The National tribune., 1897-11-04

him and wept when he was severely wounded
at Chickamauea and. forced to quit the
service with glorious sears and grand
record. He was tender as a mother, and
yet brave as q lion-a true knight of cid
Kentucky.
purposely omit battle descriptions of
Shiloh, Stone River Mission Ridge, Chick
amauga, and around Atlanta. somuch better
described by others. 1t was the proud priv
ilegs of the old 9Th 10 be there and do
lis part / was in the terrible conflict at
Shiloh, when the 9th Ky, then commanded
By Col. Walter C.. Whitaker, captured part
OF the rebel battery in the smoke of it's dis
charge, Col Whitaker killing one of the gun
ners with knife he had captured from
Texan in the same charge. Lient. John L.
Chiffon, now of Louisville, was taken pris-
oner by six rebels when three of his COM
raGes rallied to his rescue. Lieut. Chiffon
killing one of his captors and his boys kill
ing he other five in hand; 0-hand fight.
The end of the term of It's sefvice found
our (Co. B's) Second Lieut.. Richard Daw-
kins promoted for gallant conduct till he
became the commander of the reglment.
But 80 of the original f04 men who stood
under the flag to bs sworn IN at Louisville
Oct. l, 1861, survived the cruel contest and
were present at muster-out.
In the blaze of Atlanta and the dramatic
progress to Savannah the luster OF Sher-
mans achievements in Kentucky is well
nigh overshadowed and forgotten. But for
his energy and pluck | doubt if Kentucky
would have declared for the Union, and |
know that Louisville would have fallen into
the hands of the rebels when Gen. Ander
sons command deyoived upon Sherman in
October. 1861.
In his Memoirs Sherman refers to this rs
the most eventual chapter of his life, and
says he does not see now, even, why Gen.
Albert Sidney Johnst9n did not capture
Louisville. 1t was there and then Sherman
was called crazy and driven almost wild by
the blathersktes of the press because he
told Secretary Of War Cameron that it would
take so 900 men 80 hold Kentucky in the
Union, and more than 100000 to make
offensive demonstration south OF it.
Before two years his woEd was made good,
and double the number he named were in
arms and in the field; and if you think we
had too many there 20 look at the monu
ments from Shiloh to Stone River, Chat
tanooga aud Atlanta, and count the heca-
tombs Of sur men who died 10 wrest and
keep not only Kentucky but all the States
IN the charmed circle of the Union.
! thank God that in all these heroic labors
the 9th Ky. was not found wanting, and
that there is not blot or stain on her fair
escutcheon to-day. Others there were, hun
dreds Of regiments, just rs good, but none
better in all the war for the Union.
Daring the Encampment at Louisville it
was my privilege with that Of Is of old Co.
B. 9Th Ky, to enjoy Reunion at the hos
p!sable residence of our old neighbOr, COM
rade and messmate, Comrade J. f. Rice, 3l5
Eas: Gray street. 1t was an ideal Reunion
a feast of reason and Il flow of soul such rs
larger Reunions cannot give forth. 1t was
worth the three years hard service, all its
marches, sieges and battles TO have 4 right
10 sit at that board, feel the touch Of elbows
and hear the music of those dear lips once
more-a joy no one can ever know who has
not had the baptism of fire and blood on
many field-JOHN H. LADD Ayers, Ill.