The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-11-16
BLUE AND THE GRAY
GRAVE MEN WHO MET ON THE
FIELD Of BATTLE.
Thrilling Stsries of the Rebellion
Old Soldiers and Sailors Relate Remi'
niscences of Life in Camp and on
the FieId-1ncidents of the War.

Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, Wis,
scorch each other through the press,
but let disaster overtake either and
see how quickly the other goes TO Tie
rescue. In 1859 Oshkosh had great
fire. She appealed to Fond du Lac for
help. A little lawyer was captain oil
No. .. The engine made the run OF
seventeen miles in twenty-three min
utes. Like Il hurricane the Fond du
Lac BOYS swept over the bridge to
Main street, where they saw flames
lashing the street through which they
must take their machine. The lawyer
captain counted the chances and cost
and made up his mind that he could
go through the cloud of smoke and
flame, and his shrill voice rang out
Forward. No. 2r' And No. = went
forward like the wind. A little later,
with hair singed and hands and faces
blistered, the men. cheered by thou
sands of OShkoshians, were doing 1lne
service in checking the fire.
During the next six years the little
lawyer was placed in many far more
difficult positions than that of flying
through smoke and flame on an Osh-
kosh street. / recall several Of them.
He was Lieutenant Colonel of a West
ern regiment the morning of Sept IL,
1862. when McClellan's army, at An
tietam, was awakened by Lees guns.
The second shell exploded in his regi-
ment, killing and wounding fifteen
men, poor Young losing both arms.
Those who have witnessed such a
scene do not need to be told that there
was CONSERVATION and 4 show of de-
moralization in the ranks. The little
lawyers penetrating voice, full of con-
fidence, rang out: STEADY, men of the
Sixth; steady, there, men!' The men
knew that voice. They had heard it in
the rattle, rumble and roar of battle
at Gainesville, Second Bull Run and
South Mountain, and in an instant ev-
cry man was in his place and all ap-
pearance of CONSERVATION and demor-
alization had disappeared. l heard
General John Gibbon, of the regular
army, now retired, who commanded
the brigade at Antietam, say, in speak
ing Of the incident: ut was one of the
! most trying moments of my military
career. l knew that if that regiment
broke it would endanger the whole
brigade line, and when l saw the little
Colonel hold his regiment | felt like
hugging him; but moment later we
nj h,,c mo l-ipr hisfnru n (
will thrill American hearts as long as
there are American hearts to thrill to
think of anything else"
The captain Of No. 2 was Brigadier
General the 18th OF June, 1864. His
brigade led in charge at Petersburg.
| While close to the line with shot, shell,
canister and bullets flying faster than
I n swarm of bees and making million
| times more noise. slIeIi struck n tree
| Just above his head and the shock
| tumbled him from his horse. Many OF
his men saw him fall. There is little
that is more demoralizing in battle
than to see popular leader killed OF
disabled. There were evidences of wa
yering in the line. The little generals
eyes opened very wide, his wits return
ed to him quickly, and, while resting
on his elbows, he gave an aid this or
der: Tell the brigade to hold its posi-
| ton until I order 1t back" Before the
aid reached the line the general was
climbing onto his horse, when he rode
along the line to disprove the report
that he had been killed. That ride was
as good as the reinforcement of g
regiment The little lawyer was Gen
eral Edward S. Bragg, Of Fond du Lac
| Chicago Times-Herald.