The herald., 1897-01-31
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I TWO VETERANS
: OF THE CIVIL WAR
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

| The literature of the great rebellion is
| extensive, but the story has never been,
| and never will be, entirely told. The
+, slow-stepping old soldier whom you
pass on the street. with the faded blue
clothes and the Grand Army badge was
a part of the great conflict. You may
not know his name, but you may be sure
he could tell you, if he chose, story out
of his own life history that would stir
your blood and perhaps bring tears to
| your eyes. He may not have the graces
| of language but it is safe to say his story
will have more of thrilling interest, of
romance and of pathos than any you
| can find in the story books.
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Tappan, of
62S Antonia street, East Los Angeles, are
both veterans of the civil war, and when
seen by the writer kindly consented TO
give him a few facts concerning their
experiences to be detailed for the readers
of the Herald. Both are veterans, for
Mrs. Tappan, as volunteer field nurse,
followed the fortunes of war by her hus-
bands side through the entire four
years of our civil strife She was with
him in the field and on the march. in
battle and bivouac, from the first Bull
Run TO the surrender at Appomattox and
knows more of actual war than all the
parlor soldiers in the state of California.
And she was not with the army as an
ornament, or as an incumbrance. She
was there to bend over the wounded
man as he fell, to stop the blood flow to
provide the cup of water and 10 receive
the last message from dying lips IS the
roar of battle filled the air and the smoke
clouds darkened the sun. BY this i'm
mediate and merciful service she saved
hundreds who never would have lived to
reach the hospital in the rear. Mrs.
,n1 Nv,
authority to do this work. No authority
would have been given woman to go to
the front in battle. She was selfap-
pointed. She chose that dangerous part
to be nearer her husband and that she
might do more good
Mr.. and Mrs. Tappan are both natives
of New York City. He was born in 1922
and she in 1850. Mr.. Tappan's parents
died in his infancy, and he was placed
under guardianship, but on account of
the guardians cruelty he ran away in
his early boyhood and entered the UnHed
States naval service, shipping on board
the battle ship Cumberland. In his
twentyfifth year he graduated from the
naval service as able seaman, able
typographical engineer and
past midshipman After his graduation
he left the United States naval service
and spent two years in the Spanish naval
service. After spending some time in
India and Italy he drifted back to his
native city, where he met and in 1856
married the lady who is still his COM
panion and comrade. Their wedding
journey consisted in a voyage around the
world in the battle ship st. Lawrence
The commencement of the rebellion
found Mr.. and Mrs. Tappan citizens of
New York state. When the famous first
shot was fired at Fort Sumter. which
awoke the slumbering patriotism of the
North, Mr.. Tappan, anxious for fresh
was the first man in New
York state to respond to Mr.. Lincoln's
call for troops. He served in three differ
ent regiments during the war. but
most of the time in the Twenty fourth
New York volunteers. Owing to his pre-
vious training he performed much SER
vice as an officer of the typographical
engineers, in what was known as the
detached service"
Mr.. and Mrs. Tappan were with Nc
Clelian all through the Peninsula cam
paign and the old soldier is severe in
his criticism of Little Mac" for his con-
duct in that unfortunate campaign.
They have vivid memories of Bloody
lane" at Antietam, of Bloody Angle"
at Spottsylvania, OF the slaughter
pen" near the stone wall at Fredericks-
burg, of Charlottesville. of Little
Round Top and the peach orchard at
Gettysburg, of the "crater" at Peters
burg, and of many other places where
death on his pale horse appeared to
The Wrier was shown several relics
IF the late unpleasantness. which are
highly priced by the owners. One was
4 ring made from she'll which struck
4 tree top directly over Mr. Tappan's
head shortly before the surrender at
Appomattox, and near the place where
he final surrender took place. Another
was gold watch presented to Mrs.
Tappan by General Grant at City Point.
when he went east to take command of
al the armies. Another was q No. As |
Colts revolver. which is one of pair
presented to the veteran by President |
Lincoln. The mate to this pistol was
ost in battle. Another memento which |
they prize is a Toledo broadsword which |
saw service in the war.
The old hero bears on his person the |
scars of fourteen wounds received in |
battle, and he carries a bullet in his |
right arm. Nevertheless he proudly |
says he never was in the hospital an |
lour. At one time he was wounded Sc |
verely in the right leg and rode horse |
back continuously for forty-eight hours |
before the ball was extracted Mrs. |
Tappan was never wounded, but was in |
jured by long and severe horseback |
riding
The war developed heroes on both |
sides. the names of some of them are |
known the world over, while some are |
scarcely known to their next door neigh |
bors But the heroic qualities are there |
just the same-the qualities of unselfish
and patient enduring Of common hard |
ship, and the facing of common danger.
The boys and girls are bound by a kiss. |
And true lovers knots, | ween;
But there never was bond, old friend, |
like this
We've drank from the same canteen."
w. A. COREY.
Los Angeles TanuarC