The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-07-17
Doth o. V. l.
A Tribute to a Fallen Comrade.
[Stoutsville News.l

gan, w., August IL, 1852, at the
age of 10, under Capt. George
Angle, in Co. E. Goth o. V. l., for
three years or during the war. He
was a model soldier and was never
known to shirk any duty in camp,
on the march, or in battle, but was
always ready to perform his part
at all times. He was of a genial
and pleasant disposition, and al
ways had good word for his COM
rades and tried to make them feel
bright under all circumstances,
even in the midst of the carnage of
battle when his comrades were
falling on all sides of him. have
marched by his side when his
comrades were in great distress
and were about to fall by the way,
when he would encourage them by
telling them some story that caused
them to forget their pain and
weariness and laugh and plod on.
On the march from Columbia to
Franklin, Tenn, when Hoods
army was following in our rear,
we were compelled to march all
night, and remember some of the
boys were very much discouraged
and were wishing the war was
over. Then Joe told the boys to
hold out until we reached Nash
vile, and we would give Hoods
army back-set that would be the
end of it. But, little did he think
that what he was saying would
come true after his death.
At the battle of Nashville, the
army under Old Pap Thomas, "The
Rock of Chickamauga," gave
Hoods army such terrible thrash
ing that they scattered to the four
winds and returned to their homes.
as their army was completely de-
stroyed.
But my Comrade, Josiah Luker,
was not permitted to see the result
of the battle as he had answered
the last roll call several days be-
fore the battle. On the 11th of
Dec. 1854, he was on the skirmish
line in front of our camp when the
rebels charged our line and drove
them back quite distance, and
while our skirmish line was falling
back, Joe stopped behind stump
to give them another shot. He
laid his gun across the top of the
stump for rest and gave them
shot. and as he arose he received a
bullet through his bowels and fell.
But as our boys received rem Gorce-
ments they turned on the rebels
and drove them back and recover
ed our wounded comrade and
brought him into camp. He was
messmate of Sylvester j. Smith,
at the time, and was carried to his
tent and laid in his bunk, and the
surgeon called. l was present
when the surgeon arrived and
heard what was said, and saw
what was done, and as the surgeon
opened his clothes to examine the
we could see his bowels
slipping out through the wound.
The comrade could not see the
wound as he was too weak to raise
his head and therefore did not
know his condition. He asked the
surgeon if he thought it was SER
Gus, and the surgeon told him that |
le feared it was. He soon became
90 weak to talk. The ambulance |
vas called and he was removed to
he hospital in Nashville, where he
lied that night. He is buried in
he National Cemetery at Nash
lille, Tenn.
The comrades of his company
missed him very much as he was
veil liked by all, and it seemed
lard that we should lose him when
he war was so near over. He was
brave and gallant soldier and
'assed through all of the battles in
which the regiment was engaged.
His messmate, Sylvester j.
'mith, was killed five days later in