Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-09-19

early in the war, and the engineer
corps was not well organized Many
expedients We're suggested and some
of them were tried. but all failed The
general spoke in complaining way
10 Col Turchin of the Nineteenth Illi-
nois of the helnlessness of an army
that ought TO have men VINO could
meet such an emergency. Turchin said
that he had the man. and sent Curtis
to the general. The plans We're ex-
planned, the difficulty of the undertake
ing was discussed. the general remark
ing that If he could get rope across
the river, securely fastened to the only
tree accessible. the prohlom would be
solved. He asked Curtis II he thought
he could get rope across to that tree.
Curtis went mp the rive, threw a
piece of wood into the water, watched
il in Its course down stream 10 get an
idea of the drift of the current, then
took a boat and by skillful use of the
oars aud by taking advantage of the
current he landed at the right place,
mao, the rope secure around the tree,
and the engineers completed the work.
This adventure, 1t must be remember
err required courage as we'll as
strength. skill and resourcefulness. but
the boys of the Nineteenth Illinois
were from the first called on for the
most perilous duty. There are many
of them in Chicago who can stify
that there was no fiinching.
In another case where a battery was
stuck in the mud and was in danger
of capture, Curtis went to the rescue,
and by the exercise of strength ana
skill literally lifted one of the guns out
of the mud, and by example secured
the safety of all Strong men We're
not always successful in such Gnder-
| takings / remember THAI at Stone
River, when Negley's div sion was
| compelled to retire before the charging
| column of Confederates, that the guns
| of one of the batteries We're abandon
| ed among the cedars. 4 stalwart cap
tain commanding a German company
! in another division passing the aban-
doned guns stopped and insisted that
| they should be saved.
.ITis men moving as a part Of the
regiment in line did not heed their cap
! tain's appeal TO save the guns. posi-
| bly, did not hear it. AT all events the
captain found himself with one man
Juggling and pulling to get the guns
| into the road. But the carriages were
/ so tightly wedged between the trees
! that thfs was a very difficult under
| taking. The captain was very strong
! himself. and the man witt. him was a
stalwart, and as they worked they be-
came more tenacious and more inter-
ested. The result was that before they
fairly realized what was taking place
! they We're surrounded by Confederates
who had beer watching them for some
minutes in wonder.
THE captain and his athletic friend
We're sent to Libby prison. After sew
eral months they returned to the regi.
| ment to be received with great enthu.
siasm. One of the first men to greet
the captain shook his hand looked
around inquiringly, and asked. Where
is the cannon. CapY At this there was
| roar and the captain. flushing. said
| I was a big fool that time. But In
the old country l was taught never tC
leave the guns If ten men strong Like
myself had come with me, we would
have saved every cannon" "-ChicagC
| Inter Ocean