Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-08-05
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE VAR.
Graphic Account OF Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and In
Camp-veterans of the RebeiIion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Natnrs.

ter of the G. A. r. several old fellows
as usual had much TO say of the Civil
War, particularly concerning events
and circumstances in which they either
participated or were able to relate with
the soundest reasons for belief in their
truthfulnesS, says the Washington
Star. Every man in the little group
had snuffed the odor of hostile powder,
and each had hardened to the "Con-
federate yell" as it came from trenches,
over fields on mountain tops and in
the valleys.
On this special occasion Incidents
more or less relating TO the battle of
Gettysburg were talked about. An old
clerk in one of the departments, who
carried with him constantly a souve-
mir of that terrific struggle in the shape
of an empty sleeve told of certain ex-
periences that befell him after he be-
came hors de combat. He was resid-
ing In the Green Mountain State when
bugles first called men to arms to save
the Union and though he had not yet
advanced to mans estate, he enlisted
promptly in Vermont regiment, and
from first to last had his full share
of fighting. His story, embelllshed
with many points of humor, had yet
considerable pathos with it, and is Civ.
en-, as nearly as the writer can reeol-
lect, in his own vernacular.
Il received my Quietus," he said, "on
the second day of the Gettysburg fight
One thing l recollect perfectly. and
that the day was scorcher. I'm talk
ing about the caloric in the atmos-
phere, not about the heat of the fight
Men on both sides knew all about that
About 4 O'clock in the afternoon was
kneeling on one knee all ready TO take
another shot, when all of a sudden /
thought a hornet stung me- Well. it
was hornet, but ii was made of lead
and came out of a Confederate rife
| soon found that out, and reported Il,
the rear in double quick order. | had
been on the fighting line nearly the
entire day, and was perfectly tagged
out.
well, as / could show blood, was
passed on, and l swear that then
felt as though We're on a vacation.
wanted drink of good. cool water
for that remaining in my canteen was
as hot as if ii had been boiled so
went on looking for a river or a brook
or spring or any place where l cou.
quench my thirst. Soon found one In
a sort of little grove 1t was jus.
hubbling and gurgling and sparkling
and | thought il was one of the pref
test sights l ever saw in my life ]
just lay down on my stomach, and
with my wounded arm thrust deer
into the water, drank my fill l never
had such a refreshing draught in al.
my born days. 1t put new life in me
and ! remember to this day that / sa'
down for a long time, and wondered
among other things, If there WASH
good trout fishing in the stream; then
after long rest, l resumed my jour
ney. ! knew l was bound to pull VI
somewhere, and l didn't care much
where.
II hadn't gone far when | met two
officers. They had boxes under theil
arms, and ii was not difficult for me
to recognize them as medical officers
They were young men. both Of them
and after a short talk with me and al
examination of my wounded wing
they began to talk to each other abou
modification and amputation, and al
that sort Of thing, and at the sam,
time informing me that it was neces
sary to cut my arm off then and there
They assured me of their regret tina
they had nothing in the nature OF anes
thetics. l kicked, metaphorically ant
physically. l wanted to go to a hos
pital, but they said nay, and the re
suit is here" and he held up what re
manned of the arm.
And now comes the third thing II
this eventful tragedy"
Here the veteran waved pathetic an(
grew poetic. it was nearing or quite
shutdown when the surgeons met me
and / enjoyed their company for abou
half an hour. when l went my way
and they continued on their journey
About 8 O'Clock over a little range Of
hills | saw the big round yellow moon
flooding the country with light. The
evening was growing cooler, and
was ready for all the repose / couI(
get. saw by the moonlight a barr
or outbuilding of some kind and mad,
for it, When | looked into the door
saw it was already occupied. but Their,
was room for one more. The tempo
rary tenants were scattered around II
all directions, some sitting up agains
the wall and others on their backs on
the floor, They We're all soldiers, and
noticed particularly one who was sit
ting down with his musket between
his knees. He was leaning agalnst
some boards. Nobody said anything t.
me, so l entered without the slightes:
: ceremony and wac aglaa~, hoForo -.