Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-06-17
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE Wan.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and I'm
camp-vetsrans of the RebeIlien Re-

cits Experiences Of Thrilling Nasxre.
Il met General George H. Harries
the other day." said the Captain. HE
Is now in command OF the national
guard of the District of Columbia, and
Is doing great work under the eyes
of soldiers who know what good work
is. However, knew him thirty years
ago. when he was in the regular army,
and was with Crook on the Rosebud.
He prided himself on the training he
had received in English military
schools. and in the volunteer army in
this country, and thought he was up
TO all the tricks Of hard fighting.
but when the ranks closed In for
a hand TO hand struggle at the battle
OF the Rosebud and his comrades, old
Indian fighters, dubbed their rifles for
the last onslaught he was appalled, by
the thought that he had had absolute
IL no experience in using musket or
a rife as club. But the Indians came
with rush, and the men around him
were at work, handling their guns as
they would short clubs, and with great
skill. ~~~-
"Harries In desperation caught his
gun by the barrel and laid about him
with all the strength of his stalwart
figure. After he had struck the first
blow and had broken the head of a
particularly aggressive Indian, he ex-
perienced sort of ecstasy. felt like
another man who knew just how to
handle dubbed rife TO do the most
harm. He did great execution and,
seeing that he understood his business,
his comrades gave him room to swing
his gun with the greatest possible free
dom.
when the fight was over and the
Indians had been driven off and Har-
ries was trying to get his breath, Gen
eral Crook rode up and said: That
was magnificent, my man. l said to
myself as l saw you swing your gun
that you must have been born in Wales
and have lived in the stone age There
was something primitive and savage
In that club action, and It was effec-
tive Harries still maintains that that
was the proudest moment OF his life"
THAT reminds me" said the Major,
"of Pat Mcbride of our old regiment
Pat was great worker, a good march
er, handy with shovel, but he was
bashful in the presence Of his own gun.
He couldn't understand the mechan-
ism of half cock and full cock. and he
was timid about pulling the trigger.
The boys joked him numerically about
going through two or three skirmishes
without firing shot, and this in
creased Pats embarrassment when we
came to fight our first battle He
blushed when other men went pale,
and he fingered the trigger of his gun
in an embarrassed, helpless sort of a
way.
'Soon the lines closed in for a rough
and tumble fight, and most of the men
dubbed their muskets. Pat watched
this performance with wide and smil-
ing eyes, and | thought he was going
to remain an idle spectator when he let
loose an exultant yell and plunged
into the fight, welding his gun with
terrible effect. He whooped, danced,
jumped, cracked his heels together,
and seemed wild with delight. With
a club in his hand he was master of
the situation, and when all was over
Pat regarding his broken gun lock with
relief the Captain said encouragingly,
Blood will tell Pat didn't know what
the Captain meant, but he responded
1t will, sor."
General Logan" said Frenchy Of
the Seventy Sixth Illinois, would have
liked Pat Mcbride. He did me favor
once when we were on quarter rations
He overlook me about 3 o'clock one
afternoon in the Merlden compaign
and asked about rations. | told him
they were blamed short, all of which
he knew. He said: DO you see that
white house yOnder There are ful
rations there. But remember, Frenchy
don't let me see you except in line OF
duty saluted and said, All right
General and he rode on.
I'VE were mounted at that time, and
as soon as | found our regiment got
five of our boys together and we raid.
ed the white house. We loaded our
horses with hams, shoulders and fowls
and added a number OF chickens for
our sick squad. AS we rode along the
line to reach our command we came
upon General Logan. He seemed not
to recognize me, but, watching my op-
portunity, | said: General. the doctor
has overloaded me with provisions for
the hospital. / must save the chickens
for the sick, but can't you carry ham
TO campY
"He smiled, and considered the mat
ter. He seemed TO feel that If be
didn't take the ham there and then
he wouldn't get II at all, and, his or
DERBY not being present. he instructed