The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05

count of illness. Soon after that he was re-
ported as worthless on picket, and he was
martialed, but about this time he had an
other fit and was sent to the hospital.
The 1st of December the command was
going off on n ten days raid to tear up
railroads.. Regimental commanders had
known of the movement but twenty-four
hours, but Cal had word Of it. He deserted
from the hospital, and just as we were pull
ing out he fell in. He had found gun
this time, with cartridge box, and he re-
ported to the commanding officer. He went
through that twelve days experience, as
1t proved to be-cold forced marches, hard
Work-and seemed to thrive upon it. The
excitement of tearing up railway line.
piling up the sleepers and putting the rails
upon them seemed to give him life and
Vlgor. He would shout, and in every way
seemed altogether a different person.
Back into camp again John Calvin was
a worthless soldier. He could not be de-
pended upon He would have been court
martialed but for the fact that he had al
ready been in two fights and his two broth
ers were both good soldiers. So, finally, he
drifted off to the hospital, and was there
off and on, doing no service, during the
About week before the campaign be-
gan in the spring Calvin came up He had
full set of equipments, and he reported
for duty. He had OWNED that there was
going to be work at the front and he was
full of that sort of life which made him
want TO take a part in it, In the two weeks
which followed which ended in the surren-
der of Lee at Appomattox no man in the
regiment was more alert than this mere
stripping VI q DOy, lCoS bidn SCNtHlNEh
years of age. No march could wear him
out, no skirmish line was so hot that ne
wanted to get to the rear. He was model
soldier in every respect.
ION the morning of April g. 1865, the day
when Lee was pressed the hardest and
what was generally called the battle of
Sailors Creek was fought, the regiment was
on the skirmish line, pressing Lees rear.
1t was very exciting day. We would pur-
sue Lee rapidly for time, then he would
get hold in some place and check us with
a hot fire until he had got his baggage out
of the way. We had been hustling the en-
envy pretty rapidly for twenty minutes.
Suddenly just beyond a wood he stopped,
brought a battery into action, and formed
line of battle and played upon us in a
manner that compelled US to stop our pur-
suit and seek cover. The regiment was on
the edge of this wood, along the side of
which was a muddy brook with consider
able Of a bank Those of the men who
didn't hustle into this, mud and all, We're
fire from there as well as they could out or
it, The battery fired solid shot. That
would not have been very bad were II not
that the shot went through the tops OF a
lot of dry pine trees and filled the ar with
missiles. Among those who ala not get
into the ditch was John CALVIN he as
dained cover, and because he did one OF the
limbs from that tree broken or by one OF
the shot, struck him on the arm uia
not know at the time how badly he Was
hurt but he set up yell that ne was nit
He was told to go to the rear, ana can
see him now, that worthless Wre t wa his
Voice as a child who is hurt, dragging in
his uniniured hand his musket
az did not see Cal again for years, but
heard of him. He wrote me letters and
answered them. He had in those nterven-
ing years served the State in prison. HIS
perceptions of the rights of property We're
dim and for that reason he had been twice
in the state prison. When l again met MIN
IL was at a regimental reunion in the place
where Cal was born and where he enlisted;
He came to me. / recognized him. lie had
but one arm. He was taller and fuller ana
stronger than he was that 9Th of April
when he left us, crying. He came TO me
because he had protest to make. do you
know me, colonelg / told him did. He
have regimental badge, and they say l
shan't march with the regiment again
What have you got to say about II? Ihey
say / have been in state prison, and that l
am unfit to associate with men who were
good soldiers Well said /, haven't you
remarked with frankness If not with pride,
courts and judges and juries and witnesses
ere agin me and l didn't get a fair sight,
and now that / am come here to-day these
fellows say l shan't wear regimental
badge He dramatically lifted up the stub
got that? I told him did. Can't have
a badger / told him he could, l pinned
one on him. 'Shan't march? l said. yes.
you can march with me He went back 10
the crowd, proud and defiant. Whatever l
was, l WASH coward, and that's more
than some OF you fellows can say who say
that l shan't wear the regimental badge
and march in the regimental column,
II do not know what has become or John
Calvin since that time. He may be serving
criminal when / remembered the boy who
went to the rear with the broken arm,
dragging his mnskst ana crying.