The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-10-19
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl.
dents Of the Late War, and In q
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell Of Camp, March and Battle.

Scotia, who was Governor Morton
private secretary throughout the civil
war, I'm writing to the Indianapolis
News Of some war Incidents, tells an
interesting story of General Lew Wal
lace and how the Indiana regiments
In the war for the Union came to start
at six as the number of the first IN
fantry regiment. From the first"
says the colonel, LEV Wallace, then
acknowledgement of the State of Indi-
ana, insisted that the new regimental
numbers should begin at 6 to avoid n
duplication Of the five that had served
during the Mexican war. Then began
q struggle among those who had raised
these first regiments to secure the low
est possible number, each being anx-
ious to show by such a record that he
and his regiment had entered the serv-
ice early. 1t became known that Lew
Wallace was to command one Of the
regiments, and it seemed as if half
the officers Of the companies that had
been accepted were anxious that their
companies should become part Of his
regiment. So he had little peace until
1t was settled what companies were
to serve under his command.
THE field officers of the various
regiments came to me in large num-
bers and suggested that they were con-
fident that Wallace would take the
lowest number, 6, for his regiment,
and requested me to request Governor
Morton to assign the numbers by lot.
I.told them the governor could not
interfere in the business of the ad-
jutant-general, and then spoke of it to
Wallace, who said he had not thought
Of the matter and cared nothing what
number should be given to his regi-
ment, but to settle the matter he
would say then and there that he
would select the number IL, the high
est number, for his regiment. and the
other colonies might settle the num-
bers to be ass gned to their regiments
among themselves. The numbers Of
the other regiments, if my recollection
is correct, were then determined by
lot.
1T Is well-known fact that the
Eleventh Indiana was one Of the best
drilled AMI best disciplined regiments
nished larger number of officers as
field officers to other regiments, as
well as major and brigadier-g generals.
than any other from Indiana, if not
from the Union"
Colonel Holloway in this letter gives
the following characteristic anecdote
of President Lincoln: William II.
Burlington, now American consul at
Naples, who was one Of the Wash
ington staff of the New York Tribune
during the civil war, told me last sum-
mer that late one night following the
receipt of the news that Sherman had
cut loose from Atlanta for the sea, he
received a message from the managing
editor of the Tribune to see President
Lincoln at once, and tell him the
Tribune wanted to send two CORE
spondents to meet Sherman when he
reached the sea-, and desired to know
to what point to send them.
"This was late at night, but Byring-
ton must obey orders. He went to the
White House. The President had re-
tired, but the Tribune man insisted
that the attendant take his card to the
President, as it was important that he
should see him Immediately. The
Tribune man was taken to the corridor
on the second floor. The attendant
entered the Presidents room and a
moment later the chief executive came
cut in his night shirt. The CORE
spondent apologized for intruding at
such an unseemly hour, but delivered
his message.
"Mr. Lincoln looked puzzled for a
moment and then said: Il don't know
a curious look came over his face as
he added, but If were going to guess
I would say send one to Mobile and
the other to Savannah. Now II STAN
ton knew told you he would kill me.
Don't tell him.
The correspondent then thanked
him. As he started to go the Presi-
dent yawned as he was going back to
his bed and said: He'd kill me. kill
me-"
Grant and Lee.
1t has been said that as often az q
new book is written about the Civil
War new legend of Appomattox is
created. The famous apple-tree, which
has been sold a hundred times piece
meal, and under which Grant and Lee
never met-the touching scene In
which Grant refused Lees sword
this and many more bob up in new
DISCUSSES In the Writings about those
stirring times.
The Companion recently quoted
from volume on Lee and Longstreet
at High Tide" on account of the meet
ing Of Grant and Longstreet on that
famous occasion. and this too, is now
added to the list. One Of the two men
now living who had the honor of wit
Messing the meeting Of the command
ers at the Mclean house, then a New
York Herald correspondent, calls at
tention to the fact that General Long
street was not there, nor was any room
in the house used as headquarters by
Grant.
As matter of fact u3 General
Grant himself has told in his eMe-
moirs." negotiation between Grant and