Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-10-04
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-

Yes. / met Bob Lincoln in the
army" said the Seventh Michigan
Lieutenant. 1T was at Gravelly Run.
Virginia, just before Five Forks. and
Bob was very busy. but he had sopre-
thing wanted. and pursued him I'M
til l got II. l was at that time on
General Bakers staff. and Lincoln
was on Grants staff. AS Captain Lin
coin passed our brigade on his way to
lead battery on our right into posi-
tion, l asked General Bakers permits
sion to follow and renew what | refer
red to as an acquaintance with the
Presidents son.
Il did not overtake the Captain un-
I'll after he had reached the battery
and was among the boys, who were
working the guns with precision and
coolness. 1t was no time for CONVEX
sation, but l saluted, reminded him
that had met him the previous sum
mer. and said that | was crazy for
cigar. Lincoln handed me his cigar
case and insisted that rs | was hungry
~ "a SUNNY L AlhC WV NlSuIS. Niu
so and left him. saying that the next
time / met him would repay ten fold.
Years later l redeemed my pledge
here in Chicago. One evening l went
down to the dock to take the boat for
Racine. After l was I'm line to secure
my ticket for a stateroom l noticed
Robert Lincoln in line behind me.
had not seen him since the day at
Gravelly Run. and he did not recognize
me or even look at me. | secured IA
stateroOm, but Lincoln was shut out.
! asked him to share my room, and he
said he would be glad to do it. While
be was storing away his baggage |
stepped ashore and seeking a friend Sc
cured a package of the best cigars In
the market.
After the boat started | introduced
myself and related the battery incl
dent Mr.. Lincoln said he remembered
all the circumstances. Explaining that
be gave me on that day at Gravelly
Run the sweetest smoke of my life. |
reminded him Of my promise to repay
NAAcAA anu BlNS'liAtd Ailt uOA OI tl-
CARS. He accepted with smile and
said at once, We will smoke them to-
gether. We sat late into the night re-
counting incidents at Five Forks and
experiences from there 10 Appomat-
tox."
Lincoln" said the Captain. was at
that time very bOyish in appearance.
and very quiet. He was favorite with
Sheridan, as well as with Grant. and
when Sheridan was Lieutenant Gener-
al commanding the army and Bob Lin
coin was Secretary of War / often
wondered IL either thought of the old
tsraos in 1865. Among the stories told
Of Sheridan while he was commanding
the army was one relating to General
Rosser of the Confederate service.
Sheridan had planned trip up the
Shenandoah valley, and Rosser pub
lished a letter advising the people to
turn the cold shoulder to the man who
had devastated their country.
Lincoln resented this, but Sheridan
laughed at it. He said he didn't blame
'Noof7NA WI AttiiiiS bltNFtlN, bul ne
doubted his influence in the Shenan-
loah country. Explaining, he said that
on one occasion ROsser was acting as
rear guard to Early's forces and was
handling his division very well. when
Sheridan ordered his advance division
to strike between Early and Rosser,
cut the latter off from the main Con
federate force, and sweep him off the
face of the earth.
Sheridan sent the attacking column
In himself, and reported in great glee
that his men had scattered Rosser's
force over the face of the valley. Be
fore that Rosser's men had worn sprigs
Of laurel in their hats. but after their
rout the farmers suggested that they
wear pumpkin vines. This. Sheridan
said. was pretty severe on Rosser and
his men, and he didn't blame them for
feeling sore. They lost their rcputa-
ton and their rations."
speaking of losing rations," said the
Colonel, there was a case at Kene-
saw that took the cake. The men were
a. SaAAS NV way 1htlOAiN III ilU yer
sacks, which was "A pretty heavy load
for a man in action. While we were
in line Reuben Whitman Of the Fifty
first Ohio took his haycrsack off and
hung ii on high sapling stump near
him. The enemy was bombardlng us
with solid shot and shell and when
ever our lookout would shout down
every head would 20 below the earth
works.
Whitman was just IN the act of
Rowling down behind the breastworks
when cannot ball struck his haver-
sack and scattered the contents to the
winds. Remarking that lightning new
or struck twice IN the same place
Whitman stood up 10 SEQ where his
five days ratlons would he deposited.
But they were simply carried away
and we could not find a piece Of crack
or or shred Of the hayersack. We
clipped in and made good his loss, but
Whitman was not cousolcd. He want
ed his haversack and his own rations."
Chicago Inter ocean.