The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-31
HISTORICAL
S0LDEER@EHRU
THREE. GENERATIONS
Story Army that Shows Fighting
Father to Son.
BY Major j. A. Watrous, u. 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 sturdy officer at Van
couver In 1890.
"Are you a relation Of Captain Will
liam w. Robinson, Jr., Of the regular
army?" I 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
tenant-colone1 of a western regiment
first saw at Chain Bridge, near
washington, in 1851.
There is foundation for good stories
in connection with the Robinsons. The
lieutenant-colonel, still living, is the
grandfather of the Thirty-hfth cap
tain.
Colonel W. w. Robinson's regiment
spent the winter Of 1861-1S62 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, fact
| which Colonel Robinson discovered.
He supposed he had taken steps to
prevent the Introduction into his fami-
~ OF soldier son-in-1aw. He had
nothing against the lieutenant; in fact,
liked him as a soldier, but was OBJ
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. 80 r.. rs.-
| The young lieutenant ceased to visit
the colone's tent, as directed to do.
| The daughter was gloomy, a 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 a
fathers blessing and forgiveness
They did not receive either. There
was a storm at regimental headuuar-
| tiers that evening, and the storm was
repeated on several occasions. The
colonel and lieutenant did not speak
as they passed by; in fact, a number
of months passed before they spoke,
|
| 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-in-law was running lieu
| tenant, bets were made three to one
| that Robinson, who had been ad-
| vanced in the meantime from ieuten-
ant-colonel to colonel, would ignore
his new son, but when the commits.
sions came the lieutenant had his
rights, a commission as captain. The
| colonel was a just soldier if he was an
| angry father-in-law. -. e.
Early in the spring of 1862, tents
were struck, and "Little Mack's'' great
campaign was on. Mrs. Robinson and
| the children returned to their west
! ern home.
At Appomattox the lieutenant was
colonel of the regiment, his father-in-
law having resigned at the end OF
three years, bullet-narked and en-
I feeb1eds For gallant services in the
closing campaign under Grant, the
young colonel was breveted a. briga-
-general-General Hollon Rich
ardson, the lieutenant who stole the
coloneps daughter, with the daught-
! er's glad consent. ..s.-4 :. -
! But what Of those two Robinson
boys in the old Camp Arlington, little
FELLOWS, one twelve, and the other
| ten? -
Camp life suited the boy of twelve
He was fascinated by it. He wanted
to be a drummer boy, and thought il
an outrage that fellow who was sc
J anxious to serve his country could not
| have an opportunity. From that west.
ern home. Colonel Robinson received
1 a ~
! begging to be permitted to return t(
the army. Early in 1865, soon afte,
| he had passed his fifteenth birthday
he found a recruiting officer who was
willing to enlist him, provided he
could get his fathers consent.
!here was great sorrow in the
Robinson family that evening Wher
| the boy gave the information and nm.
folded his plans. At first consent was
refused, but the. deep grief at the re.
| iusal, me kind Of grief that destroyed
appetite, kept him awake all night
and brought him to the breakfast IA.
Die without his rudy cheeks, had thu
| erect to set that soldier father r.
thinking, and to thinking his very
best. When he had thought the bet.
Ter OF a day, he asked the boy VIVA
ne would 90 II consent was not given
Inc answer was very brief, but If car.
rled conviction. Blue eye looked int
blue eye as straight as ever arrow row
flew. = > 49, - ~ : "
Father, have made up nv MINI
to becom ca soldier ''~
| After looking at the boy for a. min.
ute~o or more, that man of iron nerve
who had been at the head of one n
the best regiments that ever won glor,
on field Of battle, and had com
manded brigade of five such regi
ments, replied, my boy, you have m,
consent to become soldier"
In those days the recruit nouI6
choose what regiment he would serve
In. $50 ',
What regiment shall YOU go to
j William ~ asked the colonel.
ITO our regiment, the Seventh Wis
I go?" ~ ouA'
4 And to the Seventh he went. ant
in the spring Of 1865, the colonel,
boy, the youngest Of the old brigade
i, was welcomed as a private of Com
, pany E and In the closing battles
!, those Of Gravelly Run, White Oal
Road, Five Forks and Appomattox
this mere child, the son of q hero O.
two wars, was as brave and manly a,
the veterans Of the brigade who hat
fought in more than score Of grea
battles.
Private Robinson was mustered ou