The National tribune., 1904-05-26
A SISTER OF MERCY.
Grateful Soldier Erects Tombstone to
Her Years After Her Death.

A Grateful Soldier Erects Tombstone to
Her Years After Her Death.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / first en-
listed. without my parents consent, Oc-
tober, 1861, at Bay City, Mich, in what
was called the LIST Mich. Lancers. About
500 of us were mustered into the u. s.
service at Detroit, and for a time were
Quartered on boat; later ut the fair
grounds. We received our lances and our
clothing, and in March, 1862, by an order
from the War Department, we were mus
tered out, as the Government did not re-
quire men for that sort of service.
/ returned to my home, in Mortified,
farm six miles north of Ann Arbor,
Mich, and remained there until Septem-
Der, when | made up my mind to reenlist,
and to enter a regiment already at the
front. l feared that if l delayed longer
the war would be over, and l wished to be
there to help end it. l often wished after
wards that it had ended before got there.
day l went to Ann Arbor and saw tent
in the Court House yard square, and was
informed there was an officer recruiting
for the 10Th Mich. 1t was the Lieutenant
Colonel of the regiment, NOrvel +. WEIGH,
a gentleman and brave officer, who was
killed in ga at Weldon Railroad, leading
charge. Wien l wished to enlist he
asked my age, and informed him that
was about 1S. He asked if my parents
were living and where? / informed him,
and he directed n soldier who was sitting
in the tent procure n buggy and take me
out to my father, and obtain letter Civ
ing his consent. / went with him and in
formed my father what was desired, and
he wrote the letter and damped it with
his tears. l was his only son. and his sole
help on the farm. l never saw him after
ward. He died just before the battle Of
Gettysburg.
In short time after / enlisted Col.
WEIGH started for the front, with about
So recruits. When we arrived in Wash
ington everything looked warlike-a
strange scene to me-the city full of Off
GERS and soldiers.
We remained there n few days, waiting
for transportation to City Point, Va. We
arrived there late at night, and slept on
the cold ground. with the cold sky for a
ment, then going into camp, near Aqua
Creek. That camp later became our
Winter quarters. We remained there un-
til Dec. 13, when we broke camp at II.
M, to take part in the battle of Freder
icksburg. Our brigade was composed of
the 44th and 18th N. Y. SD Pa, 10th
Me. and 10Th Mich. When we arrived
opposite Fredericksburg we halted on
Stafford flights, and remained there until
3 p. m, watching the battle. Then we
crossed on pontoons and double quicked
through the city TO the outskirts, where
we were halted and ordered to unsling
apsacks-which suited me- for / was in
distress from having those straps across
my breast. From my knapsack l took 4
pair of socks shirt some writing paper
and envelopes and rolled them in my
| blanket, which. being new, was very
bulky. / tied the ends together and slung
| it over my left shoulder. We then moved
e. Il l,,k had yn.I &c.
| the rebels opened on us with grape, CAN
lister and shell. ! was in the front rank
about 10 feet from the colors. A shell ex-
ploded in my immediate front, fragment
of it struck me on the blanket directly
| over my heart, and knocked me about 10
feet, and knocking down the man behind
me. 1t cut the blanket into strips. / lay
on the field all night. my head resting on
dead mans leg. My left side was par
alyZed for the time. In the morning | was
picked up by comrade, and given cup
| of coffee and was sent afterwards to the
| field hospital. where my wound was
dressed My breast was not cut, but was
blanket saved my life. l did not go to
hospital, but remained with the regiment
though l did not do any duty for six
weeks. refused to go to hospital
We had fallen back to our old camp
ground, and remained there until we were
what proved another disastrous march
| which came to he known as the Burnside
stuck in the mud campaign" We again
had to fall back TO our old quarters. where
we then remained until Spring. when we
broke camp and marched to ChancellOrs
| ville where we were again defeated. The
night of our retreat l was ordered to the
picket line. after lying in front of Griffin's
| Battery all day, in a hot sun, suffering
| with a violent headache. Our brigade
supported Griffin's battery for three years
When arrived at the picket line the firing
was continued. relieved soldier who
was stationed behind pine tree. He
must have been having duel with a rebel
who was about 100 feet in front, who kept
firing as fast as he could, apparently. As
was not in fighting mood or condition.
having a severe headache, l lay on the
ground and rested my gun at full cock on
large root Of the tree, having made up
ing. He fired twice before replied. The
third time l waited for the fash of his
gun, and fired simultaneously-wh
ended his firing. Soon afterward l was
called in and learned that we were re-
treating. 1t was raining, and we
marched all night through oceans Of mud,
and again returned to our old camping
ground, where we once more took q rest
and cleaned mp our clothing, guns and
equipment. Then VIC were CT CT the
Marcia long march into Pennsylvania.
On the way we had several scraps with
| the rebels at various places-Sncker's
Gap, Upperville aud Aide. At Gettys-
burg our brigade occupied Little Round
Top, and during the battle lost some of its
best officers. among them Coils. Strong and