Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-09-17
col. JOSEPH H. WOOD.

list or the regular army with the rank
of colonel, Is well-knOwn Chicagoan.
For twenty years he has lived In this
city. ana during all that time he has
been connected with the Chicago aud
Alton Railroad. His interests have
been those of peace. and the most mar
tiai thing he has done has been to ride
AZ the head Of procession of thousands
OF railroad men when they wanted TO
express their Republican political pref.
erences during the last presidential
campaign. Despite his quiet life.
Colonel Wood Is still full of warlike
spirit. and keeps lively Interest in all
that pertains to the United States army
ana to the veterans of the war. As to
what kind of a fighter he was I'm the
years Of his active army experience
well. one has only to look into his eyes
and catch their CLINT, and one knows
all that Is to be told. Despite thirty
years OF peace. and the pOrtly girth that
mas come with success. ana despite the
wound In the body, which has grown
more troublesome with almost every
year since II was received at Gettys.
burg. the colonel has still much of the
martial at,lOr Of his youth.
All this. however. does not give the
reason which has led Senator Mason
to seek to have Colonel Wood placed
on the retired list. For years the former
officer has been eligible. Even when
he left the regular army In 1867 his
wound would have given him the right
I? ask for retirement. Full. however.
OF plans for work in other fields. and
mindless Of the hindrances which were
to come from the effects Of his service.
Colonel Wood did not ask for retire.
ment. but preferred to resign directly
and sever all connection with the ser.
Vice. Now. as advancing age warns
him that his time of active struggle in
the economic world Is drawing toward
close. he wishes to throw an anchor
to wlndward and claim the rights that
could have been his before for the ask.
Ing.
Joseph II. Wood was born In the state
or New York In 1880. He came OF n
family that had many fighters I'm the
famous battles Of American history.
His father was veteran Of the war
of 1872, ana his uncle fought In the
Mexican war. and was present mt the
surrender OF the City Of Mexico. After
finishing his education young Wood
went Into business rs u contractor and
an engineer. working on the Erie canal
ana In various parts OF New York. Al.
though engaged In the arts Of peace.
AMI with no Intention OF entering the
regular army. the deeds Of his older
relatives awakened In him an Interest
In the militia. and he gave q good deal
Of his time to drill and discipline. When |
he was % yenrs old he went to Wash.
ington and was given commission as
second lieutenant In the regular army.
thinking that for man who was going
Into the war In earnest II was much
better to get his training with the regu.
lars than with the volunteers. His rcgi. |
lnent was the Sixth cavalry. His com.
mission. which he stlll keeps among his |
choicest treasures. was signed by Iresi. |
dent Lincoln and Secretary Stanton,
and bears date Ia the early part Of |
1863.
Lieutenant Wood was sent direct to |
The front. His regiment. together with |
three other regiments Of regulars AMI |
. regiment Of Pennsylvania lnncers.
made up the reserve cavalry brigade Of |
the Army OF the Potomac. The brigade
was mt that time under the command OF |
General John Bufortl. but this officer
was soon succeeded by General Wesley
Woods first duty when he
reached the front was enough to test
The mettle Of much more experienced
man. He was given charge OF u COM
mny OF plckets on the RappahannOck
RIVER for three days and nights Of con.
'inuOus service. Directly across the
stream. so near that conversation was
'asy mt any time. We're the plckets OF
he enemy. 1t had been customary for
he soldiers to swim across the river
IND forget hOstilitles In social inter.
curse. This habit had grown to such
IN extent that the federal officers had
o put stop to II, and Lieutenant Wood
was given strict orders to prevent any.
hing OF the kind. so much wrath was
'aised by the new orders on the rebel
'ide Of the river that threats were re-
'eatetlly made to the northern pickets
hat their commanding officer would
10 shot the minute he was seen from
he other bank.
4 little later. when hOstilitles were
o active that bitter personal feeling
vas INDUCED In by privates and oil.
ers alike, the lieutenant was sent un.
Ter Tag Of truce to carry a message
o General Lee. He says 1t was one
4 the most peculiar sensations he had
YER had. to be standing In the midst of
he rebel forces, and to see all around
lin men who would under any other
circumstances have enjoyed shooting
I'm ut sight. The great courtesy with
which he was treated. ana the safe
yards which he knew protected him,
we're not enough to mitigate this feel
hg to any appreciable extent. 1t was
I Gettysburg that Colonel Wood re-
eived the wound that has troubled him
YER since. His regiment was sent 10 ,
tack the confederate wagon train lust ,
ef0re the battle opened, and II found
self suddenly face to face with n
hole brigade of southern cavalry. The
esult was u bitter struggle, In which ,
4, Il