Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-05-20

! happened during the war that has not
/ been recognized and placed in its prop
er sphere. For some unknown reason
| II has been generally overlooked and
| forgotten by the government at Wash
ington, as well as the soldiers of the
war, with the exception Of those who
are the survivors Of that terrible catas-
| trophe, in whose memories II will re-
main forever.
The larger portion of those who We're
| lost had not only served their country
well in battle. but did service in the
capacity OF a prisoner 49, the United
States government refused to exchange
prisoners with the Confederate author
tiles for the simple reason that in ex-
| changing Union soldier for one of
the Confederate soldiers uhey being on
| the defensel a man would be of great
err value to them than one man would
be to the Union force, therefore, the
government saw fit not to make any
exchanges, but to allow the prisoners
| to remain prisoners rather than in
crease the forces of the Confederate
army. The prisoners understanding the
situation. suffered in that capacity I'M
told horrors without murmur or COM
plant, but stood loyal to the country
and its cause. In fact the Confcder-
ate government made that as an argu-
ment to the prisoners through their Of.
1 ficers, if they would enlist In their
ranks and take the oath of allegiance
TO their government, they would be
placed in their ranks and treated as
their own soldiers. To the credit of
those men who were on the eve of
starvation, death staring them In the
face with few exceptions), refused
and spurned the offer.
Such were some of those who were
lost in that disaster. 1t was when
their hopes We're at the highest, that
in a few days they would meet their
! friends and loved ones, this calamity
came and they We're called into etern-
ity-all through the carelessneSs of the
officers at Nicksburg IN placing three
times the number of people on the boat
that the boat could safely carry.
The river on that memorable morn
| ing was at its height, covering the
country for miles around The rise
was from the Missouri and the upper
Mississippi Rivers, and as cold as il
naturally would be at that season of
the year and the source from which ii
! came
Few of the bodies OF those who met
| their death were ever recovered. hut
| tioated on down the river and were
| buried in the sand or went on down
| and ont into the gulf It is with sad,
ness that we look back in our memory
| at that trying hour and are reminded
| of the fact that our comrades who
| Were unable TO stem the current ana
went down to death ana their mortal
| bodies were left to the elements, that
destroyed them, TO deSplse at it's will
Sentiment has n great deal 10 do
with life Our government has done a
great many sentimental things and
practical things, likewise. The Sol.
diers' Monument, and all monuments,
are in a sense sentimental, and at the
| same time practical 1t speaks MS q
! remembrance Of the actions Of men or
| nations. a soldiers monument instills
patriotism in the citizen and love OF
| country. While the country has done
a great many things for those who
| participated In the Rebellion. I be
lieye that there is one thing left nm
| done That Is, they should have taken
| a practical notice Of that event. of the
/ lose rf no Gttt
remembrance of that disaster as a me
| mortal in notable place in the com
| try and by way of suggestion I would
say Arlington Cemetery at Washington
| City.
| The government took notice of it on
| April 30, 1865. Hon Il. M. Stanton.
! Secretary Of War, instructed Brevt
! Brigadier Hoffman Commissioner
| General Of Prisoners. TO inquire into
| the circumstances of the destruction OF
! the steamer referred to. The officer
on May 10, 1868. made a report and
amongst other things he said: Upon
a careful consideration Of all the facts
as presented In the testimony herewith
| submitted. am of the opinion that
the shipment Of so large number Of
troops GsGG on one boat, under the
circumstances, unnecessary. uniustlh
able, and great outrage on the troops.
and that there Were -four officers Cam.
ing them who were responsible for
the number Of troops on an unsuitable
vessel 70 my knowledge. that was
the only thing that has ever been done
by the government in tnat matter and
at this date, believe II would be wise
and just that such notable event Of
the war should he recognized ana
placed In It's proper place In the an.
| mails Of our country.
JOSEPH r. ELLIOT.
Indianapolis.
! Late Second Lieutenant Company &.
| 124th Regiment Of Indiana Volunteer
IL