Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-07-18
A war REMINISCENCE
Scenes at HatCl1er's Creek and
Petersburg Recalled.
John B. Scace Speaks to Reporter of Stirring Scenes
Escaped with Slight Wound, but, Like Other Vet
Grams, Has Suffered Snce-A Story that
Reads Like Page from History.

When one encounters in print the life story
Of some Scared veteran of the civil war,
feeling Of admiration and sympathy Is the
certain result Accustomed though we are
TO tales of hprOi,m and suffering in everyday
life, there is something peculiarly attractive
about these old war records, serving, as they
do, as u sacred passport To the heart of every
true American. Thousands found their resi-
on the field of carnage or in the hospital but
their comrades, when the struggle was over
and the victory won returned TO their homes
aud begin anew the battle of life.
John B. Scace, the widely known contrac.
tpr and building mover of Albany, N. Y,
has hid an unusually interesting life, and
when seen by q reporter recently at his home,
No. Is llr lfjrd Street, told Of his many ex-
pcricnccs AMI adventures while serving
uld,rshe oil aug in the late war. Although
hlyi1g endured all the hardships aud pri-
yuti,ns of life in the ranks, Mr.. Scace bears
hi' m Ire thln hilf a century Of years with
H1 rl lstic stop and a keen mind, taking an
H;.iye inter It in private and public affairs.
While sill boy, his family moved from
Albtny his birthplace, to Pittstield, Mass,
Ent here he wls educated. lie mastered the
rarpenter's trhc became a member of Berk-
shire LDlge No. g. |. o. o. f., and was
entering upon a successful business life when
came the Utll from Washington for men. All
ment ran high. All the old.time patriotism
that had m lde Massachusetts, famous in
Revolutionary days was fired to its utmost.
Every town AMI village sent out its squad or
comptny.
The com9ny in which Mr.. Scace enlisted
In September of 1862, as private, became
Company A, Forty-ninth Regiment, Massa-
chusetts Volunteer Infantry. Under the
common impression that the war would be
nm q L.t .l,.rf ,I,,n L..
list d for nine months only. Scarcely were
they uniformed and armed before they were
ordered TO the front. The regiment which
~ The time was under the command Of Col
w. +. Bartlett, served in the First Brigade.
First Division, Nineteenth Corps, and par.
ticipated In some of the hottest battles of the
great rebellion.
Nr, Scace, at the time, was but twenty-five
y, - Of age, and he remembers well with
whnt beating heart he first fell In line. His
regiment was ordered South, directly through
the cnemy's country, with Baton Rouge as
the objective point After several months of
weary marches, during which Company A
passed through several lively scrimmages
with the enemy constantly lowering about
the TANKS and rear, the capital city of
Louisiana was reached. An evacuation fol. !
lowed. Citizens aud the rebel soldiery sta. !
toned in the city He'd like frightened sheep, |
pouring win lhcm what goods they could |
carry and setting torch 20 the rest, The |
beautiful capitol building which had been |
converted into war prison. had also been |
fired, and the boys in blue swarmed in. lust |
In time 10 save their captive comrades from |
perishing In the flames. Mr.. Scace, who |
hal been, while en- route, promoted 10 cor. |
poru, was In the thckest Of the melee. and |
d ~eribcs the scenes In graphic manner. |
y hough the city had fallen almost without |
blow given or received, fight was not far |
OF, for word was received that a large force |
OF TIE enemy WITS fast approaching.
\ bloody battle cnsued at Plain Store. n
tw y vs. march out Of the capital. in which |
Corporal Scace was severely wounded. A |
minnie ball struck his left thigh and, grazing .
the bone, narrowly missed the great artery |
lie was retired 10 the camp at Baton Rouge
but recuperated so rapidly that he entered
soon after, again into active service. The
battles Of Port Hudson and Donaldsonyjllc
followed, with all their thrilling episodes.
IL was not long after this that, by reason
Of the expiration of his term of enlistment
he was honorably discharged. Ills respite
was not long one however, for he soon az
terward re-enlistcd, 10 serve for the remain.
der Of the war. For mcritorious action he
had been raised 10 the scrgeant's stripes. and
. such served In Company A, Sixty.frst
Regiment, Observation-Disclosures Infantry
'naer Col Charles L. Waleott. During tiS