The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-07-02

'Here is an echo from Corlnth.
Saving thai, the Past Commanders
in-chief \. &. Wcissel't proceeded to
relate an incident full of interest and
one not lacking pathoS.
while at the Eau Claire cnchmp-
ment l met the Hill boys. brothers,
Thomas ]. and John i. You know ours
was the Eagle regiment. Eighth Wis
conSin. The Hill boys belonged to u,
the Eagle company. the proud bird OF
| liberty having been purchased Gf Il
Chippewa Indian by Captain Perkins.
| The eagle was With lis all through the
| war. He was q friend of every man i'll
the regiment. but outsiders had to Keep
| out OF his reach. Old -tbc'-tllat WAS
his nalne-l1ever missed u battle. When
the bullets began to fly ana cannon to
roar his wings would flap ard the eagle
scream was heard. Sometimes he
| would remain on his shield. carried by
man detailed for that purpose,
throughout a battle, tapping his great
| wings and giving his orders in the
| eagle iangua age-screams that could be
! heard by the whole regiment. even
| when the din of cracking muskets.
| whistliEg bullets and the roar and
| bursting Of shells was the loUdest. The
| next time he would insist on leaving
his perch and gracefully scar high
| above the regiment to sound orders
that were inspiring. When the battle
| was over Old Abe would settle down
i'll oUr midst and strut around among
| the men to be petted and commended
for the part he had taken in the CON
test.
i didn't start in to tell about Old
Abe but to speak OF two members OF
his company-the Hill brothers.
Il WAS chatting With Mayor FRA w,ey
the second day of the encampmcnt
when Street Commissioner Tom Hill
| approached. accompanied by another
veteran. Excuse me, Mir. Mayor, l
want ComraGe Weissert to meet this;
man. said Tom. DO you know him?'
l didn't. Don't know my brother
John" Then recalled the young hero
OF Cornth and other battles. After n
few words with John said: Mr.. May
or, let me tell you something about
these Hill boys
AT the battle of Corinth our rcg-
ment, after holding it's line for some
time. was compelled to fail back. While
making this movement Johnny Hill
was shot through the body and fell as
one dead. One Of the boys rear him
his brother was at the ether end OF the
anT-stopped moment to see
how BADLY he was hurt. When we
reached Fort Robinet he reported that
johnny was dead. The enemy had
taken possession Of the field over
which we had come and there was no
chance to bring in cur wounded OF.
bury the dead until we had defeated
Van Dorm and Price lr was aho1lt
forty-eiGht hours after johnny had
been killed that Tom. with pick and
spade. set ont to find and bury his
brother. l can see now how the poor
fellow locked as be moved away from
the company. he was heartbrolen Mt
the less Of his brother and seemed TO
have become an o.d man il a night.
With the pick and spade on his shoul-
der lie walked like one inlirm from old
age, his form bent. step unsteady and
eyes on the ground. SO he was NOV
ing when something happened. Tom
heard footstcD in front OF him. Look
ing up lie saw the white, pinclled face
OF his brother. Both stopped and
stared at each other
Great God. Johnny. is that you:'
when the boy with Il bullet hole
clean through him could master his
voice he answered, not much above a
whisper:
Yes, Tom, but I'm badly hurt.
Where are You going?:'
was going cut to bury you, John
Then those two soldier bows fell in
to each others arms.
"As | looked up the mayor was us
Ing his handkerchief and tears vero
dampcning the wrinkled faces of the
Hlll boys. then something took my
voice away for a second. when Tom
came to the rescne by saying: .Au.ev
mas tod it just as it happened.' Chi
cago Times-Herald.