Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-11-04
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp Veterans of the Rebellion Re-

"Thirty-nine years ago today" said
j. j. Wallace. 4 started on my lass
raid ON Richmond. No, l wasn't in
the cavalry, | was in the Fourth Wis
consin Artillery, at that time in But
ler's Army of the James. On the Doth
of September two corps OF Buffers
army. including General Kautz's divi-
sion of cavalry, We're TO cross TO the
north side of the James, capture the
rebel positions, and attempt a rush
into Richmc nd. The leEel positions
were captured and held. but we didn't
get into Richmond and was pct out
of action.
I'VE took four guns Of our battery
into the fight and lost them. We lost
also a good many men. and came out
with bullet hole through the Shout
der. Yes. ii disabled me then, and
was a good deal in my way for som
years. The wound was Il severe one,
but here am as active in business as
my old comrades who were not
wounded"
$50 am l." said an Eighty-sixth I'LL
nois man. Il didn't run TO bullet
wounds, but / had bruises until
couldn't rest. ard III the army bruise
was a bruise, as learned by long and
painful experience j got my first
bruise belore | had Eesn in the service
sixty days, That was at perryville.
Oct, S. 1857. We were lying down be-
hind rail fence when bullet from
the rife of rebel sharpshooter struck
rail right above any head, fattened
ont like a pancake, glanced OIL in my
direction, struck me on the shoulder,
leaving 81 black and Blue spot as big as
my hand. That bullet hurt me worse
than if it had gone through me- and
yet L was reported bruised, not
wounded
Again at Jays sawmill at Chlcka-
manga fisttened ball or piece Of
shell grazed me so close as to bruise
and blister the skin, and again | got
no sympathy and was laughed at for
not talIying a lit At Buzzard's Rcost
in May. 1864. we fought in corn field
from early morning before daylight
until S O'Clock at night Along in the
afternoon, 1Uckerei out with the hot
fighting and the hot weather,
squared myself behind Tree for
rest
Il told the boys l was going to take
nap. This was meant TO be Joke,
but, sitting against tree, l went to
sleep. my head wabbled 10 one side.
exposing my camp-kettle hat, and Il
Johnnie put a bullet through the hat
80 close to my head as to cut the hair.
/ awoke with a start TO be laughed
al by tile boys | got another scratch
at kenesaw and blister or bruise at
Peach Tree Creek, and another at
Jonesboro, but | got no furl3ugh on
any of them. 1 can't truthfully say
that | was wounded and vet that
bruise on my shoulder troubles me to
this day
II had worse lu K than that" said
the Sergeant On the night our fivi-
sion crossed the Tennessee River IN
the march on Chattanooga, in Sept IN
Der, 1868 | met with the queeresl mis-
been on heavy duty for two days and
nights. and it seemed TO nee / couldn't
keep awake another minute If all of
Bragg's army came sweeping down the
gorge through which we We're moving
l remember looking up at the ruins
of the high bridge and trestle work at
Failing Water, between Shellmound
and L okout Mountain, and then all
was blank
1 had gone to sleep. walking. We
We're marching in foiHs, rifles at right
shoulder shift, and the men on either
side stood shoulder to shoulder. SO for
time l slept and walked When
turn came in the road the mechanism
of my body, set for going ahead.
stopped and | went down like a log.
my rifle striking me trUel blow, and
my face striking the rongh ground. I
was hurt worse than If bullet had
gone through my srm. but in my pain
and misery heard the laughs and
,houts Of The men jeering me. carry
the marks Of that fail to-day. but the
men of the old company would call me
a fraud If | should say | was wound
ed at Failing Water
My most Painful wound said the
Captain. did not come from bursting
shell or rife bullet or saher cut. In
going mp Missionary Ridge | was close
behind a great big fel ow, who pushed
his way through brush ard abattis
after the manner Of a hy-bitten bull.
At one point he bent forward the
sharpened prOngs Of a branch of
fallen tree, and. releasing himself. let
the sharp points fly Lack. They struck
me at the knee with the swiftness of
a swinging saber tore my trousers on
that leg. and left three gashes across
the knee. 1t was not wound from
the soldiers point Of view, and did
not fall out | climbed on. blind with
pain, and l carry the scars to this day.
but | was not among those reported
wounded"
Il got my worst hurt said a smiI-
ing corporal, at West Point. Ky.
where the regulars and militia are this |
week playing at war. We had been
marching on half rations and sinkers
for nearly a month in September, 1862, |
and were worn out, ragged and |
starved, when one afternoon a glorious |
vision burst upon US Coming out OF |
q stretch of woCdlanl we looked across |
a grassy plain, where We're piled as |
high Ms hougas all the articles in tba