The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-31
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THREE. GENERATIONS
Story the Army that Shows How the Fighting Blood
Father
to Son.
By Major J. A. Watrous, q. S. A.

Father
BY Major J. A.
Captain e. w. Robinson, 35th In
fantry, u. S. Volunteers"
That was the name on a voucher
handed me by a sturdy officer at VAN
couver in 1890.
Are you a relation Of Captain Viii
liam w. Robinson, Jr., Of the regular
army?" asked.
Eyes, sir. am his son.
Memory, like electricity, can take a
long journey in a brief time. AS I
looked into the dark blue eyes Of Cap
tain Robinson, I recalled another pair
of dark blue eyes belonging to the lieu
tenant-colonel of a western regiment
I first saw at Chain Bridge, near
Washington, in 1861.
in connection with the Robinsons. The
lieutenant-colonel, still living, is the
grandfather of the Thirty-fifth cap
tain.
Colonel w. w. Robinson's regiment
spent the winter Of 1861-1862 on Ar
lington Heights, Virginia, and became
a part of the late General John Glib
bon's Iron Brigade
Colonel RObinsOn's wife, daughter
and two sons spent a god share of that
winter in camp. The daughter was a
bright, handsome young woman, and
became prime favorite, but there
was only one young officer in the en-
tire brigade who was her prime favor
lite. He was a first lieutenant. These
two people fell. deeply in love, a fact
which Colonel Robinson discovered.
He supposed he had taken steps to
prevent the Introduction into his fami-
ly Of a soldier son-in-law. He had
nothing against the lieutenant; in fact,
liked him as a soldier, but was OPP
posed to his daughters marriage to a
man engaged In such business as his
regiment would soon enter upon. But
love laughs at locksmiths, and also
! martinets. ,.s. "a ,e r., .......s +
| The young lieutenant ceased to visit
the coloneps tent, as directed to do
The daughter was gloomy, very pic
ture Of despair. A week passed with
out their meeting, and then they met
In washington, and were married
They returned to camp to receive 8
fathers blessing and forgiveness
They did not receive either. There
was a storm at regimental headquar-
| tiers that evening, and the storm was
repeated on several occasions. The
colonel and lieutenant did not speak
as they passed by; in fact, number
of months passed before they spoke
except in the way of business. The
whole brigade watched with interest
on tip-toe, this interesting state of af-
fairs between the colonel and his son
in-law. When the time came for
captain to be made Of a lieutenant
| and the son-ln-law was running lieu
tenant, bets were made three to on
that Robinson, who had been ad
\vanced in the meantime from ieuten
ant-colonel to colonel, would ignor
his new son, but when the commits
sions came the lieutenant had hi
rights, a commission as captain. TIL,
colonel was a just soldier if he was al
angry father -in-law. - =. &. 4,
Early in the spring of 1862, tent
were struck, and 'Eittle Mack's" grea,
campaign was on. Mrs. Robinson ant
the children returned to their west
ern home. <~ w..
At Appomattox the lieutenant wa
colonel of the regiment, his father-in
law having resigned at the end O
three years, ssbullet-marked and en-
feebled. For gallant services in tn
closing campaign under Grant. tn
young colonel was breveted a. briga
dier-general- General Hollon Rich
ardson, the lieutenant who stole tn
coloneps daughter, with the daught
er's glad consent. -.a.- 3. ..-.. :, =
y But what Of those two Robinson
boys In the old Camp Arlington, littl
Fellows, one twelve, and the othe
ten?
Camp life suited the boy of twelve
He was fascinated by it. He wante,
to be a drummer boy, and thought
an outrage that a fellow who was s
] anxious to serve his country could no
have an opportunity. From that west
ern home. Colonel Robinson receive
letter every month from the hoy
begging to be permitted to return +
the army. Early in 1865, soon afte
he had passed his fifteenth BIRTHDAY
he found recruiting officer who wa
willing to enlist him, provided h
could get his fathers consent.
There was great sorrow in tn
Robinson family that evening IWhe
the boy gave the information and un
folded his plans. At first consent wa
refused, but the deep grief at the re
appetite, kept him awake all nigh
and brought him to the breakfast ia
bic without his rudy cheeks, had til
effect to set that soldier father +
thinking, and to thinking his yer
best. When he had thought the BET
ter OF a day, he asked the boy wha
ne would do If consent was not giver
The answer was very brief, but it car
rled conviction. Blue eye looked int
blue eye as straight as ever arro1
flew. -
"Father, have made up my min
to becom ca soldier 80
;, After looking at the boy for min
ute~o or more, that man Of iron merry,
, who had been at the head Of one =
, the best regiments that ever won glor
on field Of battle, and had com
,, manded a brigade Of five such regi
! ments, replied. MY boy, you have m
consent to become a soldier, - :,
In those days the recruit coul
. choose what regiment he would sery
in. e''N' ~ :.
What regll1. LgsAshall you 20 t,
!, William 2" asked I1rS ...oneI.
ITO our regiment, the Seventh wis
consin, of course; where else couI
go?'
And to the Seventh he went, an
: in the spring Of 1865, the colonel
boy, the youngest Of the old brigad,
o. was welcomed as a private of Con
Q pany e and In the closing battle
y those Of Gravelly Run, White Ga
Road, Five Forks and Appomatto,
this mere child, the son Of q hero {
: two wars, was as brave and manly a
the veterans Of the brigade who ha
fought in more than score Of grea
battles.
Private Robinson was mustered on
of the service in July, 1865, and
few weeks afterward was appointe
), to West Point, where he was grad
/ 49, t., q. I.