Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-01-16
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the RebeIIion Re-

cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.
Il have often wondered" said the
Major, what became OF the men Sc
verely wounded in battle Nearly ZOO
officers and enlisted men came OUT Of
the Union service minus an arm or q
leg, Where are they now? OF the
100000 men wounded In battle. $4,000
died in hospital and 5000 went home
disabled. How have the latter Jared
in life's struggle? TO what extent did
the wounds limit their activity In buzz
ness, and in what degree were their
lives shortened by the wounds that
gave them so much anxiety forty years
ago?
There are comparatively few one
legged or one-armed men prominent In
public life. | have in mind General
Henderson, OF Iowa. who manages his
artificial leg SO we'll that few ever think
OF his disability. Congressman Castle,
of Wisconsin, has only one arm. and
General Rice, OF the Census Depart
ment lost an arm aud leg. but In
some way You forget that such active
men must have been counted at one
time among the seriously wounded.
There are Beaver, OF Pennsylvania;
General Sickles, and General o. q.
Howard. representa- tives Of men who
were not put Al any great disadvantage
by the loss of leg or an arm. There
must be two or three thousand others
who suffered amputstlon. and | wonder
where they are:"
They are nearly everywhere, said
the doctor, Il find them in every walk
of life. Not very many years ago an
empty sleeve or an empty trousers leg
opened the door to public Office. We
had several cases in Illinois, among
Them Swigart. who was nominated for
j. State office. and Brockway, who was
dominated for a county office All such
men. however, carried themselves 80
checrfuliy that few people thought OF
fhem as disabled men.
Il remember ease IN which 4 street
ear conductor attempted to put Major
Brockway off the ear. He laid vigor-
Z >
him off, when he received blow from
the Majors fist that sent him nj full
length TO the street. He was rushing
back in Il fury when young man
jumped over two seats ana came down
In front Of him. saying Shame on
yon; don't you see You are striking a
onc-legged MANI The conductor
stopped. looked the Major over. and
said, Why didn't you say so before
didn't know it,
Il find also men who lost hand III
two Or three fingers on Il foot ennfo nj
rs teachers or active Ia business. They
never speak Of their wounds IN the
larger list OF dangerously wounded I
find many in public life Al a banquet
not long ago General Black was appar-
emily the best preserved man in tie
company Only q few knew that he
was among the most dangerously
wounded of the Union army. Governor
Fifei bears his years wei. but his
wounds hang over him Ike sword
suspended by 4 single thread. In both
these eases the wounds limited the
sphere IF activity Of the wounded. but
did not prevent that sort Of effort that
leads 10 success.
Not long ago | attended soldiers
reunion and was surprised TO see 4
prominent business man come in on
clutches. ! had met him scores Of times
without realizing thar he had only one
leg. knew that he linped little.
bur not more than dozen OF my
friends who arc troubled with rheuma-
tiSm. | had seen him go upstairs and
down and walk about his little Office.
bur | never would have known that he
had left Il leg at Chickamauga had he
not gone 10 the reunion. where. 10
please his soldier friends. he appeared
without his cork leg D."
THAT reference to General Black"
said Comradc Parker. reminds me of
a story Of Captain J. L. chase who re-
ceiyed forty-eight wounds at the battle
Of Gettysburg. Chase was struck By
a charge of grape shot. fortv-elght Of
the shot going into the upper part OF
The body He was picked up on the
field aud carried 10 the hospital but
his case was regarded as hopeless.
Three or four days later the surgeons.
noticing that there was life in the
poor riddlcd body. exo1'te,l themselves
and saved Chase's life His right arm
was shot off, his left eye was destroyed.
several ribs We're cut in two. and the
surgeons did not pretend TO count the
bullet holes.
In addition to this record nj Get
tysburg. Chase distinguished himself
on other occasions aud received two
medals for bravery. He was given a
pension OF $40 Il month But on one
occasion he met Congressman from
his old district IN Maine who insisted
that $40 n month was not enough and
promised to have 1t Increased The
Congressman brought the case 10 the
attention Of the pension committee. ana