Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-24
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-


cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.
Thirty years ago to-day" said
j. j. Wallace, Il started on my LAST
raid on Richmond. No, / wasn't in
the cavalry. l was in the Fourth Wis
consiA Artillery, at that time in But
ler's Army of the James. Ga the 29th
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 rush
into Richmond The rebel positions
Were captured and held, but we didn't
get into Richmond, and l was put out
of action.
We took four guns of our battery
into the fight and lost them. We lost
also good many men, and came out
with n bullet hole through the shout
der. Yes, it disabled me then. and
was a good deal in my way for some
years. The wound was a severe one,
but here l am as active in business as
my old comrades who were not
wounded"
80 am l" said an Eighty-sixth iii
nois man. Il didn't run 10 bullet
wounds, but | had bruises until
couldn't rest, and in the army bruise
was a bruise, as | learned 10y long and
painful experience, l got my first
bruise before l had been in the service
sixty days. That was at Perryville,
Oct s. 1862. We were lying down be-
hind a rail fence when bullet from
the rifle of a rebel sharpshooter struck
a rail right above my head, fiattened
out like pancake, glanced off in my
direction, struck me on the shoulder
leaving black and blue spot as big MS
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 III Chicka-
manga a flattened ball or piece of a
shell grazed me so close as to bruise
and blister the skin, and again l got
no sympathy and was laughed at for
not tallying hit At Buzzarl's Roost
in May, 1864, we fought in corn field
from early morning before daylight
until s o'clock at night. Along in the
afternoon, tuckered out with the hot
fighting and the hot weather
squared myself behind tree for a
rest.
Il told the boys l was going to take
a nap. This was meant 10 be a joke
but, sitting against a tree. | went to
sleep, my head wabbled to one side
exposing my camp-kettle hat, and
Johnnie put a bullet through the hat
so close to my head as TO cut the hair
| awoke with a start 10 be laughed
at by the boys. | got another scratch
at Kenesaw and blister or hrrise ut
Peach Tree Creek, and another at
JonesborO, but l got no furlough on
any Of them. | can't truthfully say
that | was wounded and vet that
bruise on my shoulder troubles me to
this day"
Il had worse luck than that said
the Sergeant. ION the night our divi-
sion crossed the Tennessee River In
the march on Chattanooga. 'n Septem-
Der, 1863. | met with the queerest mis-
hap that ever befell soldier. | had
been on heavy duty for two days and
nights. and it seemed to me ! couldn't
keep awake another minute if all of
Bragg's army came swooping down the
gorge through which we were moving.
/ remember looking up at the ruins
Af fnh I,rsiI
Falling Water, between Shellmound
and Lockout Mountain and then all
was blank.
II had gone to sleep. walking. We
were marching In fours, rifles at right
shoulder shift, and the men on either
side stood shoulder to shoulder 40 for
time | slept and walked When
turn came in the road the mechanism
of my body, set for going ahead,
stopped, and | went down like ii log.
my rife striking me cruel blow. and
my face striking the rough ground. /
was hurt worse than If a bullet had
gone through my arm, but in my pain
and misery | heard the laughs and
shouts of the men Jeering me. ] carry
the marks Of that fall to-day, but the
men Of the old company would cali 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 saber cut. In
going up Missionary Ridge was close
behind great big fellow, who pushed
his wayythrOugh brush and abattis
after the manner Of n fy-bitten bull.
At one point he bent forward the
sharpened prongs Of n branch Of
fallen tree, and. releasing himself, let
the sharp points fly back. 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 a wound from
the soldiers point Of view. and ] did
not fall out. / climbed on, blind with
pain, and | carry the sears 10 this day.