Connecticut western news., 1898-04-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

In your last issue or the CONNECTICUT WESTERN NEWS you state, editorially, that "it is stated that there is not now living general who commanded or either side iu great bettle during the late war. Gen. Rosecranse was the last surviving commander"
 The statement is far from being cor rect, because there are commanders liv- ing to day, both federal and confederate, who commanded in great battles. For instance, Major General John A Scho field, who commanded at the great bat tie of Franklin, Tenn, with 17,GOO Union troops on the way to reinforce Gen. Thomas at Nashville, was attacked by Gen. Hood with 40, 900 confederates. Schofeld occupied the heights at Franklin, hurriedly fortified them the best that he could in few hours, and repulsed Hoods tremendous and des- perate assaults. Schofeld's loss was ?. 400 men, and Hoods 5000 men. among them being seven general officers. Scho- field retired during the night after the battle, but was followed to Nashville by Hood. He reached Nashville, however. without further general fighting. l call it great battle where S.400 men are killed and wounded. Gen. Schotisld Is at present Lieutenant General. OF the retired list of the army of the U. $. A.
 Again; Jubal A. Early commanded the confederate army in the Shenandoah Valley. and was whipped by General Sheridan. Early commanded in at least two great battles in the Shenandoah Valley, and was sent whirling up the valley when Sheridan made his famous ride. On both sides the loss was heavy, we'll up into the thousands; in addition to the killed and wounded Early lost 2,0O0 prisoners and many artillery pieces. It is generally conceded that Cedar Greek was great battle. Early was alive and still kicking until very recently. have not heard of his death. at any rate.
 Gen. N. P. Banks commanded in the Shenandoah Valley at Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862. and was defeated by Stone wall Jackson with loss of 2,000 men in killed and wounded. Confederate loss 1900. I call loss of $500 lives large enough to make such an engagement a great battle. Banks also commanded in the Red River campaign. and at Port Hudson. History of the Civil war rates both of these incidents as very impor- tsnt. Major Gen. Simon Bolivar Buck ner, commanded at Fort Donelson in 1862, and surrendered the fort and 16,- 900 prisoners to Gen. U. s. Grant. Gen. Buckner commanded the Third Grand Division of all the armies of the confederaoy, and had personal charge of one wing of the confederate army at both Murfreesboro and Chicksmsugs These men are all alive, so far as know, and they all commanded in great bat ties. Imean by this statement that they were Me commanders of the forces en- gagged. When one steps down one rung of the ladder to men who commanded army corps on either side, the list grows quite large, both of "Fed" and "Confed."
 I have written this, not with the view of passing criticism upon the NEWS editorial paragraph, but rather as cor rection of an item which from the fact of it's inaccuraoy needs correction.
 Another item, which the NEWS cor rected, in it's last issue, in regard to a steamers electric lights on the Hudson being seen from Litchfeld, struck me, when I first saw it, as being something extraordinary. Those lights are, as the NEWS suggested, probably from the Hotehkiss School at Lakeville. It seems improbable that reflections from a steamers lights, seventy miles" dis tant. and on the Hudson river, so much lower than Litchfield, could be noticea- ble in our neighboring mountain-top borough. It is possible, of course, but hardly probable. A reflection in the heavens from hill top is visible for many miles, and especially is this sc, where city or a town lighted by hun dreds of electric lights gives reflections over large area of the heavens. But that 8 single steamboat could accomplish such thing. and make reflection pow erfui enough to be seen seventy miles distant admits of doubt.
 B. M. Clossey, the trust fund embez- zler, under bonds of 2,50O for stealing about SI,S00 of the Gillette estate funds, was arrested in connection with Herman Clark of the town of New Hart ford. charged with forging a deed and a will of Miss Amanda Church, a wealthy Winsted lady. Miss Church pronounces the signatures forgeries, and states that she never made will giving her prop erty to Clossey, and that she never gave him deed. J. J. Whiting and the late Judge Fenn were witnesses, and their signatures are both alleged to be for geries. Clark is mixed up in the tran saction, which will be shown at the trial, it is said, this week Tuesday, at Litchfeld. Clossey is now under bonds of $7,5OO, and Clark of S5, 900. The Brooks will is now alleged to have been bogus, and Clark is suspected of having impersonated Norman Brooks when the will was made. Loco.
 Winsted, April 15. 1898.
 It's the little colds that grow into big colds; the big colds that end in con- sumption and death. Watch the little