The National tribune., 1902-03-20
SERVICE IN THE WEST.
Through the Civil War and Later on tn
Plains.

| fld1nS.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Since the
publication of my letter of Feb. 6, have
received several letters from comrades
have never met, and who have been inter-
ested enough to write asking for further
information about friends and comrades
| of the days long gone by. The following
| letter will undoubtedly prove interesting
| to great many of your readers, all over
the country, and | take pleasure in send
| ing it to yOu.-J. W. \. GILLESPIE, Mid
dletOwn, Ohio.
Dear Comrade: 1 have just been read
ing your interesting article in The Ma
tional Tribune of Feb. 6. l was born
County, 80 years ago this March 4. L
have never known what regiments went
cut from "old Muskingum' and have often
thought l would like to know all about
them.
l enlisted in Co. Z. 1O2d ILL.,, in 1862,
which was mounted infantry during part
of 1868, and brigaded with the 10th Ohio,
temporarily. after which we were dis
mounted and were all the time brigaded
with the 18th Ohio and the 10th Ind,
President Harrison's regiment. He COM
manded our brigade part of the time. My
regiment was i'll the battles of Perryville,
Stone River, Lookout Mountain and all
with Sherman to the sea and through the
Carolinas. Our brigade Ghe First was
commanded, respectively, by Coils. W. L.
Ward, Dustin, Harrison and Frank G.
Smith Our division (the Third was COM
manded by Gen. Daniel Butterfeld, and
our corps (the Twentieth was command
ed by Gems. Hooker, Slocum and Will
liams. On the Atlanta campaign 1 was
on detail in the 9Th Ohio Battery, and Co.
c., 1st Ohio l.. A., and during the siege
of Atlanta was in the siege battery, just
to the left of the railroad. In South Car
olina | was wounded, right hip shattered,
and taken prisoner. In February. 1866.
came to Kansas, and was appointed
Deputy U. S. Marshal and sent TO the
Indian camps of the kiowas and Co
manche Indians. Stayed with them until
June, 1867, then helped TO raise Co. B,
18th Kan. Vcls.. and was appointed Sec
ond Lieutenant of the company; then went
on the Pony Express all the Winter Of
ca and '6S. In May. 1868. was made
Post Scout for Fort Harker: then was
sent as guide to Gen. Forsythc. and was
with him Mt the battle of Arickaree. and
was wounded in the left arm and lung.
In 1868 was made Chief Guide for the
Military Department of the Missouri. In
1859 | was appointed Chief of Scouts,
Guides and Couriers for the same Depart
ment, and held that position until Novem-
Der, 1871, my rank and pay being the
same as that of Colonel of Volunteers.
In fact, | vas then and am yet called
Colonel. While serving in that capacity
was wounded three times. making IN all
six wounds | have received-one during
the rebellion and five by the Indians. l
have bullet in my left lung. enc in my
left leg and enc i'll my right shoulder. Gen.
Phil Sheridan appointed ME Chief OF
Scouts, and while serving on the plains
l was at different times with Gems. Sheri-
ian, Custer, Harvey, Smiley, Carr, PEN
rose. Grierson, HaZen, Sturgis and Scho-
fed. And. by the way, get pension Of
si2 per month for six wounds and nine
years service.-Elijah A. Gilbert. Quar-
termaster. Osawatorie Post, 332. G A.
R., Department of Kansas, Cadmus, Kan.