The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-09
BLACKS WAR RECORD.
The Services Of the New Grand
Army Commander.
now he FoUaHTAT PRAIRIE GROVE

HOWL he FOUGHTAT PRAIRIE GROVE
I'm Exhibition OF Heroism Which
Endears Him to the Veterans of
the Civil War, Who Now Confer
Their Highest Honor Upon Him.
General BLACK In Civil Life.
General John c. Black, who has been
chosen commander of the Grand Army
OF the Republic, was a student in Wa
bash Qnd.) college when the civil war
began and upon the opening of HOSTILE
ties enlisted as a private in the Nom
uomery guards, Which was mustered
into service as Company l of the Elev-
enth Indiana zouaves, commanded by
Lew Wallace. This regiment served
three months in West Virginia and the
Shenandoah valley. Returning home
at the expiration Of the term OF his
enlistment. he recruited a company for
the Thirty-seventh Illinois regiment OF
volunteers, Of which regiment he be-
came major. He was promoted for dls-
ttrguished services successfully to lieu
tenant colonel, colonel and brevet brig
adler general of United States volun
teers. General Black was twice ser1-
ously wounded and has almost wholly
lost the use of his left arm.
General Blacks most conspicuous
service was at Prairie Grove in 1862,
- It'll, C11o,o1 AfnNp11fa In 0nnl-
mand Of an Illinois regiment, he was
commanded to take a strong position
held by the enemy. Black was then a
captain, but in the absence of the colo
mel he was in command Of the reg1-
ment. Both he ard McNulta knew that
the order meant business. They got
their men into shape and started on the
perilous march into the face of death,
says a veteran who was in the engage
ment.
They began to see the signs Of the
enemy at the end Of the third day.
They were still forty miles from the
scene Of the probable fight. The men
were spurred on to exertions which
seem almost superhuman. They plod-
ded for twenty-four straight hours.
with only two hours for sleep on the
open ground. Their only food was COT
fee. They walked thirty miles at the
last stretch, part of the time at double
Quick. The enemy met them on the
way, and at daylight, two miles from
Prairie Grove, the first firing started.
There were many dead soldiers left at
the roadside. The column forged ahead
its legs weary, it's eyes wild from loss
Of sleep, and its life all gone save the
life which comes under extraordinary
excitement. Black held the center OF
the line. The. commander sent word
for him to march straight ahead, to
take the top of the hill and to hold 1t.
This sent his regiment into the very
front-intO the middle of the enemy >
range Of guns. There was an indiana.
regiment on one side. Colonel McNui-
ta's was on the other. 1t was a me. I
perilous sally-one of the most fright-
fully murderous undertakings of all the
war.
The line moved up the hill. 1t was
met at the brow by a force which out
numbered it five to one. The Confeder-
ates came from the woods in swarms,
beating down upon the Union forces
with fearful effect. The Indiana men
held. their ground until the Confeder-
ates came so close that the explosion
Of the rifles spattered the uniforms
with powder stains. The Confederate
commander sent his host pellmell into
the lone regiment at Blacks left. Tie
men in gray began to beat the India14-
ians down the hillside. 1t was create.
odds than the best Of bravery could
meet, and tie Union soldiers retreated.
Colonel Black had the command next
in the line Of battle. He was on the
crest of the hill with his regiment. The
rebels came at him as they came at
the Indiana men. They might as we'll
have come against a stone wall. The
commander, with his long hair in the
wind and his voice ringing clear and
their work. He had few words. They
were to the point, and they simply adj
vised the men to stick close to the
ground and shoot mighty low. He
alone was the target for the thousands
on the other side. One ball brought
his horse to it's knees. The men brought
him another. Another ball tore through
his left arm 1t fell limp. He picked
it up with his other hand and hung II
in the front of his coat. The blood
was streaming from the little hole, but
there was no time for bandage OF
thought of pain.
At the close of the war Genera
Black located at Danville, Ill.,, where
he studied law and was admitted tt
the bar. He never held political Office
until he was appointed COMMISSIONS
of pensions, though he twice ran fol
congress, once for lieutenant governor
of the state and in 1878 received tn,
vote of his party in the legislature 70