The National tribune., 1901-07-25
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Captured at Bull Run, July 21, 1851, Com
rade Wells Was for s1s Days Prisoner of
War

War.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Sunday
July q, just 40 years ago, occurred the
never-to-be-forgotten battle of Bull Run
L was at that time one of the greeneSt
soldiers that ever went into battle. hav-
ing enlisted at Albion, n. Y. just Il days
before, in Co. X, 9th n. Y. The
regiment was then commanded by Col
afterwards Major-G -GeneraD Henry w
Slocum. Our Major was Joseph j. Bart
lett, who four years laters as Brevet Ma,
Jor-General, was the officer designated to
receive the arms of Lees army at Ap-
pomattoX
Together with more than 200 recruits
| was mustered into the United States
service at Washington, July 10, and on the
10th received my equipment. which the
powers that We're" considered amply suf-
hclent to transfer me from the plow-bOy
to the soldier. My entire outfit consist
ed of Harper's Ferry musket and equip
ments, haversack and cantcen, while |
was amply uniformed when clad in New
\ ork State jacket. Other clothing, ban-
ket or tent, was superfluous.
Thus equipped We left Washington on
the 10Th or 18th of July, under charge
OF the Lieutenant Colonel, crossing the
Long Bridge and taking possession of
some tents left standing on Arlington
flights.
1t was a pretty tough initiation for a
farmers boy that had always had plenty
to eat end good place to sleep. When
| lay down that night in the dust. with
out blanket and only my cartridgebo box
for pillow, practically suppcrIess, for
| had only warm water and the hardest
of hardtack, which my stomach did not
yet crave. L ttihk l was rather home
sick.
The next day we followed after the
regiment, and finally joined it near Cen
terville, when we heard the booming of
cannon and knew for certain that we
had arrived at the seat of war"
Here | saw the first and only fogging
| ever witnessed. the victim being one of
the Regulars. 1t was anything but a
pleasant sight, and made 4 lasting i'm
preston.
Long before day on the 21st we were
aroused and ordered into line. We did
not move very promptly, and to my un-
initiated mind it was incomprehensible.
Later we would have known enough to
have made coffee, but not then That
was n trick to be learned by experience
Such preparation would have been OF
inestimable value to us before taking the
long march to the battlefield.
Official designations placed US in the
Second Division CHunter's) and First
knew of brigades or divisions. We
marched a long time through the woods,
using an old abandoned road. We crossed
the run and there l saw the first une1-
ploded shell or solid shot as it rolled
across our front. a moment later as we
marched in column of fours upon the field
poor Mckenzie, who enlisted with me,
was cut down. the first offering of the
regiment. He had served through the
Mexican war, and we counted on him for
help and instruction.
So far as | am able to place il, the
9th made its attack, being the extreme
right of the army, beyond the Henry
House, and in the valley to the left OF
Youngs Branch The colors of the en-
emy were furled until we came in short
range, and until they flung them to the
breeze we did not know whether they
were friends or foes.
The published reports give 40 killed
and wounded for the regiment, and yet
they are not correct, for they give no Of
licers killed, while as distinct as though
it were but yesterday is the white up
turned face of Lieut.. Park, who fell at
the first volley.
Serg't Eddy, of Co. X, received
wound as the regiment retired, Just as
they entered the woods at the edge of the
Henry House plateau, and he begged me
to help him. Had We been old cam
paigners such request would not have
been made, because he would have Known
that his wound was mortal and that the
most that | could do for him would be
10 leave him water.
A Surgeon of the I'd Wis. directed me
low to dress his wound, and l went back
10 the Henry House and got roll of
and a canteen of good water.
Poor Eddy perished where l left him, for
halfway back the cavalry picked me up.
The Surgeon who hadn't time to fix Ed
lys wound took time few days later
o prescribe for my malarial condition at
l wonder how many of the old prison
comrades yet live. l can recall some Of
he names OF my own and other. regi- |
nents. There were Davis, Dunn, Fair
.hild Welsh (who caught the canister in |
lis MOUTH, Tibbets (killed by the guard |
It Richmond, Sept. 2D, Agard, Jewett |
md the Nudge boys; there was Ward, |
he Ohio boy, who with others walked out |
n the brOadday light while we watched. |
How Wirz First Sergeant them cursed |
When he found the count short. And then, |
90, there were Capt. DeGolyer and Lieut.. |
'reston, of Michigan, and host more of |
'fficers, with Congressman Ely and an
ther thrown in for company.
We thought it pretty tough in Rich |
nond, so we welcomed the change when |
100 of us were counted off to go to New |
orleans. What trip that was. lasting |
o days, including a nights lodging at
steamboat ride to Mobile, |
mother night in cotton-gin, and then
n to the great city, where we were es-
orted to the Parish Prison, fine band
receding us, and for one of its selections
laying the Marseiles Hymn.
We didn't mind the march, but how
liserably it ended when we were thrust
nto cells and convicts placed over US!
Icre we spent a weary four months, a
ell 1Ox16 being deemed ample for 16
'ankee soldiers.
L wonder how many of the 16 of cell
20. 8, on the second floor, are still alive.
an, 3Sth n. Y, who died a slave to his
ppetite at Camp Parole, Annapolis, and
i'm Imeson, of the LIST Mimi, killed
aw years ago in a railroad accident.
harley Hubbs is living in California,
ut what has become of Josh - and
lie two Connecticut sailors of BlisS's
ith Brooklyn; of McCabe, of Ohio, and
lie others, whom / cannot now recall?
What a treat it was to go to the
ceum in the bigger cell at the end of
lie corridor and hear the scholarly pro-
lctions of Bates, Scott and others! Alas,
loaned the collection and lost it.
Here, too, / remember, we had the
yarthy jailor who occasionally visited
) in the yard, wearing his long black
coat. / can in fancy see him J
aving us on the doublequick with coat
ills flying the day the Yanks put fine
ell-developed grayback on the aforesaid V
'at and called his attention to it.
Of pOurSa hnnpI 70 ha |