The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-06-21
THE BATTLE.FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY ExPERIENCEA
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl.
dents Of the Late War. and In .
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.


Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.
Gen Thomas Francis Meagher,"
said the Captain, never liked Gen.
Sherman. Meagher was in command
of the provisional division of the Army
of the Tennessee, after Cruft left us,
some time after the battle of Nashville.
He prided himself on his drilling and
organizing capacity and occasionally
forgot that the provisional division,
taking In men whose regiments had
marched to the sea, was made up large
ly Of re-enlisted veterans who had
served from the beginning Of the war,
but he was full of fight Early in 1865
our division was transferred from
Nashville. Tenn, by rail to the Chesa-
peake and from there to Newbern, n.
c., by water.
1--WE were at or near Kingston, N. c..
on our march toward GOldsbOrO. l re-
member March S, where we had
sharp engagement. The rifle pits or
intrenchments were taken and retaken
seven times that day, but at last we
won. We worked our way toward
Goldsboro. where our division effected
junction with Sherman March %.
Before the arrival of Sherman on the
23d, Meagher peremptOrily resigned,
and the men Of the provisional corps
were sent to their old commands.
The resignation Of Meagher created
great surprise, but Sherman on his ar
rival said quietly that he understood it,
and soon orders were issued for the dis
bandment of the division. One evening
when three or four Of us were at Sher-
mans headquarters a staff officer asked
if 1t was true that Meagher resigned
because he didn't like Sherman. The
General turned at that and said, with
a twinkle in his eye, I know all about
that. 1 know why Meagher resigned
and am reconciled' Then Uncle Billy
explained that in the early summer of
1861 he was In command Of brigade
of four volunteer regiments; Meagher
w do 1ttaShSu ~ SOi lV6i-
ment, the Sixty-ninth New York. The
men of this and other regiments had
enlisted for ninety days, but they were
not formally mustered in until they
reached Washington, month or more
after enlistment.
"Officers and men cOntended that
their term of service expired in ninety
days from date Of enlistment. Cor
coran, at the request of his brigade
submitted the matter in
writing and Sherman referred the
whole question to the War Department.
The Secretary of War decided that I'M
der the law Of Congress the men must
serve ninety days from muster.
Meagher. who had played conspicu-
GUS part in organizing and drilling the
Sixty-ninth, but who was not regular
ly commissioned as regimental or
officer, entered Sherman's
headquarters without regard to mill
tary etiquette, and In his fiery way pro-
ceeded to protest against the injustice
of holding men beyond their term of
enlistment.
sherman, offended by his manner
and speech, asked who he was, and. re-
ceiving the reply that he was an officer
Of the Sixty-ninth, asked what rank he
held. Then. turning, the regular officer
told the volunteer that he was guilty
Of unofficerlike conduct In that he had
made speeches to the men encouraging
a mutinOus spirit, and that If he con-
tinued his course he would be shot.
Meagher, who had been greatly fiat
tered and petted, was astOunded and
attempted reply, when Sherman
waved him off with the remark that as
Meagher was not mustered as officer or
private he could hold no communica-
ton with him. The regiment went into
the battle of Bull Run under Corcoran
and came out under the command of
Capt Kelly. Col. Corcoran and other
officers were captured, and the regi-
ment had thirty-eight men killed and
fifty-nine wounded.
'The Sixty-ninth. with the other reg
ments of Sherman's brigade, was quar-
tered after the battle at Fort CorcOran,
near Washington. One day a New
York lawyer who was acting as an Off
GER of the regiment passed Sherman
and said: 'GOod-by, Colonel, am go
ing home Sherman asked how the
luartermaSter could go home without a
furlough, and said he was sure that
none had been granted. The officer re-
Piled that his term of service was out
and his business was suffering and he
was going home. The men Of the regi-
ment gathered about were taking great
interest in this conversation when Sher-
man turned and said to the officer: You
are guilty of mutinous conduct. I'LL
hear another word from you on that
subject, 1 will have you shot. Go to
your quarters in the fort
"A few days after that President Lin
.oln visited the fort, reviewed the
brigade. and made a little speech to the
men of the Sixty-ninth. At the close
If his address the officer who had been
by Sherman asked the Presi-
lent II he might make statement. |
Sherman knew what was coming. but |
le nodded his head to Mr.. Lincoln, and |
he complaining officer went ON to say
hat the Colonel had threatened to |
shoot him. Lincoln knew nothing OF
he circumstances. but he said: We'll,
f Col. Sherman threatened to shoot you
would be very careful, because l be- !
ieve he will do it, This provoked a
augh and the officer left the crowd."-l
Chicago Inter Ocean.
0uantre11's Wonderful Nerve.
His wonderful self-control saved the |