Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-12-01


and statesman.
THE death of Colonel Breckenridge
recalls strikingly interesting converse
tons l enjoyed with one of his
nephews, Lieutenant T. d. Steele, OF
the United States army, while we
were passengers on the transport that
carried General Chaffee and the
Sixth cavalry to China to participate
in the boxer war in 1900. The facts
anu stories | now give are based upon
the pleasant talks | had with Lieu
tenant Steele during that memorable
tour to China, and from there to
Manila, where both reported for duty
to General Macarthur, then in chief
command.
Colonel Breckenridge was a son OF
the late DR.. Robert Breckenridge, an
eminent Kentucky divine, whose rep,
utation lifetime ago was more than
national.
When the great war came, the war
that had very much to do in trans
ferring the American nation from the
rear of the worlds procession of
nations to leadership in the mighty
procession, the good, old Presbyterian
minister, who had devoted much of
his life to pointing the way which tens
of thousands followed, to giving ad-
vice and making decisions which a
multitude accepted as law, reached a
fork in the road which compelled HIM
to halt and face a problem which he
frankly confessed was beyond his
ability to solve.
-Four of his sons, promising young
men, had for several days carried on
heated discussion. All had decided
to take part in the war. They de-
sired to be together, but two wanted
to join the union army and two the
confederate. Failing to agree, the
matter was referred to Joseph, union,
and William, confederate, for delibera
ton and report. Their report the
next day, showed that William had be-
come a stauncher friend of the con,
federacy and Joseph more stubborn
ally of the union than they were be-
fore taking the assignment. Then
the four agreed to submit the ques-
ton to their father. Going to the doc
tors library, the spokesman presented
the case in this manner: Father, we
are about to enlist for the war; we de-
sire to be together, but two are for
the south and two for the north In
the past we have followed your teacn,
lngs and advice. Please tell us what
to do"
" In so grave matter | cannot de.
eide for YOU my dear boys; you must
decide for yourself, as | must for my
SELF"
THE next day they decided. Will
lam and one brother enlisted for the
south, and Joseph and the other
brother in the army of the north Be
fore leaving home there was another
meeting in the library. Two soldiers
soon to be in gray UNI forms and two
who would wear the blue, had met to
hear a fathers prayer and receive "a
fathers blessing, and both were so
full Of love, so tender, so earnest in
appeal for the welfare of the young
men, that all were in tears.
1.-TWO of the boys, one in blue ana
one in gray, gave their lives for the
cause they believed to be right God
knows which was right and / am COM
fOrted in the belief that he will not
punish either for doing what he
thought was right said the sorrow.
ing father.
William became a dashing, success.
full confederate cavalry officer, and
Joseph a volunteer officer on a gen
erals staff, and a lieutenant in the
regular army. The confederate
colonel, after the war, adopted the
law, in which profession, and as a
congressman and orator of the best
type, has won great distinction, and
many, many hearts, in all parts of the
land, are saddcned in view of his
death in the old Kentucky home
1.-THE union lieutenant remained in
the army. In the Spanish-American
war he was conspicuous for gallantry
santiago, and later commanded an
rmy corps. Last year he retired as
[ajor General Joseph C. Breckin.
1dge, and resides in Washington.
lie has two sons in the army. One of
hem was on General Lawton's staff
when that superb American sold
ell in the Philippines.
'In one of the engagements in Ten
1essee in 1864 it happened that the
confederate, then commanding
squadron of rough riders, captured his
BROTHER, the union lieutenant After
hey had enjoyed a brief visit the I'M
Easy Yankee said, Well, Bill, what
ire you going to do with me?'
Joe, suppose / ought to start you
n the road to Libby prison, but
ant quite make up my mind to do it.
Down that road mile or two there
9 yankee command. Take its com.
handing officer my compliments
'ood bye, Joe. And say, Joe, don't
ONE again. You embarrass me-"
There was Kentucky chivalry fol
you.
"A sister of the Breckinridge boys
MARRIED DIR. Steels, who was with the
'outh and came home a colonel at the
md OF the war, and then located in
View York and resumed his practice