The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-18
SONS OF VETERANS.
News from Various Divisions---EIec-
ton of Officers, etc.
VETERANS AND SONS.
Letter From Comrade De Steese, 30th Wi
Who L. Naxx q Heualaar of Sta utou On I'M.

Letter From Comrade De Steese, 30th Wis,
Who Is Now q Member of Stanton Camp.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I cannot
| afford to have your paper out of reach Of
| the boys. 1t is helping US right along and
gives the mem bers much information on things
| that have been stumbling block to them, that
we would have an uphill pull without it.
George ID. Stanton Camp is prospecting and
daily coming in closer contact with the men,
bers of the Post. 1t is an advantage to both Or
CARNATIONS. While the old vets are not ready
| to let the Sons into full fellowship at prsssnt
they would feel lonesome without the boys
around.
represented this Division at Louisville last
year, and my record on the proposed utilization
with the G. "A r., is printed in the Proceedings of
the COMMUNICATIVE AS an old soldier,
perhaps l am little jealous of the Sons when
they propose to step into our shoes, and / do
think that they at present do not or cannot
realize the feelings of an old soldier when it is
proposed to place the Sons of Veterans in full
charge of the old flag.
They have never heard the order "Close on
the colors," when men were falling under the
leaden rain of death. or the last appeal Of the
Color-Sergeant to his comrades before he
closed his eyes for the last time on this earth,
to save the flag. There is different light in
the old soldiers eye at the sight of Old Glory.
/ do not wish it to be understood that the Sons
VI SoIcTauS i8Ck courage Ut WOuiu HOI cullSt
and fight for home, flag and country as hard as
the old soldiers did, should occasion ever require
lack the exact words to describe the differ
ence, perhaps, without giving offense, which l
am very much averse to doing, as the boys are
our legitimate successors. and, whether they
realize it or not, our only hope. They must
sometime bury the last old soldier, keep green
the memory of the departed grandest army,
and preserve our archives.
Then LET me- descriha tho diffaranca TINA.
The Sons lack only the thrilling, magical touch
of shoulder to shoulder through their trials aud
adversities. which inspire confidence in their
fathers as comrades. while showing dependence
on each other in the camp or battle.
am in favor Of longer terms fer officers in
Camps and Divisions although Camps may, as
mine has done, elect for three consecutive years.
Many do not, and one-half year is lost by the
officers in learning their duties, while the other
half is, perhaps. wasted in electioneering.
Lhope the bill making US military reserve
of the United States will pass. A little help,
even, from the States would fll the ranks. At
present we lose members to the National Guard
almost as soon as they learn the muzzle of the
gun from the butt.
was in one of the 11th-hour regiments IF
almost constant fighting from start to finish of
the 18 months the regiment served did not
make US veterans. nothing ever will. The
Both day of July, 1854, ct Mine Fort, in front of
Petersburg. nearly wiped out the Third Divis.
ion of the Ninth Corps, and the First Brigade,
First Division, of same corps, on picket at that
time, who charged as the fort was blown. My
regiment, the Goth Wis, was in this brigade.
We were under fire here from the first day of
July, and you couldn't show your hand in the
daytime without getting bullet through it.
Why can't We have a Reunion of the young
est soldier at Buffalo? Someone start the ball
rolling. We can have headquarters. compare
notes. and perhaps tell how the old fellows got
behind stumps while we boys stood in the open,
because we didn't know any better.-W. DE
STEEsE, Commander, E. A. Brown Post, 40,
and Captain, Camp Is, s. Of ", Fond du Lac,
Wis.