Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-02
THE BOOMING CANNON
REClTALS OF CAMP AND SAT.
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors OF the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-

in battle when he was a boy, second
lieutenant"
who is hef"
Let me tell you something about
him.
his name is John Davidson The
last week in June, 1861. a company
made up almost wholly of farmer bows
from Crawford County, Wisconsin,
marched into Camp Randall. Madison.
and became Company c of the Sixth.
regiment which for four years played
\ more or less prominent part in the old
war of the sixties, Among the young
farmer boys of Company c was rosy
checked. patriotic, energetic John Da-
wilson He developed into superb
soldier, who did well every duty as
signed TO him and seemed always TO
/ be watching for other service to per-
/ form.
There never was anything about
him indicating a desire to win glory
/ for himself His aim seemed to be al
ways to serve, to the very best of his
ability, the country he loved.
He missed no battles in which his
regiment participated, and his reg-
ment participated in all the great bat
| ties of the Army of the Potomac.
In one of the great battles John Da-
Yt9soa was hero, but notably mod
/ est one - go
Every soldier who participated in
the series of battles on the Weldon
railroad, near the yellow House, 10 the
left of Petersburg, in August, 1864.
viii remember the sharp. hard work
that was necessary to prevent General
Malone and his veteran Virginians
from destroying the Fifth Corps.
Those fights were models i'm their
way. The two forces smashed up
against each other. struck right and
left and fought with Savagery seldom
noted. The position taken was very
important one To the FcderalS. and its
loss was serious one to the Confeder-
ates. Mahone's division charged Cut
ler's division three times in one day.
and was repulsed with great loss each
time
After the first charge was made Ser
geant John Davdson-heh had been Civ
en- another stripe-reQueste the privi-
| lege of taking a bunch of muSkets
| gathered from the field the day before
with view TO loading them and
placing them on the brpastworks in
readiness for the next charge 1t was
a novel idea, and permission was
| granted. Davidson hurriedly collected
a force of ten men and Instructed them
as TO the manner of dscharging the eX-
ira guns he had placed on the breast
works. when Mahones men came at
them again. There were nearly 100
Of these extra guns. Sergeant David.
son and his ten men discharged their
own pieces and then rapidly went
along the line and discharged the ex-
ira hundred This was repeated ut
the third charge and with wonderful
effect.
There was no call for Sergeant pa
wilson to introduce and carry out that
plan, but it was his way. Probably he
did not engage in a battle when he did
not do more than he was expected Ia
do. He was one of the men who ought
TO have been commissioned officer
two years before he was made one.
Not long after that days three fierce
charges with friGhtful slaughter
ionnd myself a newly made adiutant
of the regiment. l knew the impor.
lance of securing competent man for
sergeant major, and thought that nv
rosy-cheeked boy OF Camp Randall
! now one of the best soldiers lin the
army, would fill the bill. Much TO my
surprise and disappointment. when
offered the appointment to Sergr. Ia
wilson. he said he guessed he would
stay with the company. He had been
| with il about three and a half years
and lie did not like to leave the bows
The next day | preached the subject
again, and the next He finally con
Guided that lie would try it for a
month, and If / could promise TO re
lieye him in case he did not like the
work.
About two months after his appoint
/ tlieHt the colotlel gave me data for a
letter to be written to the Governor
asking for several commissions. Some
Of them were for lieutenants to be pro
NOTED to captains. and some for scr
eeants to be promoted to leutenants
After writing the letter | handed If tr
the sergeant major to be copied When
he reached the recommendation OF
Sergt. Maj. John Davidson. for second
Lieutenant Of Company u, he stopped
writing and said, "Adjutant. this Is not
right; there are several men in Com
pany c who ought to he made leuten
ants before | am | said, Sergeant
obeyed the coloners directions in
preparing this letter, and | guess YOU
will have TO obey mine in copying it
But the remark was lust ike bra ve