Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-08
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.

Witnessed on the battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.
General Crook, when the Army of
West Virginia knew him. said the
Doctor, did not wear a long beard He
wore full beard, but it was short
ana trim. and not at all like the long.
ful beard lie wore in the last twenty
years of his life. He was a regular
army officer. 33 years of age, when the
war came in 1861, and took command
of the Thirty Sixth Ohio with the
prestige of n man who had seen hard
service and knew what he was about.
He certainly lived up to this rep
utation, because no brigade or division
or corps in the Union army was more
active than the one he happened TO
command. Officers and men, however.
Ike him. as did people generally.
including John T. Raymond, who car
| ried theatrical company Ia the hurd-
els of the military district commanded
by Crook
| beard. but | remember him better with
the long, full beard he wore in the
eos and Sos. | was with him al the
battle of the Rosebud. June II. 1876.
and remember ON that day he wore
his beard in two hraids. one hanging
down on either side of his face like
the braids Of a girls hair This did
not give him a groteSque appearance
but contributed in some way 10 EN-
| phaslze his unique Individuality It
| did not suggest femiuiuity or eccentric
ity, but rather rugged sort of
Independence and a dignitied alofncss
that had marked influence over our
officers and men.
He was the center of a notable
group that day and was the coolest
man on the field. His chief of staff.
Major Nickerson, wore a long black
beard and was more picturesque
| figure than Cook himself. While the
battle was in progress, General Crook
desired to send a personal message
of vital Importance TO Major Royal
| of the Third cavalry, who. with one
| battalion Of his regiment, was on one
| f1ank entilading the Indian line. Ma
| tor Nickerson carried the message and
rode at gallop along the Indian
| front, black horse and black bearded
rider making a picture that no one at
| Rosebud ever forgot.
Bullets from Indian rifles struck
the ground in front raising a little
/ Dust like smoke from puff ball, but
| General Crook holding our breath the
soldiers of the distant battalion
cheering him on The message was
delivered, and Royal knew what he
was 10 do when Major Lawton. com
handing another battalion. and Major
Arson Mills, commanding a third,
/ proceeded to carry out their orders.
mills swept toward the other flank.
went up a ravine, and burst suddenly
! on the Indians. breaking their line
/ 10 strengthen Mills for this attack
! Crook sent with him nearly all the
| cavalry on escort duty, and taking
I advantage of this, the Indians near
/ pressed in between the General and the
/ battalion operating under Mills The
/ latter, however. OWNED the purpose
| Of the Indians. and sent one Of his
! companies to cut off the raiders, and
! Crook himself moved quickly up to the
| battalion III motion. The result was
| defeat for the lndi MS and a victory
/ for the quiet sold er who wore his
, beard IN braids."
Some men, said the Captain. re
member the incidents of battle and for
get the anecdotes of their associates.
! Others remember the anecdotes and
/ forget the battle incidents. but Judge
I J. S. Anderson Of the Fifth Wisconsin
remembers incidents and anecdotes.
Some Of the stories at our regimcntal
reunions, are worth repeating Speak
ing of General Hancock, remind d
him Of Hugh O'Niel, Of ready wit.
Hugh was coming into camp with hay
crsack and arms full oF sweet pota-
toes and garden vegetables. and. i'm
sneaking past Hancock's headquarters.
vas confronted by Hancock himself
THE General asked Hugh where he
got the vegetables. and pressed the
question In such a way that Hugh
became ratified. and, in answer to the
pcremptory Where did you get them.
sir? stammered: Il drawed them
I Thereupon Hancock Numbered.
Don't answer me that way. sir.
There his not been vegetable ration
ssued 10 this command for a month.
How did you draw them: Hugh was
himself again. and answered mcekly:
Why by their tops. General He was
permitted 10 90 his way.
This story was probably common
property in the army Of the Potomac.
but | had forgotten it and Anderson
had remembered IT, Here is another.
pertaining TO an adventure Of Ander-
son himself After the battle Of Get
tysburg, In pursuit Of Lee troops were
sent over South Mountain. A storm
came on and II was very dangerous
MARCHING in tlta dorkpars oud orp,,,,,