Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-06-24

of the North and millions OF money
were brought into reQulsition TO stamp
out the rebellion The South rose TO
man, and we might add 10 a woman.
in defense OF their homes and what
they believed to be their rights The
flower of youth of the Shenandoah Val
ley fiocked to Stonewall Jackson.
THE common people" also came with
the same patriotic impulse TO Join
his forces, and among these many
sturdy sons of the mountains of Viz.
ginia.
Allong them was young mountain
eer By the name OF 10 Ersom. 10 was
boy about nineteen years OF age,
about six foot tall, as straight as an
arrow, with big black eyes dark com
plexion. and long, straight black hair,
looking half Indian. He was dressed
as mountaineer and barefooted. He
had never been to school a day in his
life, and had never worn shoes ex-
cept In the toughest winter weather.
From his appearance the boys, who
were always ready to give every one a
nickname that seemed to suit, dubbed
him "killoola," and he went by that
name all through the war.
AT first he was imposed upon by the
other soldiers who had been In the war
long enough to learn a thing or two.
and he was made the "hewer of wood
and drawer of water" for the entire
company, which he bore without q
murmur He drilled along with the
company, and soon filled his place as
a member In the ranks. In the battle
of Kernstown. four miles above Win
chester, in a terrific little fight be-
tween Jackson and Shields, 10 re-
ceyed his first baptism of fire. and he
behaved SO splendidly that he at once
earned the confidence and respect and
affection of the entire command. From
that day on he was known as brave
soldier.
II is known TO those who are IA
miliar with the history of the war that
after the defeat OF Hooker at Chan
celorsville Lee Immediately prepared
for the invasion of Pennsylvania and
sixty days after the battle OF Chan
cellorsvile the great struggle at Get
tyshurg took place.
Before starting ont on the campaign
Gen. Lee endeavored to provide his
army with the best arms and equip
ments he could obtain. and ms far as
possible with new clothing. Many of
these new things he managed to set
through the blockade from England,
and among other things thus brought
through was splendid lot OF English
army shoes, which were distributed
through the army 10 those who most
needed them. 10, who rarely ever
wore shoes at ALL because his feet did
not suit shoes, drew a pair OF these
English army shoes, OF which he was
very proud. He could wear them only
a little while at time, but he would
not sell them for love or money; and
on the march from Virginia to Gettys.
burg he would wear them until his
feet commenced to hurt, then he would
take them off and so barefooted, carry
ing his shoes on his gun, and then
put them OH again. and so on uutil
the army reached Gettysburg
1t is known TO those who are famil-
lar with the history OF the war that
both in the first and second days
fight at Gettysburg the Confederates
drove everything before them. 1t was
in the first days fight that poor 10
lost his life. Jackson's corps, then
commanded by Gen. Ewell, advanced
upon the enemy. who had lntrenched
themselves on the crest Of n long and
rocky hill 10 was I'm the ranks of
his company. and started In the charge
with his shoes on. After the line ad
vanced through a wheat field some
quarter of n mile or more. he began to
lag behind. and, finding that, with the
quickening pace Of the men VINO were
then about 10 charge, he could not
keep pace with them, he stopped, took
off his shoes, tied them together with
the leather shoe strings and threw
them across his left arm, and hurried
forward over the rough and stony
ground barefooted to regain his place
in the ranks As the enemy's skirmish
line was broken, the order was given
for the Confederates to charge the
breastworks Of the Federals on the
crest of the hill some four hundred
yards distant. The charge was made
with the terrific yell Of the Confed-
crates and met by the CALLING fire
of the Fpderajg who were waiting for
the charge; and when the smoke Of
the battle cleared away, the Confed-
crates occupied the position the Fed.
erals had been driven from. Among
the dead on the very top OF these earth
works was poor 10 Ersom. barefootcd,
and his shoes lying across his left arm.
This poor, untutored mountain boy had
given all he had 10 give 10 his coun-
trv-h{s E0uuV lifp's blood Z oufpd-