The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-07-23
TIE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
The WAR.
The Veterans of tho Rebellion Tell of
Whistline Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bombs, Bloody EattIes, Camp
Fire, Festive bugs, ETC., Etc.
Visited General Getty.

division commander" said Major An
son, "who commanded the Sixth corps
at the battle of Cedar Creek. while
General Wright was commanding Shcr-
idan's army, when Sheridan was 'tWen-
ty miles away but coming like the
wind, lives ten miles from Washing
ton, at Forest Glen. l reached there
at 1 o'clock one day and talked with
the old hero for four hours.
Il rang the bell; an old Gian came tc
the door and welcomed me. General
Getty, don't suppose you remember
me- 4 am satisfied that you are one CT
my soldiers, but my sight has failed
the last few months so 1 cannot see
you distinctly Then l told him my
name. why. certainly; member of my
military family. Come right in; l am
delighted to see you. And there we sat
those four happy hours and talked over
old times. You know how lovely it is
to sit down with n man you served
with; how the time flies and that you
take no note of it. / want to say tEat
my visits to Generals Wright and Get
ty convinced me of this fact as | never
realized it before. The men who wore
stars on their shoulders and who COM
manded corps, divisions and brigades,
and even armies. find just as much
pleasure in talking with their COM
rades, whether generals or privates, as
the men of the line and of the rank and
file do, and you know what that means.
| 7 fool tb,t n cbnrlJ no ono Of orr 1II-
ties, as it certainly is one of my great
est pleasures, to never miss an Oppor-
ttinity to call upon and chat with our
old commanderS-men who command
ed our companies, regiments, batteries,
boats, brigades, divisions and corps.
DO you remember that Generals
Getty and Gibbon were very close and
warm friends? They were. l had met
General Gibbon at Chicago at the time
we elected General Lucius Fairchild
commander-in-chief of the Loyal Le-
gion, ard was introduced to him. In
the course of our conversation l men,
toned that | had served on the staff of
General George W. Getty. Gibbons
eyes frightened and he extended his
hand and said: We will shake again.
George w. Getty was one of the best
friends l had in the army. His friends
are my friends l told General Getty
of the incident and he said: Yes, Glib
bon told me about that the last time we
met Then the old general of two
score of battles rose to his feet and
walked back and forth through the
room several times. When lie sat down
there was tear track on his dear cid
| face and a tremble in his voice when he
said: 'Gibbon was good man, good
soldier and great general. His death
was a severe shock; shall miss him
sorely.'
General Getty has n 2O0-acre farm,
| lives in fine residence, his wife and
only unmarried daughter making up
the family. His other five children are
| married. One is paymaster; another
a prominent st. Paul business man.
The general spoke of a number of our
| regimental officers, including General
]. NJ. Warner, the millionaire merchant
| of Albany, n. Y, who recently retired
as postmaster; Colonel Aldace f. Walk
er, who holds n $4,000 position with
Western railroad; Rev. Arthur Lit
tie, formerl-' n Chicago Congregational
minister, now of Massachusetts, and
others. When it was nearly time for
my train the general ordered his car
riage and drove to the station, mile
distant. When we We're ready to part,
he said very nearly what General
Wright had said to Captain Gould and
myself. l repeat it SO that others of
the old division and corps who visit
Washington may be led to call on the
old general. Major, you don't know
how much good it has done me to have
you make this visit. 1t renews nv
youth. Please never come to Wash
ington without dropping out to see the
old farmer In answer l said: General,
/ shall visit you whenever an opportu-
nifty is afforded, not only from a sense
of pleasure, but sense of duty. You
were very kind to me when l was n
boy and member of your staff-a very
father to me-and l can never forget it.
1t has been worth much to me through
out my life.'
when l expressed the hope that he
would come West some time. he said:
1 would like to, but l am getting pret-
ty old to travel so far. l would like to
visit my son at st. Paul, and may do
So If you come, general. be sure to
arrange to spend a few days in Mil
waukee. There are others of your old
division in our city, and if there were
not, there are hundreds of soldiers who
will take genuine pleasure in rendering
your stay one of joy. They know YOU
know of your services, bravery, kind
ness for your soldiers
"How like saying good-by to the dear
ones of home it is to part with the men
who served with him in that struggle
for a nations life! But l would not
have missed those visits with Generals
Wright and Getty for the best $500
ever mined and minted or designed and
printed
'While ut New Orleans" continued
the major, Il was invited to visit the
armory of the famous Washington ar
tillery that has maintained an organi-
zation for nearly one hundred years. l
was pleasantly surprised, and l con-
feSs touched to the heart by the first
object that caught my eye 1t was a
large oil painting of General Robert Z.
Lee and General Stonewall Jackson
1t is said to represent these two famous
Southern generals when they met at
Charlottesville, Va, in May, and Jack
son urged his commander to permit
him to take his corps around Hooker's
army and attack Towards Eleventh
corps. Jackson seems to be animated
and making an earnest appeal, while
Lee is listening attentively. History
tells us that Jackson carried his point
and won for the Confederacy one of it's
great battles. 1t was not the picture
that caught my attention and touched
me. On either side hung the flag of the
republic, the stars and stripes, and
over the painting was anothe3flag tast-
lily festooned. l said to n Confederate
colonel who happened to be there at |