Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-11-08
THE FIELD OFBATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
1SlE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell Of
Whist1ing Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles,
Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.

Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles,
Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.
"They are going to build monument
to General William Fl. Gibson in Ohio, !"
said the Major. land 1t ought to be q
big one. / remember Gibson before the
war, when he ranked as the most elo-
quent man in the new Republican par
ty. My boys heart went out to him
when he was dismissed from the State
Treasurer's office because of the defal-
cation of another man. There were
lot of us youngsters who grieved
over the enforced silence Of Gibson in
the campaign of 1860, and who rejoiced
when the cloud lifted from his person
atty in 1861.
when Gibson announced that he
would raise a regiment for the Union
service over 400 men in his county
came to him. His fervid, picturesque
oratory was heard again in central
Ohio, and over TOO Ohio born men
served in his regiment. The Forty
ninth Ohio, under Gibson, was the first
fully organized Union regiment to enter
Kentucky, and the survivors of the reg
iment remember with a thrill the en-
thusiastic reception at Louisville
"There were speeches by men of the
South, who could speak well, but not
one could speak as did Colonel Bill
Gibson on that day. He was revela-
ton to the Kentuckians, and he was
the pride of his own men, who cheered
themselves hoarse over his triumph as
an orator. The Forty ninth was a
fighting regiment, and, re-enlisting
the men served under their eloquent
Colonel until November, 1865, doing
duty in the last month under Sheridan
in Texas.
when Gibson returned to his old
home in Tiffin there was no cloud on
his name, but he was inclined TO keep
out of the political field. l heard him
for the first time after the war at
night session of the Ohio Agricultural
convention in the Senate chamber of
the capitol. The main question before
the convention was the permanent To-
cation of the State fair at Columbus,
and we who were In favor of the propo-
sition felt sure we had won the day.
There had been long, stormy debate,
with strong speakers on our side, when,
just before midnight, we demanded a
vote.
"Just then a member of the State
Board of Agriculture entered the room
nd
that the General be permitted to say
few words in the interest of Seneca
County. There were loud protests, but
an old soldier cried Shame on you!
When General Gibson speaks Ohio lis
tens l joined in the call for the Gen
eral, although l knew that if he spoke
we were beaten. Many Of the lights in
the large, high-ceilinged room had been
turned out and the General stepped for
ward in the circle of light from the cen
trail chandelier.
'He knew the convention was against
him, and for minute he seemed to hes
itate. Then he began to speak in his
old way, and in ten minutes the crowd
was with him and our cause was lost.
I did not care. 1t was like the taking Of
wine to hear Gibson's voice. He ap-
pealed to us in the name of the country
people, saying among other things
Men! Think of it! What are you pro-
posing to do? Ignore the wishes Of
those who make the fair and consult the
convenience of those who profit by it's
location?'
''At the close of his short address he
put on his overcOat and started out. We
voted against permanent location and
surrounded Gibson. Later | heard him
at many political meetings. In the first
Mckinley campaign In Ohio l heard
where men of all parties gathered to
greet him. He began to talk to them in
a neighborly way and worked along IN
til he was speaking after the manner of
an exhorter urging men to save their
souls.
"He knew his men and he was after
the Democrats in his audience. He could
talk as rapidly as Ingersoll or as delib-
erately as Conkllng And in this speech
he talked rapidly and deliberately by
turns, frequently asking the Democrat
Ic soldiers how they could vote the Dem
ocratic ticket when they thought Of
1861 and 1864.
Turning to a group of old Wings, he
said: Boys how can you bear to think
Of Old Tippecanoe and Tom Corwin and
Henry Clay and vote against Major Nc
Kinley? You can't, boys, because l can
remember when you were sick for a
week because the locOs defeated Clay.
Think of that. Remember how sick
you were, how you loved the man who
stood for what Mckinley stands for
now And at the close of the meeting
the rheumatic and stubborn old Wings
promised their old friend, General Bill
Gibson, they would vote for Mckinley"
Chicago Inter Ocean.
A Lucky Inspiration.
'It was at Cedar creek, Virginia, that
circumstance happened to comrade
and myself which goes to prove that