Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-10-14
Was One of stanton,s Guard.

Was One of Stanton's Guard.
In talking about the Grand Army
organization, Sons of the Revolution
and kindred societies. says the ven
cradle John Wentworth of Medford,
Mass, L think l am entitled to men,
bership in them all, though belonging
to none, as my grandfather, Reuben
Wentworth, was a Maine soldier from
Shaplefgh at Bunker hill; my father
Ephraim Wentworth, also of Shap-
leigh, served as an enlisted man in
the war of 1872; 1 myself twice en-
listed in the late civil war, once in
Co. E, 41st 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, and 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
l enlisted at Salem in August, 1862, 1
was barely within the limit of As
years. My regiment was shipped to
Louisiana, where it remained as long
as l continued with it, the swamps
and the bayous along the Mississippi
proving too much for me, putting me
on the sick list and out of active duty
to such an extent that l asked for and
received my discharge in November,
1863. But l was at Port Hudson dur
ing the siege, previously in the fight
at Baton Rouge, and saw much of the
actual horrors of war, and the condi-
ton of our troops at Port Hudson was
of such a desperate nature that if
the fort had not surrendered at about
the time it did, it is difficult to tell
what might have happened. 1t was
a hard place indeed for northern men
to perform the duties of a soldier, to
say nothing of the bullets of the en-
envy, and the fall of Vicksburg was a
most fortunate thing for the army of
Banks in front of Port Hudson.
I'm August, 1864, 1 again enlisted
in the service, this time in the veter-
an reserve corps, and was finally sta
toned at Washington on guard duty,
and there 1 had one of the most ex-
citing experiences of my whole time
in the service. 1t was the night the
president was shot by Booth 1 was
at my quarters with other members
of my company, when one of our SER
ter that evening, rushed breathlessly
into the room, shouting, The presi-
dent has been shot Every man turn
out at oncel'
I'VE all Immediately mustered for
duty, marched down in the direction
of the White House, and meeting an
officer he ordered us to report at the
home of Secretary Stanton for guard
duty. Soon the streets were full of
officers riding in every direction and
small bodies of troops marching.
'All the while we were making our
way to Stanton's house the rumors
were flying about thick and fast. The
president was said to be dying, the
whole cabinet was marked for slaugh-
ter, Vice President johnson had been
attacked and Grant was on the list of
victims.
"Our company, however, kept right
on to its ordered destination, reaching
Mr.. Stanton's home without any tro.-
BILE, and our officers, satisfying them
selves that the great war secretary
was safe inside, made such disposition
of the company as the circumstances
demanded.
Every man of us was depressed by
the death of Mr.. Lincoln, as it was
only two weeks before his fated visit
to Ford's theater that he received and
shook hands with our entire regimen
tai organization. The president stood
in the hallway of the White House
while we marched in the front door,
passed him with a handshake, and
filed out at the rear door. Then
again, we often saw the president on
the street, usually with a mounted
guard, while Gen. Grant we often met
smoking his inevitable cigar, and he
often babe us a respectful good morn
ing with the customary salute"
Jules Lumbard's Songs.
A big. deep-chested, fine-looking old
man. with long snow white hair fall