The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-07-03
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
A MILLIONAIRE PRIVATE.

William Il. Keyser, Corporal, Co. f,
18th Conn.,, Newark. n. j., writes: IL
noticed in The National Tribune some
weeks ago n statement from II 55th Ohio
comrade to the effect that Elias Howe, jr.,
was a private in New York regiment
The comrade is mistaken; the 5Jth Ohio
was in our brigade, Eleventh Corps,
Army of the Potomac. and the cOmrade
could see Comrade Howe any day at
Brooks Station, Va, when i'll Winter
quarters at that place. At the time the
18th Conn. was in Bridgeport it was
hard work 20 fill up the companies. Ev-
cry one was saying that no one was go
ing except poor men. There was a war
meeting in Bridgeport, and Comrade
Howe was one of the speakers. At that
moment when Mr.. Howe had avowed his
determination to enlist. his coachman had
entered the building to witness the pro-
ccedingS. He was warm-hearted Irish
man named Michael Cahill, past the age
of military service. Upon hearing his
employers speech, he rushed forward and
clambering upon the platform. he cried.
Put my name down, too: | can't bear to
have the old man go aloncn So down
went the name of Michael Cahill next to
Elias Howe. For four months after the
18th Conn. entered the field the Govern
ment was so pressed for money that no
payments TO the troops could be made.
One day a private soldier came quietly
to the Paymasters office in Washingto
and as there were several officers there
he took his seat i'll n corner TO wait his
turn. When the officers had been dis
posed of, Col. Walker turned to him and
said: Now, my man, what can | do for
you? 1 have called said the soldier,
to see about the payment of the nth
Conn The Paymaster told him that Il
Paymaster could do nothing and until
the Government could furnish money it
was useless for soldiers to come botherin2
him about the pay of their regiment. 4
have called to find out how much money
1t will take to pay my regiment for two
months. If yOu will tell me, am ready
to furnish the amount The officer star
name of the soldier, who was no other
than Elias Howe. Col. Walker found
that the sum required was S31 900. Howe
wrote a draft for the sum and received
in return a memorandum certifying the
advance and promising reimbursement
when the Government could furnish the
money. Three days after, at Fairfax Court
House, the regiment was paid. When
Comrade Howe's name was called he
went up to the Paymastcr, received $3.50
of his own money and signed receipt.
Private Elias Howe, jr' After render
ing service which a man in his physical
condition could render, he reluctantly
asked for his discharge and returned
home. He used to say to the comrades:
I've got to leave you, boys. I'm no use
here; but, never mind, when your time is
out, come to me in Bridgeport. I'm build
ing large sewing-machine factory there
and shall have plenty of work for those
who want it. Many of the comrades took
him at his word, and until his death were
at work under him in various capacities"
GETTYSBURG.
f. III. Ditzler, Co. f, Sth Ill. Cav,
Hinsdale, ILL.,, replying to the Cannoneer's
relative TO the positions of the First and
Second Brigades, says: If Comrade
Buell. did not get the positions transposed,
there must be two sets Of historically cor
rect maps. In July, 1887, | tramped over
the battlefield of Gettysburg, and at that
time purchased one of Col. Bachelors
maps, the same being certified to by Gen.
Meade and all his corps Generals, as to
its accuracy and delineation of the posi-
tons of the troops on July 1, and 3.
This map shows the position of the First
Brigade Gen. GAMBLE, Sth n. Y, Oh the
left and just east of a piece of timber;
Sth III. to right, extending to Cashtown.
road, near location where Gen. Reynolds
was killed (some of our boys saw him
when shot; 18th ILL.,, between Cashtown
head and the railroad cut; Sd Ind. to the
right and north of the cut. Second Bri
gade Gen. Devin), to the right of First
\. Y. on the left; 9th \. Y.
in center. crossing the Johannesburg road,
and the 18th Pa. on the right. In falling
back from the skirmish line / and a few
more of our company got to the right, or
north, of the railroad cut, and retreated
with the Sd Ind, finally joining our regi-
nent on the left of the First Corps, which
occupied the position held by the First
Brigade earlier in the engagement Aside
from the few skrmishers no Sth Ill. Cav,
as n regiment or part of regiment. was on
north side of railroad cut at any time. l
10 not believe l har~ occasion to fight it
out with the Mixed Commission or Me-
mortal Association as long as | have as
good authority as General commanding the
army as to location of the various com
nandS. As to the first shot, whoever fired
t, we all agree that it was the prelude to
he final drama ending at Appomattox."
A PRISONER OF WAR.
Samuel c. Burwell, Co. 1, 122d Ohio,
Judsonia, Ark, writes: Il enlisted Aug
10, 1862, at GAINESVILLE, Ohio. l was just
IL years, 1 month and days old when
mustered into the United States service
was the smallest boy in the regiment,
md the mastering officer would take me
,nly as a drummer. The fight at Win
hester began June II, 1868. | was taken
prisoner the following Monday. and was
leld prisoner in the fort until the fol-
owing Thursday morning without anything
o eat Thursday morning each prisoner
vas given a tin cupful of -four. We start
ID fire to cook our food. but the rebels
us to put out the fire, and we
lad to eat the -four after mixing it with
| little water. That day we started for
StauntOn, Va, and after five days reached
hat place. We received very little to eat
N route. At Staunton we were placed in
,oX ears, and after many hardShips
cached Richmond, where we were placed
IN the third floor of Libby Prison. We
cmained there three days, when we We're
aiken to Belle Isle. / was the last of
\iilroy's boys to be exchanged. When /
arrived ut Annapolis, Md, | weighed only
> pounds; when l was captured l weighed
20"
81 AND SHORTY.
]. w. Griswold Co. G., 44th N. Y, r.
:. D., Scottville, Mich, writes: II was
pleased to notice in The National Tribune
# June II that Comrade Van Epps pro-
,oses shaking hands with A. Baker, of
he 44th Va. Comrade Van Epps ex-
presses my sentiments exactly. We fought
no 70 n kar /. ho I,J.