Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-09-29
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphs Account of Stirring Scenes
witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Neterans of the Rebellion Re
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.

cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.
am going to tell you the story ex
actly a> it happened. have no desire
to make YOU think Ned Barton a bril-
liant hero; l will simply recount the
| lart he bore in some stirring scenes and
let YOU make UP your own mind about
him.
The Nar of the Rebellion broke out.
YOU know, In April. 1861. Ned was
then IL years old. strong. athletic boy,
the best runner. Jumper and ball player
In Hoodyjllc.
Ho0dvicl echoed with the drum and
tife as Well as other places and the boys
were As fun of the martial spirit. in
| their way, as the men Ned Barton was
particularly enthusiastic and early in
the summer of that cvcutful year he or
ganized company among the boys Of
the town. porcd over "lIardec's Tactics"
and 'Ellsworth's Zouave Drill,' and
gave himself up. heart and soul, to
training his young recruits in the man
uai Of arms
lie called his company the "Zouavc
Cadets and suitably to the name, they
| were uniformed in dark blue Jackets,
loose red trousers and linen leggingS
Jaunty yrd caps, trimmed with yellow
braid, completed the dress, and since
these ambitious Young "home-guardS"
could not obtain arms from the State
each one Of then carried double-har.
relied shotgun, The women Of lIoodvlllc
proud OF the hoy soldiers, presented the
company with a pretty flag and Capt"
Barton with handsome sword. having
a pearl handle ana silver-plated scab
bard.
Now, all this was great fun to the
members Of the Zouavc Cadets. and no
less to the citizens of Hoodville; for
when The company paradcd night or
day. there WAS general turnout of the
people to look ut them.
About this time began to recruit n
company of cavalry for the Federal
army under the authority of the Gov
ernor of the State Ned Barton was
among the first who preferred their ser
vices | knew the boy we'll, his strong
positive character, his courage his am
hition and his physical strength. He
was too Young, so far as years might be
counted, TO assume the duties Of n sol
dier IN The field, but this weighed as
nothing with me against the other con
sideratonS | have named.
He was one of the best drill-mastcrs
! ever saw. Before was able to put n
squad through the simplest maneuvers,
he had mastered the whole company
drill, and | did not consider it deroga.
tory TO my dignity as the captain to sit
on my horse In the field where we prac-
tinced our evolutions. and permit him
TO take command
In less than Month we had the com
pany formed, aud on the day we were
sworn into the service, Ned Barton was
formally elected second lieutenant.
Wishing to have what it call "crack"
company when | led it to the scene OF
action, | asked the Governors permits
sion to encamp near Hoodville for three
or four weeks to perfect the drill Of the
men.
Saturdays the camp WAS crowded
with visitors, boys and girls particular
~. and on the last one before we left
TO Join the Army OF the Potomac, We
scarcely had room for the drill that
had arranged to give for on visitors
benefit. Perhaps Ii was the crowd that
excited him, or he may have been taken
with an ugly spell" as one Of the men
said, but Ned's Rocket. he called
hm--was so full Of spirit that day that
his young rider had difficulty in control
ling him.
In going through The maneuyers Of
our drill, it became necessary several
times for me to warn the young people
back out of our way; they wanted 70
see everything, and would crowd up as
close as they could, regardless Of gal
Looping horses and flying heels In exc
| outing one Of my commands, called out
n, they were gathering over the field
tn" men made bad break, and Ned
Barton, who was near me, noticing
their mistake, suddenly gave Rocket
tlIe spurs aud swept after them at a
gailop. His course led him directly to
ward a part of the field where fifty or
more boys and girls were standing all
/ !nlently watching the drill
J did not appreciate the danger my
self, until | caught a look from Ned's
face, then | started toward the crowd,
shouting to them to open a passage for
/ the running horse, Some Of them un-
/ dcrstod me ana broke to one side.
/ screaming with sudden fright. This ere
0ted a panic, in the midst Of which half
q dozen girls II oc - years Of age.
cutching at each other and struggling
/ To get out of the way. fell to the ground
/ iI heap, directly in the horses path.
/ on either side Of them, ~ quickly had
! r. all haDDpncd and - rand had bcnlt