The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-06
BRIGADE'S YOUNG
EST CAPTAIN.
story Told By Lieut. Col ,. A. Wat
r0us, v. S. A. Of 4 Michigan SOY.

A letter from an old officer OF the I
Iron brigade. IN Nebraska, says,
When you Wisconsin boys 60 to I
Fond du Lac 70 visit our old com
mander. Gen. bragg. who has just re-
turned from China. be sure ana let
ne know in time. 50 that can be
with you
That letter presented Impressions
from memorys plates pleasant 70 re-
feet upon. A sturdy yOungsrer In
Michigan had a misunderstanding
with a recruiting officer in Nay, 1851,
and left home for Chicago He was
not quite Is. and the recruiting Of
heer declined TO enlist him, and when
tod By the boy that he didn't know
his business the dignined onleer
threatened 10 have him arrested
Twice he tried 70 enlist in Chi
cag0. When word came that few
recruits we're needed 70 MI a beioit
company he went to that city and
was accepted for the state service,
the captain telling him that he
might fail t. be sworn into the United
States service later on. He was
small for his age, yet he scorned 20
go as a ffer or drummer; he wanted
to carry q gun. Ike other men,
Our company had been mustered in
AID we were allowed % see the other
companies go through the ceremony
When company Gs rurn-that was
the Beloir company-came, more
than 100 men who had become inter
ested In the little chap stood around
to see If he would pass muster He
had picked out a pair OF large shoes
iAto which he stuffed insoles, and
higher heels and thicker soles had
been added The high-crowned cap
and the enlarged shoes lifted the lit
tie fellow up, as he thought, 30 he
could squeeze through
can see him as he looked when
he started to walk past the muster
ing officer. I can also see Capt Nc.
Tntyre, Of the regular army. who mus
tered In our regiment. The minute
the boy started down the line his
eyes were fixed upon him and he
watched him until he reached the
left OF the company I can see the
captains smile Of approval as the lit
lie fellow took his place. He had
won the day. He was mustered into
Uncle Sans service for three years,
or during the war.
They called him the baby Of com
pany G. II happened this way: The
regiment participated in the Fourth
Of July parade at Madison in 1861
As company G passed a young lady
called attention to the boy and said:
Look at the little fellow. He's only
a baby,"
At Gettysburg company Gs baby
was a sergeant He had been in the
battles of Gainesville. Second Bull
Run, South Mountain, Antietam. Fred
ericksburg, Fftz-Hugh Crossing anc
Charlottesville. No soldier in the
regiment carried a larger knapsack
kept up better in a long march ol
loaded and fired more rapidly thar
the baby OF company G, or behaved
better under fire OF in camp.
When the campaign OF 1854 begar
he was his company's hrst sergeant
and had got his growth, though still
a little fellow.
When the brigade was behind fort
lficstions at the left OF Petersburg
the fall Of 1864. a cluster Of the boy
who had left home as privates wer'
promoted. In the package Of com
missions that came to headquarterl
one evening was one making on
little friend first lieutenant o
company G. He was placed Il
command Of the company. AM
commanded it with great distinction
in several battles.
Three months later he was made
captain, being then a little past 4
years OF age. and in Gen. Grant
closins campaign about Richmon'
and Petersburg he was in commani
most Of ale time Of two companies
and part OF the time Of three.
So much for the baby Of compan
G. as a soldier-so much about Capt
Henry c. Matrau. the youngest car
tain in the Iron brigade. the young
est captain in any Of the Wisconsin
regiments.
Capt. Matrau has been a railroa
man ever since the war. For ?
years he has been the Northwestern
representative at Norfolk. Neb.; Ia
served several terms as mayor, as
member Of the school board, and
an honored member Of the Nebrask
commandery Of the Loyal Legion
Chicago Journal
Martha Washineton's Bible.