The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-12-22
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl.
dents Of the Late War, and In .
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.

lGu OF Nanps ukaICu ANU oaSbA0s
The gavel used at the Boston G.. n.
+. convention was the product of the
patience and ingenuity of Reuben l..
Reed, historian of the Bunker Hill
Historical Society, says the Boston
Herald. Its making was fathered and
fostered by joint committee Of the
e. A. r. and W. II. c. of Massachu-
sets and Mrs. Mary A. Reed, Of Re-
lief Corps 62, wife of the maker, has
been guiding spirit in its prepara-
ton.
1t Is a piece gavel. Its composition
represents church, State, patriotism
and progress In America. To 1t patri-
otic organizations and patriotic men
and women have contributed. 1t COM
prises in its making material from
localities and objects associated with
the history of the country, from the
days of the pilgrims to the fight un-
der Dewey at Manila bay.
The materials used in the construc-
ton of this gavel begin with bit Of
rock from the old red ledge at DuN-
bury, on which historians agree, as
much as they agree upon anything,
that the pilgrims stood. Then there
are bits of wood from Gov. Win
throp's Charlestown courthouse, Bos-
toms witch elm, the Old South and
North meeting houses, the old ted
house, the old bell tower ut Lexing-
ton, erected about 100, and from
which the alarm was given the morn
ing of April 10, 1775; the house Of
John Hancock in Boston, this latter
material found to be mahogany; the
old Clark house at Lexington, the
Lexington battle ground and the old
North bridge at Concord; Bunker hill
and other spots made famous by the
revolution.
There is wood from the old frigate
Constitution, the home at Temple, n.
H., of Gen. Miller, who fought at Lun-
dy's Lane, and from many of the most
prominent battlefields Of the civil war
Gettysburg, Dismal
Swamp, ETC.; the old fremont house
in Boston, the Statehouse, the White
House, in memory of the Presidents
who have been assassinated; Libby
prison, the national cemetery at Ar
lington, the tree Gen. Grant planted
in Lexington in 1873 and the tree over
the soldiers monument at Manchester,
n. H.
Warships Of the nation are repre-
sented by pieces from the English ves-
sells sunk at Lousburg in 1850, the
Somerset, Kearsarge, etc, down to the
Inflated Maine.
The box containing this gavel and
the sounding block is made Of wood
taken from Faneuil hall, the cradle Of
liberty. The lid is decorated, and, un-
Ter glass, are a number of priceless
relics. There is a bean pot full Of
buckshot, the grand army's food for
It's enemies; bottle of tea from the
,ruiser Olympia, spoon made by n
soldier and electric wire
from the Chicago and Olympia, be-
sides other trophies. The DoX is about
eighteen inches long, seven inches
vide and five inches deep.
Colonel Martin Burke.
YES" said General Coates. 81 knew
Colonel Martin Burke, who was in
at Fort Lafayette when pris-
,ners therein quartered made the fort
md the commander subjects Of con-
Apart from any controversy,
Colonel Burke was an interesting per-
and an odd character. I re-
him as one Of the old school
lrmy officers, given to some eccentrici-
les that made me smile then and Of
.en cause me to smile now. He occu-
)ied trying position, but he made
his own business q matter
If professional pride, and he never
would go near Washington for fear
hat some investigating committee
would get hold of him.
"The boys on duty at Fort Lafayette
lad a constant reminder Of the colo
lel's kindness of heart. He found, on
occasion, a dog hurt In collision with
IN army wagon or gun carriage. The
logs leg was broken, and he was In
,itiable condition, and the colonel's or
lerly reported that he was no better
han a dead dog. The colonel, how
ver, ordered the poor little beast taken
o his own quarters, and In due time
he dog recovered, with supreme af-
ection for the colonel and a contempt
lous disregard Of all military regula-
ions and proprieties.
"This latter quality undoubtedly
.rieyed the colonel, but he stood by
he mischievous puppy through thick
md thin, and wherever the colonel
vent with his traditional dignity went
sam, the puppy. with his abnormally
developed bump Of mischief The COL
mel always appeared on dress parade
n the full dress of the old time regu-
ars. and he held every man in line to
most serious cast of countenance and
most dignified manner. The uniform,
g Burke wore 1t, was queer enough
O make any man smile, but Sam, at
hese parades, was full comedy in
limself.
HE would caper about the coloners
egs, indulging in pranks that would
make a horse laugh. and yet the colo
lel stood there in stately pose, blind |
o the puppy's pranks, but watchful as
o the expression on the faces of the |
Ulcers and men in line. These door
elbows nearly died Of suppressed
aughter, and they were always Won
ering what Sam would do next But |
whatever they expected him to do, he |
lways did something else, and no
natter what he did, the colonel stood |