The National tribune., 1904-04-14
The Morgan Cattle.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1 have
been particularly interested in Mosgrove's
"reminiscences OF Morgan's Cavalry, in
which a cousin. Samuel Bangs. who re-
Gently died in Washington, D. c., served.
There were three of us, half-brothers, on
the Federal side, although we were born
south Of Mason and Dixon's line. but
raised by Henry II. French, originally of
Maryland, newspaper publisher at
Bardstown, Georgetown and Catlettsburg.
KY, strongly pro-siavery in sentiment, a
contemporary of Geo. ID. Prentice, of
Louisville, and Sam Pike, of Paris, KY
Frank X. French saw hard service with
the I'd Ky. for three years; George in the
AID KY, il l mistake not, he being dead
for some time. My own service. some
thing over three years, was in Cos. G. and
A, 14th Ky, and the recent reference of
w. r. Carter, 4th Tenn. (and right here
let me say that, having had wide ac-
quaintance with the sufferings and hard
ships of those loyal men through my du-
ties with Provost Marshal Geo w. Gal
lop. Of the 18th Ky, at the Cumberland
Gap, when that section is mentioned in
my presence, or the brave boys from there.
in whatever line of duty they were in,
feel like taking off my hat and doffing it
to them, little given as | am to worship
ing man as mani, to the statement of Mos
grove about the cattle John Morgan ran
off from us on. that memorable trip,
made me agree with him that the cattle
were in Mosgrove's minds eye: not at
any time remembering that we had any
thing to eat on that trip except very light
rations, living mostly on pawpaws and the
corn we took from the meager fields en-
route and ground into meal on our perfo-
rated tin plates. The subsequent remarks
Of ]. r. Mcbride presumably of the 33d
1nd) is a fair statement of the facts as
[ remembered them, and read with much
interest.
Now, later, comes Jno A. McGRegor,
Co. G, AID Ohio, and covers my idea gen.
orally as to the statements pro and con
of comrades as to what they saw and did
in that great army. Often | have
thought, am l dreaming. or is one mans
sight, hearing, memory and opportunity
SO much greater than mine that, as pri-
Yates in the ranks they should at this late
day remember the movements of cOntig-
uous companies, regiments and divisions,
to the end that they can make such minute
statements as they do; and. while chart
tabiy inclined to all, have thought that a
little more charity toward one another
would not be amiss. McGregor makes a
very clear and satisfactory showing of the
cattle matter and how even the best-in-
tentioned statement may be gainsaid by
another from a different point of view.
Boys, don't draw too hard OH your inn
agina tons.
would like to ask McGregor if he
knows what became of Jno. BraytOn, of
his regiment, with whom | was plea sanity
associated at the Gap. We had in the
office at the time a German who wore
glasses, and John. noticing that he did not
have to use them. asked why he wore
them? His reply was, II do it for effect.'
To soldier this was enough to make
him the butt Of our jokes during our sub
sequent association.
The first Colonel Of the 33d Ind. was q
German and was, on this campaign, a bri-
gade commander for whom | acted as an
orderly l would like the editor, or some
33d man, to give his name and state what
became of him.
With the other boys on that hard and
memorable trip, / think that our officers
deserve much praise for that mastery
march and the small number of men lost
when we expected if not to be gobbled en-
tirely at least to sustain severe losses be-
fore the threa tening situation could be re-
lieved.
Co. G being the color company, in retro
spect Of the gallant boys who yielded their
lives under my own observation, / have
often thought that this service was not as
fully brought out as it might be- Seldom
was there an action of ever so little i'm
portance that the brave men who carried
the colors did not do SO under many
chances that they would be killed or
wounded, and how seldom did they go
down that some brave boy did not see that
they were full far advanced" when pos
sible, or returned to the rear to form the
goal on which to rally!
BY the way, please give Ogden