davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

halt. God bless Grifin's memory forever
for where is soldier who ever knew him
who did not love him? The Sergeant in
formed us that inasmuch as Lee had com
menced Smelling our lines the fire from the
sharpshoOters had SO increased that il
would be inviting death for any one 10
attempt to cross the summit and reach the
line of battle. which then was and still is.
| marked by loosely-thrown-up breastwork
of stone. little down the western slope
then. for the rebels were concentrating a
hre OF hive or six batteries of artillery upon
Little Round Top to demoralize and de
| ceive. for this took place first few hours
before Picketts charge of the afternoon
of that day-July 3. Though young IN
years. was no novice, and soon set my
coffee kettles upon the ground, took cover
under and back of the roots and earth
| and rocks that adhered to the roots of
big tree that lay partially PROSTATE Here
l took my chances along with whole di-
vision of the Sixth Corps. which had just
| been hurried up and massed upon this east
slope, in anticipation of a possible at
| tack for recapture of the Round Top. Ii,
was sinful. the way those boys of the
| good old Sixth Corps had to lie there and
be mutilated by shot and shell of the
enemy, unable to return a shot! A shell
struck the ground near me, exploded and
sent masses of earth and hail of dirt
| the Sergeant informed us that we could
make an effort to reach our commands.
seized my kettles, cautiously reached the
summit, made STOPPING run and arrived
at my company's position just about where
the monument of the Dist Pa. now stands
l was cheered and congratulated by the
boys for my success in running the santle.
in safety. going and coming. Immediately
| distributed my nine kettles among the
boys and they proceeded to do their part ::
but In moment Or two complaints COM
| menced to come in all around They aid
that their kettles had much more dirt than
coffee. in them. and had to give an ac-
| counting. l did. as best could by telling
| them of the shell exploding and throwing
the dirt, into the air, which. in part. was
drawn by gravitation into the nine little
kettles! The boys took it good-naturedly
and imbibed the questionable beverage.
They did not smell coffee again until the
evening of July ;, when We not ONLY drew
rations in plenty. and had not only our
hot coffee. but had the news read to us
| that Vicksbnrg had surrendered, and we
were more than happy.
NEARLY everv one of that IL has foagl.,
| his last battle"
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
The Battle on the Yalu.

Columns of detailed description of the
japanese victory on the Yalu have been
telegraphed at great expense, and they
abound in much rhetoric about "sickenng
slaughter" and terrific artillery combats. :"
These, however, do not alter the main facts
in the case as already known. 1t appears
that the Russians had about 10000 men
defending the line of the Yalu How many
were in the actual fight is not apparent,
but there must have been fully half this
more it shows very bad management on the
part of the Russian commander. There
Is much talk of the Russians being unpre-
pared, but this only adds to the criminal
incompetence. 1t had been known for
months that there would be battle at that
point, that the japanese would attempt to
cross there. and the Russians certainly
should have had very formidable intrench-
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The 18th
Annual Convention. Ladies of the G.. A.
r., Department of California and Ne
vada. was held at Los Angeles, Cal. April
and 8. Much interest was manifested.
National President Belinda 5. Bailey and
National Secretary Abbie L. Krebbs were
present. The hospitality Of the people
was cordial. There were delightful outing
trips to Soldiers Home. 10 Long Beach
and to Santa Monica. The reports Of the
officers We're most encouraging, and show
our future to be happily promising. The
officers selected for the ensuing year are:
Mrs. Martha j. Herrick Eureka. Cal,
President: Mrs. Ella c. Smedley, Oakland,
Cal. Secretary; Mrs. Belle |. Ingram. Los
Angeles, Cal. Treasurer: Mrs. NJ. Drew,
San Jose. Cal, Senior VicePre>ident:
Mrs. y. b. Ireland. Los Angeles. Cal. Ju-
nior Vice president; Mrs. l.. Talbot. Los
Angeles. Chaplain: Mrs. NJ. J. Griffths.
San Francisco, Cal. Counsellor. Council
of Administration: Mrs. Il. Miller. Mrs.
Lena Scholten, San Francisco; Mrs. Ellen
Phelps. San Jose: Mrs. Hattie b. Sharkey,
Oakland. Cal.-HATTIE II. SHoRKLEY,
Department Corresponding Secretary.
Oakland. Cal.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

ments. That they did not have them shows
how terribly they were at fault and how
unified for their business.
In the preliminary terrific artillery
duels" before the crossing, the japanese
casualties are reported as two killed and
% wounded. 1t may be said, therefore,
that the Russians offered no resistance
worth mentioning to the crossing of the
river, but formed their line on the hills
back to resist the japanese advance. 1t is
also evident that the japanese carried every
point in the long line of four miles with
a rush, and with relatively insignificant
loss. There were masses of japanese
swarming over the plain and up the sides
which should have been the best of targets
for the Russian artillery and infantry, and
created sickening slaughter. Instead the
whole japanese loss is now reported to be
less than 600, of whom three-fourths were
SO slightly injured as to be ready for serv-
Ice again. Nowhere along that long line
has any single regiment or brigade seemed
to have made what would be called de-
termined stand, and nowhere were the Jap
anese checked for an instant. The whole
stretch Of nights was carried at an un-
broken rush. 1t is claimed that the Japa-
nese have buried ] 1862 dead Russians. and
have 475 wounded in the hospitals. They
captured in addition to the % guns, 20
officers and 1873 men-a surprisingly
small capture of prisoners, which seems to
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
NOT KNAPS BATTERY.
The Place Where Gen. Polk was Killed and
the 0Gctza Reports.

Comrade. d. III. Chandler writes from
Knoxville, Tenn: while l have no de-
sire to be drawn into controversy, feel
that recent statements by Dan Sims, W..
III. Mickle, and Reuben d. Quick, in re-
gard to the killing, of Lieut. Gen. Polk,
should correct them. Dan Sims says that
knap's Pa, Battery, of the Twentieth
Corps, fired the shot June ID. 1864, that
struck Polk, and that he saw Polk fall
from his horse.
wv. H. Miekle, Of .Walden, N. Y, says
he was present at the time, was an eye
! and-ear witness to what Dan Sims states,
and that it is true in every particular.
Reuben d. Quick says Polk was killed on
the 9th day of August, 1864, by shot
fired from the 18th N. Y. Battery-Cap-
tain Wheeler-and he knows whereof he
writes.
Now, Comrade, examine the records.
Maj-Gen. Howard, commanding Fourth
| Corps, reports that June IA, 1864, Lieut.
Gen. Polk was killed on Pine Mountain
by shell fred from one of his batteries.
Maj.-Gen. ID. S. Stanley, commanding
First Division, Fourth Corps, in his re-
port says Gen. Polk was killed June ID,
by shell fired from the 9Th Ind. Battery.
Brig Gen. w. G. Whitaker, commanding
Third Brigade, Fourth Corps, in his report
says Gen. Polk was killed June IA, 1864,
by shell from one of the steel guns of the
middle section of the 9Th Ind Battery,
commanded by Lieut.. Jacob +. Ellison.
These reports are found in volume %,
Union and Confederate reports of civil
war; operations in North Georgia, May 4
to Sept. 1S-the most reliable history of
the civil war ever published, being a de-
tailed record of events as they occurred.
"Thus, it is plain that when Dan Sims
in knap's battery was killing Polk he was
lying dead with hole through his body,
made by a 1O-pound shell the day before.
"If the comrades will go to the top of
Pine Mountain, about 40 rods or more
west Of the road to Marietta, Ga, they
will find a monument on which inscribed ::
In memory of Lieutenant General
Leonidas Polk, who fell on this spot, June
ii, 1864 Also these words Folding his
arms across his breast, he stood gazing
on the scene below. Turning himself around
| as if taking a farewell view: There, stand
ing, cannon shot from the enemy's guns
crushed through his breast, and opened a
wide door through which his spirit took its
flight to join his comrades on the other
shore
''The officers or men of the 9Th Ind Bat
terry have never considered it any especial
honor, having always regarded it one of
the incidents of the war; but we dislike
to be crowded away from our own fire.
We earnestly hope this subject will be
dropped. Like the DE Gress Battery and
who struck Billy Patterson incidents, it
has became stale"
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

torate of Japan, and Manchuria to re-
main Chinese territory. In q secret treaty
between China and Japan the integrity
of Manchuria has been guaranteed by
Japan.
Il also learn that Russia wishes to
come to an understanding with Japan in
dependently of England"
There is much possibility that this is
true. Russia seems to be on the verge
of collapse such as many close observers
have been anticipating for q long time.
The Russian administrative system is alb
solutely riddled with corruption, and while
presenting an imposing outward appear
ance, is ready to crumble at the first strong
touch. This is merely the repetition of
history. The Russians did the same thing
at the time of the Crimean war. When
the French and English with a small army
of $1,000 men besieged Sebastopol for
over year, Russia, with all her immense
population and presumed resources, was
unable to relieve the place and drive the
allies away. They finally took Sebastopol
and utterly destroyed it, infiicting an in
expressible injury to Russia's prestige by
the demonstration of the country's singu-
lar impotence in real war-like effort.
The same thing has been true of other
European countries, and it is what largely
accounts for Napoleon's wonderful victo-
res. Everywhere he went he found coun-
tries and armies under the Government of
stupid, corrupt, old aristocracy, which
was powerless to make any successful re-
sstance.
1t was astonishingly true of Prussia
When Frederick the Great died, in 1886
he left in Prussia what was far and away
the best and most honest civil and military
administration in the civilized world ut
that time. Yet within a single generation
this administration degenerated in the
hands of the aristocracy, in whose charge
Frederick left it, until it became almost
pitiably corrupt and inefficient. The Prus-
sian armies were everywhere wretchedly
supplied, and more wretchedly command
ed. With a very much inferior army, Ma
poleon absolutely crushed the Prussians
at Auerstadt and Jena, and produced such
decentralization that a French Captain at
the head of a cavalry company would ride
up to strong fortress, demand it's sur
render, and receive it. 1t was only when
the aristocracy was levelled to the dust
and the French conquerors became so in
solent and rapacious, with the common
people grooming under their exactions,
that relief became possible. Then Baron
Won Hardenberg instituted his great re-
form by distributing the lands among the
people, giving t',cm a stake in their coun-
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
MamnfiAl nAY

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Memorial
Day. with all its sacred memories. How
il stands out, from all other days as grand
and holy. 1t is day set apart by the pa
triotic people of our country. Our Nation
adopted its custom to devote one day of
the year to honor those who offered their
lives to save the Flag they loved. 1t is
fitting that we should lay aside ordinary
pursuits and business to observe the day;
TO pay tribute to those who preserved for
us the country undivided. To woman
first was given the happy thought Of this
tender tribute. In those sad days. when
our bereavements were fresh, We went
forth in tears and sorrow to scatter flow
ers over the graves of those who had
fallen. The new custom. beautiful in SEN
timent, touched the heart of the Nation,
awakened swift response, and the people
bowed to the sacred sentiment. Memorial
Day overleaped sectional lines. and the
lanx. strewing flowers, North and South,
standing within the encampments of the
dead, among the sacred mounds of those
who gave their lives for Freedom. If
silence is ever golden, it must be so among
the graves Of men whose deeds and
bravery are unparalleled in the history of
any Nation Their deeds outvoice the
grandest eloquence. Thirty-nin years
have passed; our Nation was never before
SO prosperous as now. Once crippled, it
has recovered. and has become powerful
and strong. Can we forget the cost! No!
No. The memories of those days Of fearful
Istrusgle, when the fate Of the nation seemed
to hang by thread, can never be effaced;
and yearly We come to scatter floral trib-
utes over the graves Of those who were
weary with marching, were SCARED and
warwarn. Thousands lived to see the
stars and bars go down and Stars and
Stripes go up. We have cheers for the
living, tears for the dead. All suffered.
that every star upon our Flag should still
be there. Rest peacefully, oh, dead; your
mission is fulfilled. The few who are left
deserve a deeper sympathy and higher
love. They should not be cast out or left
in need of assistance that our great Ma
ton can give. Their deeds live on; they
will not be forgotten while our glorious
banner shall float over freemen.-JULIA
E. PIERCE. Department Correspondent
Ladies Of the G. A. r., Portland, Ore
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

The members of the Grand Army of
the Republic are growing old and are in st
passing away. The time is not far dis.
tant when they. that are left will not he
able to parade" De
Too old to march," the Teller said.
aspeakin' in Town Hall,
teiiln bout Memorial Day, and how
Was gittin' old and halt and lame. feeble-
loOkin' lot,
And how there wasn't many left outside
the buryin' spot.
Went on to tell how sad it was to see the
once proud Frame
Abendin' with its weight O. years-but his
hull end and aim,
Fur all his hfalutin talk. was MIA IN
enough to me;
We was too old to march again, he wanted
US to see.
Well, | sat there athinkin' and pityin'
On the shelf. was o'ef anu me ia'd
l never yet in all my life had felt SO
AS when l listened to that chap and the
tale o woe he told.
And then it struck me all to once, l was
but sixty-fve.
Thinks /, why, twenty years or more NAV
find me still alive,
And my old comrades look to me like purity
rugged men.
just jumped up and from the shoulder
give it 10 'em then!
eff there's boy o. 'sixty-one' in this ere
hall tonight
That thinks he amt too old to march.
why. just hold up his right"
But, sir, they didn't stop fer that. thew
just jumped to their feet,
And the way that old hall rung that night
was certainly complete!
Wall, when the cheers died down again.
that speaker he looked gium,
Like most, he'd been mistaken, and tho
forty years hev' come
Since we went out to Join the ranks, we've
got life in us still,
And marchin' days amt over yet fer them
that's got the will
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
OPERATIONS OF THE WEEK.
Russians Falling Back Everywhere Befor
the Japanese-Apparen Abandonment o
the Lao Tung Peninsula.

the Lla0-IOng fen1uSula.
Contrary to general expectation, the Jap
anese made their main advance directly
from the Yalu front by the way of Feng-
wang-cheng. and, as we go to press, it is
believed that they are reaching the rail-
road somewhere between llaicheng and
Liao-yang. The first-named place is some
80 miles from Newchwang, and this move
ment cuts off the whole of the peninsula.
The Russians do not contemplate trying
to hold Newchwang. and the belief is that
possibly they will not attempt to hold
Mukden. but will continue TO fail back 10
the neighborhood of Hardin and the line
of the Sungar River. some 600 miles from
Port Arthur. Such an abandonment OF the
greater part of the Southern part of Man
churia would seem TO be dictated by their
utter incapacity to encounter the japanese
in any way or retard their advance. LII
they could not stop the Japanese coming
through the narrow. deep deiiles iii the high
mountains between Feng- wang heng and
The railroad, they could not hope to stop
them anywhere short of the Sunsari River.
In passing through the mountains from
Fengw ang-cheng, the Japanese must have
had to string out in long. thin columns,
widely separated, and traversing the worst
roads in the world. which cross torrent
like streams, and go through deep gulches,
dII VI HltH OueF SItdleSl pOSSiDilits
for defense and for the destruction of an
invading force. Yet nowhere have the Rus
slams attempted to drive back even the
smallest of the Japanese forces. The
Wanted COssacks did not report single
prisoner. The whole thing is irreconcilable
with the theory that the Russians are 4
military people. There must be some deep
er reason for this astonishing collapse of
the Russian army.
The japanese, it is believed. will make
every effort to rush things. and get all the
territory that they propose to occupy be-
fore the coming of the rainy season, which
is due in six weeks, and when the roads
will become so impossible as to virtually
prevent military operations. While the
Russians are making more proclamations
about holding Port Arthur, we have heard
their prOtestations before, and may be par
dOned for having little confidence in them.
1t does not seem at all probable that Port
Arthur can maintain itself very long;
whether the japanese decide to attack it
direct, or wait for starvation to reduce it.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
MICHIGAN At ANDERsONWLLE.
A Monument to 1db1Aigan Dead to Be IN
vailed IN Memorial Day.

At the Department Encampment Of the
Michigan T.. A.: K. held ut Pontiac in
June, 1902. a cmmittee was appointed to
go before the Legislature and solicit an
appropriation to- erert monument to the
100 Michigan soldiers who persisted in
Andersonville Prison. The committee
named were: Es s. Jameson. Chairman;
George w. Stone and j. A. Griffin. Their
work met with sucsess. and they succeeded
in getting an appropriation of $4,000, of
which $500 was allowed for expenses of
the Commission! Gov. Bliss signed the
bill and named as the Commission to erect
the monument Mrs. Jennie Carpenter. of
Saginaw: +. S. Jameson. of Marine City,
and q. w. Stone, IF Lansing. AS soon as
the law took effect the Commission met
and advertised for bids. the contract be-
ing awarded to Lloyd Bros. of Toledo.
for Il beautiful and classical design in
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
WAR IN THE ORIENT.
Unboken japanese Abandoning the Whole
Peninsula Except Port Artfur-WI Probably Retire to Hardin.

show that the japanese were not so good
in pursuit as they were in assault. Again,
it is surprising. and to the Russians hui
initiating. fact. that there is not a single
high officer reported among the killed.
wounded. or captured. 1t looks as if
they. like the traditional militia officer,
were "a little lame. and started early
Russia now claims that the guns which
they lost were old and of little value. but
this can hardly he said to diminish the dis
credit not only of their loss, but the way
they were lost.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
Tridinl Losses.

In spite of the rapid and successful ad-
vance of the japanese. the fighting seems
to be Of the most significant character.
A long dispatch to the Gar from Gen.
kuropatkin telling of the successful Japa-
nese advance from Feng-wang -cheng. May
II. states that two sotnias-regiments-o
Cossacks occupied an important defile and
were attacked by two companies of .Iapa-
nese in front and another on the flank. be-
fore whom they retired after "a sharp
fight Gen. Kuropatkin reports his loss
as one Captain wounded and two Cossacks
killed
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

The proba biIities are therefore strong at
this period that the japanese will 60 as
far north at least as Mukden, estab-
lish their base at that ancient capital of
Manchuria, and put the railroad leading
from there to Port Arthur and Newchwang
in good shape. SO as to supply a large army
massed around Mukden. The Russians will
retire to somewhere in the neighborhood
of the line of the Sungari. The establish
ment of their line will be dictated by their
ability to supply it from Hardin. Thus
the two armies will probably remain during
the rainy season.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
POSSIBILITIES OF PEACE.
Russia Apps ars to be Collapsing and May
be on the Verge of a French Revolution.

The generally well-infOrmed correspon-
dent of the London Times telegraphs to
his paper as follows under date of May
Il:
Il learn on excellent authority that
there is strong possibility of peace.
What makes the news doubly interesting
is the fact that the war party has urged
the Car to end the struggle.
Tho basis of settlement is to be the
independence of Korea under the protec
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
Defenses of Port Arthur.

A private letter from an artillery officer
at Port Arthur reports that the fortress
is practically impregnabe There are three
rows of forts around the land side of the
city and the glacis of each position is
fronted with moat and hedge of barbed
wire beyond. Behind each battery are
bombproof shelters.
The writer declares that supplies and
ammunition are abundant and that the gar
rison is confident of being able to hold out
for from nine to ~ months.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19

the best of my knowledge. 1t is not sup
posed that one man can tell all that hap
pened on such quick movements; but let
each one tell what he can and we will
finally get the most of it.-R. l. SMITH.
Go. +, 32d Ill.,, Taylorville, III.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
OF INTEREST TO PENSION ATTORNEYS.

The National Tribune is prepared to fur
nish TO attorneys and others blank forms of
application under the recent order of the
per hundred. Address The National Trib-
une. 500 Pa. Ave. N. w. Washington.
D. C.
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
Loss of a Torpedo Boat

The severcst loss the Japanese have so
far reported is that of torpedo boat No.
AZ. which was destroyed May II, while
removing mines in the bay north of Dalny.
Seven men were killed and seven injured.
This is the first war vessel the japanese
have lost
The National tribune., 1904-05-19
"TOO OLD TO MARCH. "

The members of the Grand Army of
the Republic are growing old and are fast
passing away. The time is not far dis
able to parade" ' NC
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-15

story which the old Turkish grandhers tell their grand
folk lore tale that told about the days of
Il Mahommed
strange land beyond the rugged northern
member of his family asked what
Each member of the family
carefully he
noticed his old
And what shall bring for you he asked
ike to all
table and
thought
sed fulfill ~
he ourneyed the land beyond
tered trade and few became wealthy
determined to his land His belongings
yerted into gold and with this including the family
crumbs he had saved for his father
and they set out to the mountains into Turkey
for Finally their provisions gave they were on
point OF starvation when the thought
save for his
Aas!" he cried Il father |
him. for hunger compels for
Heb
of
father he had nothing he
Alas! father have to
the
had saved life nnyco
And the old father replied: lis The
has been fulfilled"