The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-05-29
7 LES OF THE WAR.
M'KINLEY AS A SOLDIER.
EnIists AZ Eighteen The Hero q
KernestOwn.

born January 20, lS43, is the soutf
east. rnmost township in the originf
Western Reserve. Incidents OF his boy
hood are dwet upon by Mr. Porter
and the powerful influence OF hi
mother in moulding his character re
ceiyes merited consideration. Thi
remarkable old lady, although in he
18th year, still enjoys vigorous ex
istence. She was an Allison. OF Eng
lish blood, a woman OF clear brain anc
robust moral nature. At Poland's ex
cellent academy, and later at A llegha
ny college, Mckinley laid the founda
tion of his education.
No town surpassed Poland in the in
tensity of its patriotic spirit. The at
mosphere there was charged with 1t.
One fine day in 1861, a fiery orator,
presumably one of the men who had
been calling the attention of the ma
ton TO the undesirable features OF the
slavery appeared before the village
tavern. He tald the people in IA forcible
manner that the Stars and Stripes had
been fired on ard called for volunteers
! to punish the traitors. A crowd OF
young men and boys stepped forward
One of them was young Mckinley. He
WAS tueu To- Dul ut dituoy 'tpii
teaching school for couple of years,
ever since he had joined the church.
Company + Of the 23d Ohio, was
Poand's contribution to the Union
forces. William S. Rosecrans was the
| colonel of the regiment; STANLEY Mat
thews, afterward justice of the supreme
court, was second officer. For good
work at Antietam, Governor Todd of
Ohio, directed the young mans adj
vancement to the degree Of lieutenant ;
afterward he was brevetted major by
President Lincoln. He won his mil
itary honors, they were not thrust upon
him.
The active service of the sd reg
iment began at Carnfex Ferry, about
six weeks after it had broken camp at
Columbus. Pursuing the guerilla
hordes marching and counter marching
across this rugged spurs of the rich
mountain range, drenched by incessant
rains. almost famished at times for
lack Of food and exposed to all manner
Of unpleasant experiences, the young
sters from Poland quickly had their
fighting qualities and powers OF en-
durance put to severe test, They
stood the strain admirably.
The regiment was ordered to Wash
ington, and after short rest there
Joined McClellan's army and took part
in the great battle of Antietam, where
Mckinley won his first honors. After
that bloody experience in back Of the |
of West Virginia. An order |
came to hurry on to Pennsylvania. |
1t was obeyed with memorable aac-
rity. On this trip breakfast WAS eaten
in Pennsylv ania, dinner in Maryland
and supper in Virginia
A period Of rest followed. From
November 1862, to July of the follow
ing year, the 23d lay in camp, taking
Morgan. This period of comparative
inactivity was followed by another,
in until April, 1864, when a move
nent was made to point a few miles
above Brownston, on the Kanawha,
10 joining the forces
hen gather ing under Gen. Crock for
. rand on the Virginia and Tennessee
This expedition, relief
rom long inaction. was undertaken
with cheerfulness and determination.
After toiling for days over rugged
mountains and through dense woods,
hey finally encountered the enemy on {
day ., at Clyde mountain. On the I
lext day there was another battle at s
,ew Bridge. As on the day before, {
he enemy was driven back. {
Early in June the sd joined Gen. c
raj Hunters command At Lynch I
'urg they encountered the enemy, but {
he rebels had been heavily reinforced {
rom Richmond and they were obliged
0 retreat The fighting was all done a
n dense thicket, impervious to a
he sunlight. The men were without c
God or sleep for two days. In july 8
anne the battle of Kernestown. near I
in viii the national 8
orces were defeated after well cor s
ested fight from early in the morning Q
ntl late at night The 23d lost over r
~ men and officers. The Union n
orces were commanded by General o
'rook, and the confederates by Gen
raj Early, who had been menacing g
Washington,
When the battle was at its height, II
lckinley made himself conspicuous
y the daring execution OF an order. d
me of the regiments had been posted n
. an orchard, far in front, when the 81
attic opened. AS the Union forces fell So
ack before Early, this body was left "
The commanding officers l
al forgotten it. No order of retreat @
aving been given, the men main "
lined their first position. This was al
srilous in the extreme. On discover p
x the oversight, General Hayes di fc
cted Lieutenant NJ kinley 10 carry 81
lie order of retreat 10 the unfortunate W
ldiers. Ii seemed certain death TO al
}, but without a moments hesitation al
e started off at full speed. He was pl
ven up as lost, but he came back un. &C
jured from his dangerous mission,
hich he successfully accomplished. tn
s he drew up by the side of Hayes to OF
AXE his verbal report, the general ht
lid TO him; Il never expected to see w
~ in life again. y nc
Sheridan's great battle at Oppeuan m
as fought near Winchester, Septem. gl
II 10, 1914. An incident happened III
ere which illustrates one striking az
ait of McKinley's character. 1t is st
us recorded: in
Early in the morning the Sixth and I'M
tn corps went into action, the first be
d second divisions of the army 1T pu
est Virginia eighth corps) being ro'
Id in reserve. About IL O'Clock be
iptain Mckinley, aide de camp on wi
: staff of General Sheridan, brought
'erbal order 10 General Duval, com to
inding the second division, TO move me-
S cen nand quickly 10 position On va
e right Of the Sixth omrs, the First sm
vision having previously been or ms
ed TO that position. Duyal, on re- rul
wing the order. and 70. knowing the nel
~ tho country askad the VIII