Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-10-01
KENTUCKY FRIENDS ON CAPT. Shane.

Capt. H. @. Weaver, formerly cap.
tain Of Co. D., 10th Kentucky In
fantry. has written the following
letter concerning J. B. Shane and his
early history. Appended to the
letter is an endorsement Of all its
contents by 20 surviving comrades Of
the regiment, all old friends and
neighbors Of Capt. Shane. The letter
says:
BRooKsvLLE, Ky, Sept. 25, 1908.
My intimate acquaintance with
Lieutenant James B. Shane began in
1861, when he and joined Co. I'D"
OF the 10th Kentucky Infantry, in
which organization we shared the
same hardships and privatious, drank
from the same canteen and kept the
touch Of the elbow until the end Of
the wsr-iour long weary years. No
more courageous man nor better SOL
dier ever wore the uniform. He was
my first lieutenant and | was his cap
tain, and it affords me great pleasure
to say that no company officer ever
possessed the love, confidence and
respect Of his men more than Lieu
tenant Shane possessed that Of his
company. l can not now recall
single instance when he ever had
difficulty or trouble Of any kind with
any OF his men, and I am quite sure
that not even Q cross word ever passed
between him and myself. A history
OF bis gallant deeds in the army
would fill large volume. He was a
most companionsble man, amiable'
courteous and with keen sense OF
Justice aud Of the feelings and the
rights OF others. He pleasantly and
patriotically accepted every duty
assigned him, and the more hazard
ous those duties were, the better 1t
pleased him. He never missed o
roll.call, except when wounded, but
was always present and ready for
duty.
On Sherman's Georgia campaign,
his hearing became seriously Affected
occasioned by exploding shells In the
many bloody engagements in which
we participated when the air was
filed with screaming shot and whist
ling bullets. On the 9th Of August
1864, in front OF Atlanta, while most
heroioally and gallantly leading the
skirmish line in 3 headlong assault
upon the enemy's works, he had bis
left leg sho: off above the knee and
also lost the toes Of his right foot.
In attempting to withdraw the line,
he WAS dragged off the field BY one
Of his men private R. n. Patterson),
more dead than alive, while the
enemy's solid line Of battle behind
their works poured constant and
withering fire upon our poor fellows,
many Of whom were left dead upon
the field. In the same engagement
his brother, o member Of our COM
pany, was killed.
The following morning his left leg
and toes on right foot were amPutated
and he was sent to a military hos
pital, where, after months OF intense
suffering, his wounds healed and he
was given acork leg and discharged
from the hospital, refusing to accept
a discharge from the army. He Inn
mediately rejoined bis company In
North Carolina, where we had
gone In the meantime, but he was
unable to perform the military evolu'
tionS required OF infantry, and st my
personal solicitation, Major General
J. D. Cox detailed him aS an aide on
his staff, and furnished him mount
and thus mounted be served conspic-
uously until the end Of the war
never know him TO exhibit any undue
amount Of temper or to manifest any
unkindness to others. From my per-
sonal knowledge Of Lieut.. Shsne' and
Of bis strict integrity and high regard
for truth, / firmly believe that he
would suffer death rather than utter
q deliberate falSshood. In the peace
ful walks Of civic life, no man stood
higher, be never drank nor gambled'