The National tribune., 1904-09-08
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
HEREAFTER SHE. TOO. GOES!

Mrs. Lewis Heller, writing from Ohio,
says: MY husband belonged to Co. X, Sd
Ohio Cav. He just got back from the Ma
tional Encampment at Boston. Before he
reached the door he cheered: Hurrah for
Boston, He says it was the best En-
campment ever! He can't say enough about
the hospitality and entertaining comrades,
ladies and people generally of Boston
can't seem to satisfy himself that he has
said enough! don't mean that he shall go
alone to the next Encampment-that is
bad habit for woman to cultivate in her
husband-gong alone to Encampments !.
He says he will never miss another chance
to be smiled on and filed up and fed and
petted by the ladies as he Was at Boston.
But III be there, hereafter, to see that
they don't override and make him i'll. No
more shall he leave his girl behind him.
desire to add my expressions of thanks to
his, to the people, ladies and comrades of
Boston, for caring with SO great kindness
for the old soldiers. 1t is my opinion that
We who have old soldiers for husbands cam
not be too proud of the fact. Never can
this Government pay these old soldiers for
the peace their valor has assured to the
world and the greatness and prosperity their
heroism has wrought for this country. No
other army in the world can hold candle
for our Grand Army. We cannot DO too
much to make the way of our heroes smooth
in their declining years"
FOUGHT GREAT ODDS.
Comrade James A. Rogers writes from
Nebraska: Il enlisted March 10, 1862, in
Co. c, I'd NJ. S. NJ. Cav, and was mus
tered out at st. Louis. Mar. 22. 1865. |
was under Gen. McNeal, of st. Louis, ami
better soldier never commanded a regi-
$500 rebels at Kirkville. Mo. The battle
lasted from II in the morning until in
the evening. We had FIVE pieces of artil-
lery: the rebels had none. There was where
we had the advantage. but they outnum-
beIed us six to one. They left in a very
great hurry when they did go, and left
their dead and wounded in our care. We
put 12O in the ditch the day after the bat
tie. Our loss was four killed and %
wounded. This is not much of a battle;
but it shows about the number the militia
had to deal with in Missouri in the eos.
write from memory. | think the old
soldier should have enough pension to keep
him and his. let that be $12 or $24, or
whatever it takes. | belong to G. III.
years Old-was born May IL, 1882.
swINToN's HISTORY.
Comrade John NJ. Follett, Co. IT, 33d
ILL.,, writes: Il fully agree with you in
your criticism of Swinton's History, and
with COmrade Crockett. in his article on
the same subject. Swinton is unreliable.
Few soldiers were capable Of criticising
Gen. Lee, and his dislike of Gen. Grant.
civilian has the ability to do so. l think
if you will look on pages 141-145. Vol. 2,
Grants Memoirs. you will discover Mr..
Swinton's reasons for his Partially for
Gen Lee, and his dislike of Gen. Grant.
He was then more than suspected of being
a spy in the pay of the rebels, for he was
arrested as one. Hence. possibly, his love
and admiration for the rebel army. Such
a man could not possibly write an impair
tial history of the war. To me it is value
less. Lee was, no doubt, a great General
his army was composed of brave men but
as an invading army it was failure"
MONOCACY MONUMENT.
Comrade w. l.. Martin, Corporal. Co. ID,
/ 18th Nd, writes: Il have noticed differ
ent articles about the fight at Monocacy-
fought in my native County and State, and
in which l participated. That engagement,
it is claimed, saved the National Capital.
compared with the h0rdes Jubal Early had
TO assail with. There was glory enough
for us-for all of us; for the heroic boys
from Maryland. New Jersey, Ohio. Penn
all who participated i'm that
fierce conflict on July 3. 1864. where the
Monocacy run red with blood At a
gathering of survivors, on that field, on
July 3, 1904, steps were taken to erect a
monument there, in honor of our comrades
for years. was only a boy then; it was
10 years ago; but the ferceness and the
terrific whirl Of thunderous, deadly strife
the sounds and the scenes are Us fresh in
my memory as though but recently exper-
fenced"