The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-18
REUNION OF BLUE AND GRAY
Representative Patton Finds the Nan
That Spiked His Cannon Be
fore Vicksburg

Representative Frank Patton kiowa
county. is the only ex-coufederate sol
der in the house OF representa- tives-
His disability has only been removed
by bill introduced in the senate at the
session Two years ago BY senator Harry
Lands. recently appointed warden OF
the peuitentiary-
After the war Mr. Patton affiliated
with the Democrats until 1880, when he
joined the PopuIist movement He
worked with the party four years, but
/ did not cast a vote after the war until
the passage Of the bill presented by Mr.
Lands
There is quite little romance con-
nected with Mr.. Patto1's legislative ca
reer. although it has been very short
Soon after his election the mail was NIL
ed with letters from applicants for po-
sitiOns- Yet. he came to Topeka with
but one pledge and that was TO vote
for Rev William Irelan.ex-pastor Of the
North Topeka Christian church, for
Chap plain of the house
Rev IreIan received the wounds which
disabled him at the battle of Missionary
Ridge. which was but a short distance
from MI Patton'S home At that, time
Patton was a prisoner in the Union
lines
When Wilson Of Stanton and Mr. Pat
ton were introduced Saturday on the
floor Of the house the conversation
turned 10 war subjects
I served the Union army through
the south in and about your old home
Mr.. Patton" said Mr. Wilson
We're you in Greer's command be-
fore the siege OF Vicks5urg," asked Mr.
Most assaredly." replied his Repub
ucan friend.
well I guess you are the man that
captured my gun and spiked It May u,
1868, said Mr. Patton
What's that?" exclaimed Mr. VIII
SON
The details of the incident were mar
rated Then the blue and the gray
cIasped hands in an affecting manner.
followed by a reunion and discussion of
the war period which was intensely in
terssting-
Mr. Patton was in command of a
Whftwo-th cannon. one Of the idols OF
the Confederacy when Greer's COM
mand swept down upon the COuIeder-
ates and overwhelmed the small force
defending the artillery Mr. Wilson did
what he declared was an effectua1 job
of spiking the cannon but his surprise
as well as that of the other Union sol
diers can better be ina gined than de-
scribed. when within ten minutes after
the federals had spiked the gun Ser
geant Patton was again at his post and
/ the Wea pom was hurting shot and shell
into the Union ranks
The cannon had two vents One was
q --feint'' which did not go through TO
the caIibre; the other was a full vent
and was used in firing the gun Mr. VII
son spiked the .-feint' and did not in
any manner interfere with the opera
| ton of the cannon
While in command of the Lady Dav-
is" another popular cannon among
/ Coufederates. Mr. Patton fired the shot
| which inaugurated the siege of Vicks-
burg, at the upper ram Cine mat which
was lowering around the city
Shortly after the battle of Missionary
! Ridge Mr.. Patton was parOled and went
home While there. a party Of Union
men. the 18th Illinois under the COM
mand of Col Allen Buckner. the fight
/ ing parson.'- Of Baldwin. captured Mr.
Patton and tried him under charges of
/ being a Confederate bushWacker. Mr.
/ Patton of course was convicted and sen
| fenced TO be hanged or shot After
/ considera bic parIeying and exchange Of
| state cOurtesies he escaped with his life
! by signing the amnesty oath which had
| been prescribed By congress
| After the battle Of Corinth Mr. Patton
/ went south TO recruit Upon his arrived
/ at Aberdeen. Miss. the CoafsGera1es
/ captured and cOUrJmartialed him under
I charges OF being a spy He was again
| Sentenced to hang
! Fortuna tely for himself Mr. Patton
/ was provided with trunk full Of pass
/ ports signed by the general passport
/ agent of the army OF the Mississippi
! These were given critical examina-
| ton and after two days of suspense, Mr.
/ Patton was again permitted 10 go on
| his way without paying the penalty of
| a court martial sentence passed by his
! comrades
Mr. Patton does not believe in the
| bloody shirt idea and is as patriotic as
| any member on the floor of the house