Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-02
A Fourth OF July Speech

L
armies of the Tennessee and the Cum
berland had just passed through the
campaign that followed the occupancy
of Nashville by the union forces:
Buell's army it was that had made a
forced march of ten days from Nash
vile to Pittsburgh Landing, the last
q hours of which had been double
quick a great portion of the time
much Of it through rain and mud. and
the last II hours in the night. with
the mud and rain accomplishments, to
the field Of Shiloh, there to relieve
Grants stricken troops and to retrieve
the first days disaster
Through that bloody field and the
evils that followed it-mud, cold, hun
gert-the most terrible deprivatiOns
and discomforts, indeed, known to
sOldier-life in times OF war, came the
siege and capture of Corinth, the battle
of Iuka Springs, the march to Decatur
and Tuscumbia, and then Oh toward
Huntsville. 1t was within a few miles
of the last named place that the army
lay encamped, in the early days OF
July, and in level valley, where there
were wide stretches of plain and here
and there forests of towering live-oak
Here the Fourth of July was cele-
brated in almost a hCmelike way.
A stand was erected beneath the
trees, and seats were improvised OF
logs and of poles laid across wooden
forks driven into the ground The
stand was arbored with boughs OF
green, and "Old Glory was tastefully
woven among them.
The orator of the day was young
brigadier named Garfield, and his voice
in patriotic eloquence, rang out over
the vast audience of bronzed soldiers
like a silver bell.
He said things that brought only
such cheering as one hears in any
army. 1t was sincere, wholesome and
enthusiastic.
There is well-known old story OF
those times, in those armies, that a
visiting governor of a state while rid
ing along with a general of division
hearing a wild and prolonged cheer in
the distance, asked what it meant.
only Rousseau or a rabbit" was the
lacOnic reply.
Such was the popularity of Gen
Rousseau, of Kentucky, in that army
and so gallant and chivalrous his ap-
pearance, that wherever he rode amone
troops that were not constantly with
him long and succeeding cheers fol.
lowed him down the lines.
When upon going into camp at any
time rabbit, or ever so MANY rabbits
were started from their hiding places
the soldiers, cheering as if they were
making a charge, would chase Mr.. Rab
bit by battalions, until often that pro.
verbal sage and strategist of the ami
mails would stop, overwhelmed by
fright, and allow himself to be picked
up, just as "Brer Fox took him from
the sticky embrace of the "Tar Baby
This explains the division generals
reply to the governor as to Rousseau
or rabbit"
The applause during Garfield's
Fourth of July grafton was such cheers
as those for Rousseau and the rabbit
blended, with an extra volume thrown
in, and those cheers seemed to follow
him, as they did Rousseau and the rab.
bit, wherever he appeared during the
remainder of his stay in the army.
Private Brock, of the Kentucky in
fantry, had been generally considered
different man by his comrades: one
who would rather face a battery of
artillery that was throwing chain-shot
and shrapnel from short range than
to approach a woman or a great man
But Gen. Garfield's Fourth of july
speech enthused Brock to such a de-
gree that he threw off all the trammeIs
Of restraint, and, watching his OppOr-
tunity, approached the Orator-general
at his first opportunity, when the latter
had descended from the stand, to offer
his cOngl atulations in his own Private
Brock way
The young brigadier was about to
mount his spirited charger to ride to
his own camp, when the FESTIVE animal
gave leap, startled by the sudden
bursting forth of the blasts from a full
brass band-full as to members. as to
enthusiasm and as TO liquid commits
sary stores, that had been given them
extra.
The brigadier's left foot was already
IN the stirrup and the leap of the horse
was almost dragging him on the
ground. But Private Brock. who was
a powerful man, had caught the bride
close to the curb-bit with his left hand
and with his right caught also the gal
liant officer, and a painful fall to the
latter was averted, while the horse was
brought to a sudden standstilI, almost
thrown upon his launches.
Il am very grateful to you, comrade. "
said Gen. Garfield, as soon as he had
recovered his equilibrium
Don't mention it." said Private
Brock. I'm glad it happened"
There was general roar of laughter
at this very blunt admission, and
Brock, seeing that he had made some
sort of mistake, added, as the flush OF
his face almost equaled the red of the
huge bandana about his neck:
THAT is to say, sub, it couldn't Ell
happened at better time, sub"
I'm decidedly of your opinion, com
rade. What is your name and com
mand?"
''Well, sub, that wasn't 'zackIy what
[ come here to tell you, sub: but my
names Brock, sub, jis Private Brock
sub; Kaintucky infantry, sub. But ]