Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-05
SOUTHERN SIGHTS
iH. F. CARROLL, STATE AUDITOR,
VISITS FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD
AT CHATTANOOGA.
Tells How Relics of Great Battlefield
Are Secured - Gather Bullets Aft.
er Every Rain In Quarts Like Ser.
rtes - South Is Prosperous.

wrote to Mrs. Carroll that there did
not seem to be much about there that
was especially or Accordingly interest
ing, and l thought that l would not
remain long" said Auditor of State B.
+. Carroll recently in Des Moines, talk
Ing Of his southern tour.
But the next day we went out and
looked over the battlefield, stood on
Orchard Knob and viewed it as Grant
viewed 1t that memorable day when
the union victory should have spelled
the end of the war and, in the opinion
OF Grant, would have ended the strug
gle had the southern press been at lib
.erty to speak its mind, and we decided
that there was plenty about it of alb
|sorbing interest. The idea of leaving
quickly was soon abandoned and we
Settled ourselves to the growing en-
lthusiasm of study of the great thea
ire Of war that 25th of November, 1863.
The more We studied it the more
fascinating it became. We went over
portion of the field by team and then,
dismissing it, walked from the Knob to
Lookout mountain. That is an indica-
ton Of our intense interest in the sit
|uatlOn at the end. For the study of
the tablets which convey an adequate
idea OF the position of the troops-and
lowa's brave soldiers were conspicu-
GUS part of the struggle-gives the Wis
1tor yet sense of participation in the
fight itself which is decidedly thrilling.
Buys Minnie Ball.
GAS we walked through the national
cemetery little pickaninny came run
ming up to us with, "Say,, mister, don't
you want to buy a minnie ball, suh?'
and We stopped. asked the youngster
where he had gotten it. He said he
had found it on Orchard Knob 1 reit-
Grated the inquiry several times but
The did not weaken. He finally asked
me how much would give him for it.
urged him to set price, for I did not
know how valuable the relic was. He
wanted to know if l would give him
q nickel, and 1 handed him the coin
and brought the minnie ball home.
Dealing in this class of relics Is
quite the popular thing down there.
There seems to be never ending sup
ply. I am satisfied that the bullets
are genuine. The little fellow whom
Il patronized said he had half dozen
more down home, and we sent him
after them but never saw him again.
"You are able to get these bullets
at every place of business. The boys
go out on the battlefield and pick
them up by the quart like they would
berries Every heavy rain dislodges
them and uncovers those hidden by
dead leaves. If one could convince
the people of the north that the bull
lets he brought up were genuine rel
les OF the southern battlefields he
could make a fortune.
Il hunted an hour, however, for
such a relic, and could not find one.
I-guess it is like hunting for four leaf
'cfovers, you have to know how.
1.-The scope of the operations Of our
army, the seemingly impregnable po-
sftion taken by Bragg, the wonderful
fortification which nature had provid-
ed for Chattanooga seems marvel
GUS that our arms were SO entirely
successful. And it is gratifying to re-
call that at that time many men of
great military eminence both earned
and afterwards enjoyed were engaged
there, on both sides, for that matter;
Hooker, Sherman, Grant, Corse,
Bragg, Thomas, these are few of the
noted names connected with that won
derful struggle"
loWans in Battle.
1t was in this struggle that sixty
men Of the Fifth Iowa were captured,
including Major S. H. NJ Byers of Des
Moines, apd were in southern prison
Tor sixteen months.
/ AS the flag Of the Fifth Iowa was
about to be seized by rebel hands for
the color sergeant was one of those
captured in the tunnel. John Written,
formerly a resident of Des Moines, and
connected with the office of the state
treasurer, tore from it one of the stars.
This he concealed on his body and
cherished it through the whole of the
fearful imprisonm ent which followed.
This star, framed, is now in the CAPT.
toll, and is one of the priced relics of
the war there gathered.
Auditor of State Carroll had a de-
1ightful visit in the south He says
that there is as much complaint there
about the backward cotton crop as
there is here about the backward corn