The National tribune., 1903-07-23
News From Winners.

Comrade r. J. Pickett. winner, Pana,
H., reports as follows: BON 1888. in
Clinton CO.. ILL.,. and reared in the back
woods. August, 1861, l was mustered III
Co. II, list Ill. Our first fight was Fort
Donelson, then Pittsburg Landing, or Shit
loh. 1 was in all the campaigns and fights
the regiment was IN. including siege OF
Corinth and Vicksburs.
In July we left Vicksburg, Miss, FOR
Jackson. There is where we ran up
against what Gen. Sherman calls war.
On Sunday morning, July j., 1865. for
some cause or other, our brigade under
took to put down the rebellion all by itself
Some of them got back to the Union lines.
j did not. l was wounded in the left side
with fragments of Il bursting shell, also
through the middle of the right arm with
an ounce ball. / was gobbled up by the
rebels. who promptly relieved me of SOL.
oil / had, and sent me to Dick Turner's S
Hotel, at Richmond, Va, where l was
Quartered over night and then sent over to
BoisseaU's Paradise on Belle Isle. where
] was kept till Oct. l. 1868. After my
first term was out l enlisted in Co. l, 14th
ILL.,, where l served as Second Llentenant Ial
from March IA to Sept. 16. 1860. In 1871
/ applied for pension. Nine years later
was put on the rolls at 50 per month.
From time to time | have had small IN
crease till now l get $24 per month. Some
years ago, not knowing the sentiments OF
congress. L SOC bul
guess | would have done the same thing.
even if l had known that Congress did
not approve of old soldiers marrying
again."
Comrade Peter J. Wekland, Lanesboro.
Mimi, winner, reports as follows: Born
in Sweden. 1913. Went to sea early in
life. Landed in New York. October, 1864.
at the time the Fort Fisher expedition
was being fitted out. Joined the United
States Navy October, 1864, as able sea-
man, shipping on the Frigate Wabash at
Hampton Roads. Was in the first and
second attack on Fort Fisher. Went
TO Boston. where the Wabash went
out of commission. Was in the Chelsea
Navy Hospital and was DISCHARGED for
disability in July, 60. Then | followed
the Atlantic as Il seaman until 1870 when
l went to Chicago and sailed the lakes for
eight seasons. Married in 1913. and in
1878 went to South Dakota, on q farm,
near Brookings. The hot winds and
droutls used up my farm crops until, in
1894. | moved TO my present home, where
peace and plenty have made our hearts
glad. Amongst the veterans of tie war
we talk of the campaigns and the men
that are passed away. and we talk of the
greatness of our country now and yet to
be-"
Comrade Ebcn B. Stanwood reports as
follows: Born in West Newbury. Mass,
1882, of Poor but honest parents My
mother was PcOre of the family of the
late Maj. Ben Perley PoOrel. | was one
of the original members of Mai. POore's
known as the Sayagesl. which became the
nucleus of the Mass. Fighting 18th
/ was also for several years Il member of
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com
pany of Boston. so that | early imbibed
a taste for military duty, and when the
rebellion broke out l was charged chock
full.
'As a member of the Board of Selectmcn
in 1861. it became my duty to assist in
filling the different quotas called for in
that year. and as | WAS the only one on
the Board having any knowledge of mill
tary business. it devOlved upon me to at
tend to that part. and l had prominent
part i'll placing in the army nearly all the
men going from this town during the first
year OF the war.
This duty was not particularly pleas
ing to me, as l felt that every man whom
! asked to enlist, was asking himself the
question Why. | did not go myself!' and
with very good reason. i was ablebodied
and inst in the prime of life and health.
/ could see no reason why l should not
enlist as well as be urging others who
were not called any more than l, and so,
after the disastrous campaign of McClel-
Ian on the Peninsula, and later that of
Gen. Pope, before Washington, l felt as
if l could remain inactive no longer, and
enlisted and was mustered as a private,
raised n company of infantry, which be-
came Co. B, of the 4Sth Mass; was Or
dered to Louisiana in the Banks Expedi-
tom was engaged in every battle in
which my regiment took part, and was
promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of the regi-
ment, upon the very spot where 1 had my
first baptism of fire before Port Hudson.
i had command of my regiment for a con-
siderable time and was in command of the
picket line att the point where the rebel
flag Of truce came out to surrender that
stronghold. Ny record in Washington
reads: This officer is reported rs not alb
sent from his command during his service
"After muster-out, my fellowtownsmen
sent me to the Legislature. l have also
been Town Clerk of my native town for
IA years, Registrar of Voters for 16 years
and was Adjutant of Post 151, 6. A. r.,
Department of Massachusetts, for nine
and half years. and am now serving my
14th year as is Commander.