The National tribune., 1903-11-26

of the gallant charge of the 1st Mimi,
which has become historical among the
notable achievements of the war for the
preservation of the Union. The Governor
of Minnesota was there with his staff, and
all the survivors of the brave regiment
who could come were there by invitation
of the State, their expenses being PAID Dy
legislative appropriation. Many citizens
also attended, having come from Minnie
sofa for the special purpose. Congress
was then in session in Washington, ana
the Senators and Representatives, accom-
panied by many bureau officials and De
partmental employees from the Capital,
were there to participate. 1t was nota-
BILE day for the distant Commonwealth,
and the address delivered on the occa-
sion by Senator Cushman *. Davis was
one of the happiest efforts Of that dIstin-
guiShed statesman.
After the days ceremonies at Gettys-
burg, almost the entire party, including
the Governor and staff, the survivors OF
the old regiment, and other visitors, went
to Washington, where they spent two or
three days visiting its points of special
interest and enjoying the hospitalitics OF
their friends in that city.
July d party of four was made up to |
visit the battlefield of Bull Run. This
party consisted of Judge II. G. Hicks and
Mr.. John II. Thompson, of Minneapolis;
Hon. j. o. Milne, of Duluth, and the
writer hereof. The trip was made early |
in the forenoon by rail to Manassas, where
a team was secured, with driver who
knew the battlefield thoroughly; gener-
GUS lunch was provided, and arrangements
were made for spending the entire day ex-
ploring the scenes of this first and, in !
many respects, most significant OF the
great battles of the civil war. Maj. Milne
was the only member of the party who
participated in the battle. He had served
as a soldier in the 1st Mimi, was wound |
ed at Bull Run, and had not revisited the
field since the battle, 36 years before. He
was naturally desirous of going over the
ground where he fought, and especially
anxious to identify as nearly as possible |
the spot where he fell.
HUNTING THE PLACE wHEREoN HE FELL.
The route taken was from Manassas to
Centerville. then out on the Warrenton
pike across the old Stone Bridge and to
the point where the Sudley road crosses |
the pike, thence to the Henry house, |
which was the pivotal point of the great |
battle En- route. Maj. Milne pointed out
on the map of the battlefield, as best he
could. the point where he received his
wound. but which proved to be more than
mile distant from the actual scene of
the occurrence as afterward so clearly as
certained He also narrated the story of
his experience in and after the fight which
constituted highly interesting war mar
rative.
He was a very young man at the out
break of the war; the son of Presbyte-
rian minister of a village in the State OF
New York; had just removed to Mime
SOFA, and had promptly enlisted in the
1sG Regiment as soon as the call OF Pres-
ident Lincoln for $1,000 three-mOnths vol
unteers was announced. de came TO
Washington with his regiment late in
June, 1861, and after camping for week
or two near Alexandria marched to Bull
Run. July 20, 1861, the night before the
battle. the regiment which was in Frank
Inns Brigade of Heintzelman's Division. /
encamped at Centerville. Early in the |
morning they marched by way of the Sud
ley Springs road, and formed the extreme
right of the army in the subsequent bat
fle The conflict had ragged hereely for
several hours with varying results, in the
neighborhood of the Henry House, the 1st
Minn. being part of the force engaged
in supporting Griffn's and Ricketts, bat
feries. which were captured and recap
tured in the heat Of the fight Maj. Milne
did not remember localities. however; had
never heard of the Henry House, and was,
consequently. much at sea as to the identi-
fcation of the ground where the fighting
took place, especially as many changes in
topography. clearing. etc, had occurred
during the SO years which had inter-
yened.
LEFT FOR DEAD. THRICE WOUNDED.
He remembered vipidly, however, and
described with graphic utterance the spe-
cial incidents relating to his wound and
capture. About o'clock in the after
noon of that great battle Sunday, Milne
was on the extreme front of the line, act
ing with the sbarpshooters. 1t was the
eliminating period of the action, and the
farthest point in front reached by the
Union troops. They thought the field was
clear of enemies before them, and were i
charging forward into pine thicket when
they were suddenly confronted with fresh |
troops from Gen. Joe Johnston's Shenan-
doah army, newly arrived on the scene.
This force turned the tide, and the Union
lire retreated. Just at that time Maj.
Milne was wounded simultaneously by one
bullet in the right arm and another in the
chest. He wheeled and started for the
rear as the resrograde movement began,
and after going about 20 steps an explod-
ing shell struck him in the head with some
splinters and felled him TO the ground. He
lay unconscious, bleeding at the mouth.
from his chest, from his arm and from
the slight scalp wound in his head. His
comrades came up, and believing him dead i
gathered up his personal effects. including
ing watch, purse, etc, which they after
ward forwarded to his parents, reporting
that they had left him dead ON the bat
tlefeld.
CARTED OFF THE FIELD.
For two days and nights Milne lay
where he fell; conscious a part of the
time, but so weakened from loss of blood
as 10 be unable to do anything for him
self or TO attract attention, being in fact
in n semi-stupor and wholly Indifferent ast
10 his own fate. Tuesday afternoon, 4S |
hours after his wound was received. he |
became aware that a Confederate burial |
party was grouped around him, discuss
ing what disposition should be made of |
what was left of him. After some consid- /
Grafton, he noticed one man. who seemed |
TO be their leader. go to his horse, stand |
ing near, phil a blanket from under the |
saddle and spread it on the ground by his
side. The men then lifted him carefully |
on the blanket, carried him to wagon
standing near, pushed him feet foremost |
into it, and he was started for Manassas
Station, four miles away.
The road was rough and his wounds !
commenced bleeding again, SO that when
he reached the village he was in the last
stages of pain and weakness. Here a |
good Samaritan brought him dish of
soup, and with sponge and warm water
washed the ciotted blood from his body
gave him some clean articles of clothing
and greatly relieved his sufferings. though
no actual dressing was given to his many
wounds. He was placed with hundreds of
other wounded Union and Confederate sol
.f