Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-03-28
THE IRON BRIGADE ABROAD
Maj, Watrous Found Sons Of SOL
diers Serving in Philippines,
PLEASANT REUNIONS.
Some Survivors Of the Old Iron Brigade
Still in the United States
Army.

Mai. j. A. Watrous. L. :. A., who is
ut present in Milwaukee on n leave OF alb
Sencc, says that he found the Iron Brig
AIDE in evidence in the Philippines daring
his sojourn there. In speaking of the old
brigade and his observations abroad Maj.
WatrouS said:
The Iron Brigade comes 10 the front
nearly everywhere 1t has been in Con-
greSs, the various professions. in the rail-
road world. manufacturing and political
life everywhere. OF those members who
have been al Congress may be named
Gen. Edward :. Bragg, Col. Gabriel
Bouck. Adjt. Gilbert NJ. Woodward, Gen.
Rufus Il. Dawes, Col. George q. SymcS,
Capt. NJ. r. Baldwin. Capt w. IL. Har-
ries and Private john J. jenkins. But
about the old brigade in the far-off Phil
ppincs: At one time there We're two OF
us ON duty there Maj. W. w Robinson,
.lr.. who was private in the Seventh
Wisconsin, and myself. He was chief
quartcrmastcr of the division of the de-
partment of the South Philippines.
We had several very pleasant re-
unions at Manila last summer. We had
not met since March 81 1860. at the bat
lie OF Gravclly Run, near Petersburg.
Va" where Robinson did SO finely that
he was rewarded with an appointment to
West Point, ANA where | had horse
Killed under me and was invited in u
manner so emphatic to visit Libby prison
that | hadn't the heart to decline the
honor. and won brcvet. What pleas
IRE to meet a member of the old brigade
IN those far-aw6g islands,
While in the island | met three fine
young officers, sons of one of our old
comrades, the late Col. Henry \. Nor
row, who joined us in command of the
Iwcnty-fourth Michigan right AMER An
uet9m. All three Of his soldier sons
went to the Philippines as hcutenants.
TWO III the regulars and one us a yolun-
teer Someone suggested ut one time To
Col Morrow. who for years commanded
the Twenty -tirst Infantry that he send
his boys to West Point flis prompt re-
ply WAS: No. sir: if they want To be
soldiers they must begin as | did in the
ranks. The boys were quick enough to
adopt his suggestion. The more such
officers the better for the army. \ daugh-
yer OF Col. Morrow was engaged To Lieut..
J. j. Ronifacc Of the Fourth Cavalry.
He went 10 the Philippines and when he
had been there II year, Miss Morrow
Joined him aud the marriage was per-
formed at Manila early in 1901.
Il was at The town of Bnllaynn. Bu-
tangas province, waiting for n boat. when
Young soldier came mp, Salutcd and
sad: i beg your pardon, but that badge
on your watch chain is So familiar thar
| want 10 know in which regiment of tho
lI'H tFlEduc you served. w hen told
him he replied: My father was mem
Der of Co. Il, Nineteenth Indiana He
went away and returned shortly with
three more sons of men who had served
IN the Ninetcenth Indiana. And we five
Iron Brigade soldiers had splendid re-
union right then and there. One Of them
told me what his father said when he
enlisted, 60, my boy; for that Is what
would do VI they would take me- And
my governor told me ] would a.sss :. - ~
son If did not want TO 80 to tl-ss hilip-
pines. said another, while a third said:
An my father would say was. "You will
b" glad you enlisted" and | am
That was a happy and unforgettabe
h"ur that | passed with those strapless.
Sirlp"less sons of men whom | had ac-
companled on mighty interesting trips
through Virginia. Maryland and Penn
sY'Eaha quite spell back | met scv-
croI other sons of men who served in the
old brigade and one grandson large
percentage of the sons aud grandsons OF
the old soldiers OF the sos. from both
North and South. found their way into
the volunteer aud regular army during
The Spanish American and Philippine
wars. think It sAfc to say that more
than bali of the rank and file of both
volunteers and regulars were the sons
or grnndsons of men who served in the
Union and Confederate armies EVEN
ing Wisconsin,