The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-01
mo deep into The fianks of his high

matter-of-course that when anything un
usual occurred 10 the company our first
impulse was to ga and help Seitz out
When the bugle sounded boots and
saddles" the rest of us would pack up,
mount, "count off by fours from the
right" and be ready to move out before
the last notes of the call had fairly died
awav. Just then we would notice an
unsaddled horse still tied to the hitching-
place. 1t was Seitz's, and that worthy
would be seen approaching, pipe in
mouth, and bride in hand, with calm,
equable steps, as if any time before the
expiration of his enlistment would be
coon enough to accomplish the saddling
of his steed. A chorus of impatient
and derisive remarks would 90 up from
his impatient comrades:
"For heavens sake, Seitz, hurry
up."
"Seitz. YOU are like cows tail
always behind !"
"Seitz, you are slower than the second
coming Of the Savior"
"Christmas is railroad train along
side Of YOU, Seitz!"
eff YOU amt on that horse in half a
second, Seitz we'll 60 off and leave you,
and the Johnnies Will skin you alive !"
etc.
Not ripple of emotion would roll
over Seitz's placid features under the
sharpest of these objurgations. AT last,
losing all patience, two or three boys
would dismount, run TO Seitz's horse,
pack. saddle and bride him, as if he
were struck with a whirlwind. Then
Seitz would mount, and we would move
of.
For all this, we liked him. His good
nature was boundless, and his disposition
to oblige equal 10 the severest test lie
did not lack grain of his full share OF
the calm, steadfast courage of his race,
and would stay where he was put, though
Erebus yawned and bade him hy. He
was very useful, despite his unEtness for
MANY of the duties of a cavalryman.
He was good guard, and always ready
to take charge of prisoners or be sentry
around wagons or forage pile-duties
that most of the boys cordially hated.
But he came into the last trouble at
Andersonville. He stood up pretty well
under the hardships ~ReHe Isle, but
lost bis cheerfulnes-his unrepining
calmness-after a few weeks in the
stockade. One day we remembered
that none of us had seen him for sev-
eral davs, and We started in search of
him. We found him in distant part
of the camp, lying near the dead line.
His long, fair hair was matted together,
his blue eyes had the flush of fever.
Every part of his clothing was gray
with the lice that were Fastening his
death with their torments. He uttered
the first complaint | ever heard him
make as / came up to him:
."My Gott, M, dis is worse dan
dogs det!"
In few days we gave him all the
funeral in our power, tied bis big toes
together, folded his hands across his
breast, pinned to his shirt slip Of pa
per, upon which was written:
vIcron T. sETrz
Co. /. Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry,
and laid his body at the South Gate,
beside some scores of others that were
awaiting the arrival of the six-mule
wagon that hauled them to the potter's
field, which was to be their last resting
place.
John Emerson and John Stiggall, of
my company, were two Norwegian BOYS,
and fine specimens of their race-intelli-
gent, faithful, and always ready for duty.
They had an affection for each other
that reminded one of the stories told
of the sworn attachment and the unfail-
ing devotion that were common between
two Gothic warrior youths. Coming
into Andersonville some little time after
the rest Of us, they found all the desir-
able ground taken up, and they estab-
hshed their quarters at the base of the
bill, near the swamp. There they dug
q little hole to lie in, and put in layer
of pine leaves. Between them they had
an overcoat and blanket At night
they lay upon the coat and covered
themselves with the blanket. BY day
tie blanket served as 4 tent.
The hardships and annoyances that
we endured made everybody else cross
and irritable At times 1t seemed impos-
sible 10 say or listen to pleasant words,
and nobody was ever allowed to 90 any
length of time spelling for fight He
could usually be accommodated upon
tie spot 10 any extent he desired bv
simply making his wishes known. Even
tie best Of chums would have sharp quar-
rels and brisk fights, and this disposition
increased as disease made greater inroads
upon them. saw in one instance two
brothers, both Of whom died the next
day OF scurvy. and who were so helpless
as 10 be unable to rise, pull themselves
up on their knees by clenching the poles
OF their tents in order TO strike each
other with clubs, and they kept striking
until tie bystanders interfered and took
their weapons away from them.
Pas. %tirrran a,I -