The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-23
WAR GOSSIP.
Skirmish Shots at Various
Phases Of the Struggle.

Col. Melvin Grigsby, who commands the
Sd u. S. Vol. Cav, commonly known as
"Grigsby's Rough Riders" is veteran of
the rebellion. He was Wisconsin boy,
and left school in January, 1862, to enlist
in the I'd Wis. Cav. He was a daring
young fellow, and a good soldier, but was
captured near Vicksburg in January, 1864,
and held prisoner at Cahaba, Anderson
vile, and Florence till nearly the end of
the war. He escaped from Andersonville,
and was IS days in the swamps before he
was retaken. He got away from Florence
twice, and the last time succeeded in get
ting to Hazen's Division, of the Fifteenth
Corps, on the Salkehatchie River. He was
so black with the resinous SCOT from the
pitch-pine fires that he was called the
Smoked Yank," and known by this name
while he continued in Sherman's army in
which he did efficient service as a scout.
A few years ago he published an account
of his adventures, under the title of the
Smoked Yank,' and made a very interest
ing book of it. He has been resident of
South Dakota for Is years, and has grown
up with the country, and is now Attorney
General of the State.
met Mai.-Gen. J. Warren Keller on the
street last week, and congratulated him
heartily on his appointment, which l
honestly think is as good selection for a
Ma jor- General as President Mckinley has
made. The General is one OF the few born
soldiers. He went from a law Office into
the Army, entering as a Major in the Sd
Ohio, in April 1851, and got his first lessons
in actual fighting in the brilliant little
which cleared the rebels out of
West Virginia. He then entered the 10th
Ohio as a Lieutenant Colonel, was speedily
a Colonel and commander of brigade,
and after an unusual amount of distinctly
hard fighting came out a division COM
mander, with two brevets to his credit. He
will have to wear belt about twice as
long as he used to, and his beard is get
ting pretty white, but he bears his 81
years with remarkab bic vigor, and will give
a good account of himself wherever he may
be sent. He gave up a splendid law prac-
tice to enter the Army.
The mule has his day as well as the
dog. Last year no farm animal was held
in so light esteem as the mule. He could
not be sold at any reasonable price, while
MS appetite did not fall in proportion, and
ne ate his head off with disagreeabIe fire.
luency. But the war has changed all |
hat. A mule is as necessary as patriot |
SIN for war, and at last accounts the Gov
had purchased II, coo in St. Louis, |
1t the comfortable price of 500 apiece.
r
In common with thousands of other
Grand Army men, | am delighted with the |
appointment of Col. Harrison Gray Otis. of |
4os Angeles, Cal, to rigadier-Generalcy.
)tis is big-brained, brave, generous,
manly man, who will wear his star with
reat credit to the United States. He
ONES of Revolutionary ancestry, and his
was one of the old soldiers
Who, at the close of the Revolution, mi
rated to the new Ohio country, Just as
hundreds of thousands OF the veterans OF
he rebellion located in Kansas, Nebraska
nd the Dakotas. He was bred a printer,
nd in 1851 enlisted in the 18th Ohio. He
TaS an active, aggressive man, who when
here was nothing to do in camp, would
AXE a squad of men out and hunt down
uerrillas. He was twice wounded, and
ION seven promotions and two brevets for
allantry. Toward the close of the war his