Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-12-07
THE BAT'TLE-FlELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in a
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.


majority of the population, am
amazed as think of the strength Of
character, the grandeur, heroism, pa
triotism, good citizenship of men in
the ranks, good souls who felt that no
honor could be higher than the priv
ilege of carrying a musket in such
struggle" exclaimed ex-Congressman
Gilbert NJ. Woodward, who, until he
was given a commission, was a musket
bearer and one of the very class of
which he had just spoken.
woodward, single out two or three
of the men of that class you have in
mind"
do you remember Bushee of our
company-Charles c. Bushee? He was
a frail young fellow, a printer. He
was at his case when the foreman told
the boys in the Office that Major An
derson had left Fort Sumter and
Mr.. Lincoln wanted $4,000 volunteers.
"'Get a man to take my case, John,
I'm going to be one Of those $4,000
volunteers and Bushee put on his
coat and left the Office. Two or three
others followed his example. No, 1t
was not a strike. Yes it was, too-a
strike for the country, for the perpetu-
alton of the government of Washing
ton and Jefferson. Bushee was as per-
feet type Of a patriot and hero as
ever lived. At the first Bull Run he
received a bad wound but came back
to us before he had fully recovered
came back with an open wound-and
would allow no officer or man to favor
him. Nothing but his whole duty
would satisfy him, including pick
ct duty away out beyond Munson
Hill that raw, dreary winter of 1862.
He was with US at all of the battles
up to and including Gettysburg, and
there a shot plowed through his side
and we supposed he was dead. But
he would not die. He wanted to be
in at the last, and then he said: I'm
ready to cross over
along in April, 1864, a short time
before the spring campaign opened,
imagine our surprise to see Bushee
nounce that he was ready for duty
The commander of the regiment told
me to see that the surgeon examined
Bushee at once and report him for dis
charge l did so. There was a great
hole in his side. The surgeon pro-
nounced him totally disabled, and said
he should be sent home. When | told
Bushee to take his discharge and get
back to Wisconsin before the army
moved he laughed at me.
me quit now and go home-go back
on the eve of the Confederacy's smash
up. l have come to the regiment a
little earlier than I should, possibly,
but now that I am here I'm going to
stay and be with the boys in this clos
ing campaign, and there is no use of
your trying to drive me out of the
army, for l just won't CO.
'"'But you can't stand the marches );
you can't carry a gun, knapsack, hay
ersack and a cartridge-box with sixty
rounds. You would fall out the first
day
"I tell you 1 can and will. Did 1
ever fall out of the ranks?
"'No, but you never tried to march
In the shape you are now. You can't
take a full breath. 1t is absurd. You
must take your discharge
"'You are unfair and unreasonable,
adiutant,' said Bushee, as he got up
and left the tent.
HE went from my quarters to the
regimental commander and complained
to him that 1 was trying to drive him
out Of the service.
"'You can't stand the hardships Of
such a campaign as General Grant Is
cooking for this army, Bushee,' said
Major Parsons.
LET me try, anyway, pleaded this
patriot.
"I can't do it, Bushee. The adju-
tant is right; you must take your dis
charge, 90 home and let that wound
heal You can't live here
""Then let me die here-die while
with the boys of the company-die as
soldier prefers to die, on the field
of battle
1.-THE commander did not answer for
q moment. Then, looking up, he said !:
.Bushee, the regiment hasn't anyone
IA look after the mail at present. That
is an easy job. You can stay a spell
longer if you want to look after the
mems mail
"Thanks, sir; I'll be postmaster I'M
fill YOU are willing to let me go into
the ranks
..The next morning Bushee came to
NV tent beaming with smiles Of salts
faction.
"I'ye got the start of you this time,
Mr. Adiutant I'm not to be driven
ont of the regiment just as good fight
ing is coming on
"Iook here, Bushee, you must take
vous discharge. To allow you to re-
main with the company is to allow you
to kill YOURSELF
"Iook at that and then let up on
7;coharro' and he handed me a