The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1904-11-18
Would Not Make Shoes for Rebs.

Would Not Make Shoes for Rebs.
A white-haired, elderly man stood
In Doric hall at the state house the
other day intently gazing at the bat
tie flags of the Massachusetts, regi-
ments that fought to preserve tie
Union from 1861 to 1865. He fingered
long and seemed to be greatly inter-
ested In the torn and tattered stand
ards. A visitor noticed the man, and,
stepping up to him, said: "You APP
pear to be interested in those Gags"
Il think have right to be, sir"
replied the old gentleman. THAT flag"
said he, pointing to the shot rido!ed
colors of the Nineteenth regiment,
twas captured from me in front OF
Petersburg by the rebels, June ~,
1864. Thirty years afterward, by an
act of congress, it was returned to
the state. and had the honor Of de-
livering 1t to the governor Of the com
monwealth."
That's remarkable" said the visit
or, and the two fell to talking about
the stirring days of the war, and the
different engagements that the old
Nineteenth regiment participated in.
The color bearer was Sergeant Mich
ael Scannell of Lynn, who, although
70 years old, is hale and hearty, and is
known by every Grand Army man OF
Essex county. Little by little Scannell
was induced to tell the story OF the
capture of the cclors at Petersburg.
I'VE were brigaded with the Forty
second New York and the Fifteenth
Massachusetts, said Sergeant Sca2-
rell, "and we were ordered to ed
vance. There was evidently some
mistake, as when we moved out 1t
left gap that Gen. Malone was
quick to see and take advantage Of.
Without any idea of the perilous posi-
ton we occupied we moved forward
l., the best of spirits.
Quicker than it takes to say Jack
Robinson the rebs swooped down
upon us, and we were powerless to re-
sist capture. 1t was all up with Is,
and there was nothing for the boys
to do but surrender. A rebel officer
rode up to me and, with a long oath,
demanded the colors. "Give me those
coiors, you Yankee blankety blankety
blank" said he. with his gun point
ed at my head.
Il looked at him cool and, straight
ening myself up, said: Sir. have
been in this country nearly twenty
years, and you are the first man to
call me Yankee. Take the colors.
You're welcome to them"
Scannell, with the rest Of the reEi.
ment, was hustled off to Anderson.
Vile. and spent nearly twelve morths
in rebel prisons, suffering untold mi--
cry. One day, while at Andersonville,
a rebel officer came through shouting
the name Of Sergeant Scannell.
That's me-" replied scannell. He was
ordered to make shoes for the rebs. as
be had been a shoemaker at Aaver- |
hill before the war.
"Never!' said Scannell; "never!"
The rebel officer argued with him
md told him that he would get better
'ood and treatment If he went into
he shoe shop, and that he would have
| CHARGE to recover from the scurvy
hat had attacked him. But Scaanell
vas firm. "Never!" was his reply.
DO you think that / am going to 60
Jack on the flag Of my adopted coun.
ry, and make shoes for rebs? Not
While I have my senses about me-"
Sergeant Scannell was one OF
arge number OF Irishmen in the old
regiment. Among the Of
GERS OF the regiment were Capt. Ma
ony and Lieut.. McGinnis. The late
APT. Jack Adams used to tell anus
ne stories about these men. They
,ere the life of the regiment and on
he most solemn occasions they could
9 depended upon to crack a joke, and
-ere always looking on the bright
Ide of life. One Of the Scannell
tories that Capt. Adams used to tell
as the following:
On one occasion Scannell was de.
,iled for headquarters guard. The .
light was dark and rainy. Morning I
awned to find Scannel1 pacing his
eat in front Of the colonels tent. Col.
incks had been quite active in the
movement before the
ar. and published paper whose n
otto was: "Put none but Americans o
! guard" When Col. Hincks arose In g
10 morning he looked out Of his tent. b
rhe top Of the morning to you." was s
entry Scannell's greeting to his colo a
Il. lis that you. Mixer inquired the u
,lonel. otis that" replied Scanne.l. b
and I'm wet to the skin. ! wish you p
,lieved now as You did before -1e n