The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-07-13
"A DfEgruntled
.Vefero Z,
tOriginal.l


In the spring of 1861 l marched
away with the boys in blue. No one
who has been born since those stormy
days can realize the enthusiasm, the
patriotism, the war spirit. that per-
vaded all classes. When regiment
departed for the front the streets were
lined with people, the windows were
filed with women waving adieus and
huzzas rolled on with the tramping
men like ocean pillows following n
ship.
Nevertheless these acclamations had
little effect to rouse me from certain
melancholy. / realized that when | got
into camp at the front they would be
replaced by the wind and rain, the bull
let, shot and shell and, worse than all
these, disease. Besides l was parting
from Ruth Halliwell, whom l had long
unsuccessfully courted. but who, see
ing me an embryo soldier, had given
way to the enthusiasm OF the moment
and promised that when / returned
hero she would bestow her hand on me.
Well, l found the condition at the
front as | had expected. We were not
even near the first great battlefield,
Bull Run. At the time IL was fought
we were lying in camp, becoming very
tired of our occupation. Then we en-
gagged in II number Of petty sklrmishes,
In some of which n very large proper
tion of the force engaged were killed,
but they made no stir among our
friends Mt the north, for they were not
battles. l got sick and spent weeks In
hospital. | recovered and was shot
while on picket and nursed my wound
for three months in hospital. Indeed,
during the whole war | escaped every
one of the great battles, fighting con
stantly in small affairs, in many of
which there was less chance OF my cs-
Gaping alive than In battle. | was
wounded seven timSS, had every fever
known In the south, including thI
dreaded yellow fever, and Mt last was
discharged because the government did
not think it would pay to try to get me
well enough to fight again. But this
was only few months before the close
of the war.
l expected to be received in the
north with the same enthusiasm as
when | had left. Instead found that
discharged soldiers had been coming
from the front for four years and were
an old story. Indeed bounty jumping
had become so common that some per-
sons looked at me nskancc, wondering
If were not in that line.
When | got near enough to my home
to meet friends they began at once to
ask me TO tell my experiences, or, rath-
err, to ask me what great battles had
participated in was obliged to reply,
"Nonc." The look Of disappointment
on their faces pierced me like bayo.
net
what. In no battle at all?" was the
universal exclamation.
Not Il battle, but | was in hundreds
Of big fights and skirmlshcs, was often
wounded, had Innumcrablc diseases
and after one campaign came very
near dying from the exposure | had
Sutrcrcd.'
This enumeration Of hardships pro-
duced no effect whatever. For any
credit | got for 1t | might as we'll have
stayed ut home. When | reached home
I walked up the street, mentally pic
turing the scene had witnessed at my
departure. Now every ono was busy
with the ordinary affairs of life.
would not have known the country
was Mt war When | met friends ]
met the same old question, "What bat.
ties were you in?" l was obliged to
make the negative reply, always call.
Ing forth an expression which seemed
to say, you're no soldier; you've
doubtless been all the while with tho
provost guard at Washington" Then
they would turn to discuss Il horse race