Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-08-23
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphs Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.

atANAANs NAAts an tue rear ENAAN VI
the Grand Army" exclaimed Marshal
Ney as he fired the last shot at the
Cossacks on the banks of the Berizina.
This melancholy feature of Napoleon's
disastrous Russian campaign was
doubtless recalled by few survivors
of the last battle of the civil war when
they heard of the death Of Gen Egbert
Brown.
When a line of Confederate cavalry
was slowly retiring from the field on
the plains of Brazos Santiago in Texas.
where the blue and the gray had met
In deadly encounter, for the last time
a soldier turned In his saddle and after
repeating the words of the great French
marshal, he threw his gun to his shout
der and fired. 1t proved TO be the last
shot Of the last battle and ii was GER
tainly the last shot of the long war.
fortunately, as a matter favorable 10
the truth of history, the man who
achieved distinction in connection with
this memorable event is a perfectly re-
liable man. His name is $. II. Barton.
lie was captain in the Confederate
army, and he was held in high esteem
by his superiors and dearly loved by
the brave Texans whose dangers and
priyationS he shared on the march and
in the trenches where balls fell like
hail. Promotion sought him many
times after the smoke of battle had
cleared from red field and soldiers
Were talking of his dauntless courage,
but he preferred to serve with the com
radeS of his boyhood
He now lives at Del Rio. in western
Texas. where he owns one of the most
desirable small ranches in the State
and considerable valuable town prop
erty. Everybody knows Capt. Barton,
and those who have known him long
and intimately speak of him in the
highest terms of praise. He has late
~ purchased the Del Rio Record, and
doubtless will some day tell the public
all about the last battle of the war.
There are others still living who can
bear witness to the fact that Capt. Bar
ton fired the last shot at Brazos San
tiagO, and, strangely enough. among
these is an old soldier of the name of
Ney. who claims that he Is a descend
ant of the famous French marshal who
fired the last shot at the Cossacks.
reliable citizen Of Del Rio. in dis
GUESSING this matter, said: Capt Bar
ton is sure that he fred the last shot
at the close of the last battle of the civil
war, and believe him, for he is a per-
fectly truthful man, and he would not
misrepresent a matter of that kind In
the least, not even 10 have his fame
spread over forty pages Of history"
~ The story OF that last battle, which
was fought on the 18th Of May, 1865,
after the war was ended and peace de-
it merits, for it was an affair Of no lit
tie Importance.
Gen. Egbert Brown, who recently
died at West Plains Mo- was in com
mand of the Federal troops in southern
Texas, and he was doubtless well in
formed concerning the termination of
hostilities. Gen. j. Il. Slaughter. who
commanded the Confederate troops en-
camped at Rrazos Santiago, had heard
rumors of the surrender of the armies
commanded by Lee. Johnston and other
generals, but he had received no Off
cial notice Of these facts from the war
department. Gen. Brown, under n
flag Of truce, informed the Coufeder-
a MS Of hn CT gf a. "a fVse 81.
Washington and Richmond, at the
same time inviting them to come in
and lay down their arms, as the war
was certainly over.
Gen. Slaughter refused to act in an
affair of such Importance until he was
better Informed. Thereupon Col Bar
ret at the head Of considerable force.
was despatched to break up the rebel
camp. A hot battle ensucd and, curl
ously enough. most Of the fighting was
done on the old field Of Palo Alto,
where Gen. Taylor achieved victory
over the Mexicans nearly twenty years
before. The French soldiers encamped
on the southern shore Of the Rio
- AfihhF WIZ III - illlhkIe VIII ilit
Southerners and they Kept Gen. Slaugh-
ter and Col. Rip Ford posted as 10 the
movements of the Federal troops Soy
eral spirited encounters occurred and
the loss sustained by some Of the negro
regiments must have been severe
While the battle ragged the Confeder.
ates We're frequently Informed 10y some
bold eavalryman in blue that the war
was over. One daring fellow shouted:
Lee surrendered a month ago. The
war is ended. Why don't you 20 homer" |
When the engagement was hottest
Gen. Slaughter received dispatches and |
the French sent him a bundle Of news |
papers. Fully satisfied that the cause
for which they were fighting was for |
ever lost. he ordered the firing to cease. |
At that particular moment neither side I
could have claimed any advantage over !
the other. but both armies began to re- !
tire from the field al the same time.
As Capt $. II. Barton in command Of !
the rear guard. was slowly riding away |