 6; at Laurel HILL November