Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-10-23
A BOY IN BATTLE.
Old Soldier Relates His Impressions
when Youth of Thirteen
in the Union Army.


IL was only 13 years and three
months old when fought in the battle
of Chickamauga, but l have not for
gotten my experiences of that great
event in the history of the country"
said John G. White who served for
20 years as a soldier and only recently
left the Sixteenth United States infan-
try, to a Chicago Inter-Ocean man.
"On the afternoon preceding the bat
tle," Mr. White continued, "our regi-
ment, with the other regiments COM
posing the Regular Bridge, Rousseau's
division, Fourteenth corps. was about
Is miles from Chattanooga. In the
evening there was light rainfall. 1t
was chilly. but we could have no fires.
Soon after sundown we began our
march. 1t was a deathly quiet march,
only the sound of the tramping break
ing the silence. At morning we reached
Crawfish Springs, but did not stop long.
We stopped at the Widow Glenn's
house long enough to make coffee, and
then, tired, our feet blistered and hun
cry, we went on. Something-hunger
or pain-told me to break ranks and
seek tree, but duty and fear kept me
in line.
THE regiment hadn't gone far when
was ordered to report to Maj Cool
idge. | knew what was in store for
me. 1 went to him. He took me to the
side of the road. took from his pocket
letter, and told me to give it to Lieut..
Hotsinkellar, the officer in charge of
the wagon train.
LAS he had repeatedly done this
since leaving Murfreesboro, I thought
1t to be trick to get me out of dan
ger, for was but a mere lad. start
ed away with the letter. but I did not
go toward the wagon train. I turned
into the woods and afterward found
my way back to the rear of my regi-
ment. We halted at Jays Mill, but
were soon ordered into a field densely
covered with fine underbrush. We had
not gone more than 500 feet when we
were greeted with terrific volley, and
this was followed by hard firing into
both flanks. We had been ambushed
and more than two-thirds of our regi-
ment were killed, wounded or captured.
Our commander, Major Coolidge, who
had told me to go to the rear, was
killed at the first firing.
81 was within the enemy's lines, but
did not know it. Crawling along with
the others, managed to reach the
slowly retreating column. felt home
sick The bullets flew over and around
me, but at the sight of the division
drawn up took courage. and You
as l was called by the soldiers, was
himself again.
"Our division, and Brannan's, too,
soon saw the fight was on. Forests
cavalry, with Wilson and Ector's bril-
gade, made a desperate assault upon
the two divisions. but we're repulsed.
Again and again the enemy strove to
dislodge us, but in each instance failed.
All day Rousseau's and Brannan's di-
visions, the former commanded by
Gen. Baird, held their positions. Never
shall l forget that day of shot and
shell.
81 had been schooled in the horrors Of
war and in its terrible earnestness. and
was not altogether boyish, for dis
cipline natures one hurriedly, but the
long-continued fighting, running into
the night, with its scenes of death and
suffering, made me feel woefully desc
| late. A sickening sensation all but