The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-10-05

In talking about the Grand Army
organization. Sons Of the Revolution
and kindred societies.. says the ven
cradle John Wentworth Of Medford.
Mass. Il think ] am entitled to mem
bership Ia them all. though belonging
70 none. ss my grandfather. Reuben
wentworth. was a Maine soldier from
Shapleigh at Bunker hill: my father
Ephraim Wentworth, also Of Shap-
leigh. served as an enlisted man In
the war OF 1879; / myself twice en-
listed in the late civil war, once in
Co. e, fist Mass. Vols, serving four
teen months; second in the veteran
reserve corps. serving fifteen months:
while three OF my sons enlisted in
three different Massachusetts regi-
ments in 1861 and 1862. q the pres
ent descendants OF the family. liable
for military duty. are all ready for
the next war.
"A greater part OF my long life has
been spent in Massachusetts. when
] enlisted AZ Salem in August 1862. !
was barely within the limit Of IS
years. Ny regiment was shipped to
Louisiana, where It remained as long
as I continued with II. the swamps
and the hayous along the Mississippi
proving too much for me. putting me
on the sick list and out Of active duty
10 such an exgen that I asked for and
received my discharge In November.
1853. But was al Port Hudson dur
ing the siege. previously in the fight
az Baton Rouge. and saw much 81 the
actual horrors of war. and the condi-
ton o. our troops az Port Hudson was
Of such a desperate nature that n
the fort bad not surrendered az about
the time Il did. Il Is diflculi 10 tell
what might have happened Il was
a hard place indeed for northern men
to perform the duties q a soldier. 70
say nothing 81 the bullets OF The en-
envy. sud the fal ot Vieksburg was a
mos fortunate thing for the army u
Banks IA front Of Port Hudson
In August, 1854. ! again enlisted
in The service. this time Ia the Yeter.
IN reserve corps, and was anally sta.
toned e. Washington on guard duty.
and there ! had one OF the most ex-
citing experiences Of my whole time
iu the service. ID was the night the
president was shot by Booth. was
a. nay quarters with other members
81 my company. when one Of our ser.
Feants who had been az Ford's thea.
ter that evening rushed b~reatblessls
into the room. shouting The presl
dent has been shot Every man turn
OUT az once,
we an Immediately mustered for
duty. marched down ia the direction
% the White House, and meeting an
omcer be ordered as to report al the
home OF Secretary stanton for guard
duty. soon the streets we're fun o.
officers riding IN. every direction and
small bodies Of troops marching.
eAii the while we were making C
way 10 Stanton's house the rumors
we're nying about thick aud fast. The
president vas said TO be dyinr. tho
whole cabinet was marked Tor slaugh.
ter. Vice President Johnson hsd been
attacked and Grant vas on the list OF
victims
"our company. however. kept right
on 10 is ordered destination. reaching
Mr.. Stanton's home without any troy
bic, and our ohcers. satisfying them.
solves that the great war secretary
wan safe inside. made such disposition
OF thc company as the circumstances
demanded
Every man 81 as vas depressed hy
the death 81 Mr.. Lincoln. a. q was
only two weeks before hiss faied visit
io Fosd's heateF sba, be received and
shook hands With our entire regimen.
tai organization. The president stood
in the hallway or the White House
while We marched Ia the frunt dooF
passed him with e handshake. and
nled cut az the rear door Thea
again. ne often saw the president on
the street, usually with a mounted
guArd. Nhile Gen Grant we often mvg
smoking his inevitable cigar, and be
often babe us a respectful good morn.
ing with the customary salute,