Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-30
THE BOOMING CANNON
R6CtTALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TIE INCIDENTS.
SURVIVORS of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes,

Ah experiences ana Battle Scenes
L wonder" said the major, "if
any of the Seventy Sixth Ohio men
men can tell what become of the boys
OF Company B struck by lightning at
or near Youngs Point, La, in Febru-
airy 1863. The story was told me
thlfty or more years ago, and | have
forgotten the details. | remember,
however, that a member of Company
b said that on the night of February
IA, 1868, the tent of the non-commis-
stoned officers was struck by light
ming
Two of the men in the tent were
killed by the bolt and four others were
disabled. The lightning, in fact, caus-
ed IS much commotion in camp as an
attack by the enemy, and there were
all sorts Of rumors as to the sensa
tions Of those who recovered from the
shock. The question of interest now
Is, were any of those struck by light
ming permanently disabled, and if so,
did they have as many queer expert
ences as men disabled by wounds?
The records show that a good many
soldiers were injured by lightning dur
ing the war. What became of them?
Twenty years ago Twenty-Third
Illinois man told me the story Of a
man severely wounded at the battle
of Lexington, Mo-, which that story of
the 'Checkess battery reminded me of.
This comrade of the Twenty Third
Illinois was severely wounded early
in the day. He remained in the woods,
however, and fired as he had strength
and opportunity. In the afternoon the
rebels opened q furious fire on the
Union works and the men on the fir
ing line were ordered to move out of
the way so that the little siX-pounder
on the advance line could open on the
enemy.
All got out of the way except the
wounded man, who was not able to
move far enough to escape the sue
ton of the wind after each discharge.
The result was that before the other
men realized what was going on the
muscles were shredded from the
wounded mans arm above the elbow.
The Door fellow made no protest or
complaint and was not rescued from
his trying situation until the gun had
been discharged several times. Now
I would like to know what became of
that man."
lone of the regiments in that battle
of Lexington said the captain, had
been ia service not more than hun
dred days, but the men fought like
veterans. 1t is true they were infor-
NAL and irregular at times, but they
stood by their guns. For example, there
was little Dutchman of Company
A, First Illinois Cavalry, who on the
third day, after all the men who had
manned the six-pounder had been shot,
swabbed. loaded, and fired the gun
himself. He was precision itself and
as unexclted as if on drill
After the white flag had been or
dered up for the third time by the
commander of the home guards, and
had been taken down as often by in
part of the works in front of the his
pital cut out for the main works
around the college f. A. Jellison,
however. remained with the little
Dutchman and his siX-pounder, firing
his old musket as rapidly as circum-
stances would permit. After firing all
his own cartridges and all that he
conld find in the cartridge boxes of
the dead within his reach, JelliSOn
tied a handkerchief to his ramrod and
went over to the movable hemp bale
breastworks of General Rains, rebel
commander of the investing force.
.Jellison was received by General
Rains himself who asked eagerly IT
Colonel Mulligan had surrendered or
WAS ready to surrender. JellisOn re
nIied that he didn't know, he didn't
come from Colonel Mulligan, and
couldn't speak for him. He represent
ed ONLY himself. and as he was out of
ammunition and was occupying an eX-
nosed position he was ready to sur
render Scarcely noticing the explain
mand for the surrender of the Union
forces and sent it to Colonel Multi
gan by Jellison.
..'The latter delivered the message
to Mulligan. secured another gun and
more ammunition. and again opened
on the rebs. In later days Jellison adj
mitted that this was very irregular.
hut he contended that General Rains
did not formally accept his surrender.
did not take his parole. did not even
ask him TO return. So he felt free,
after he had delivered Rains mes
sage to Mulligan, to resume business at
the old stand. He always insisted
that Rains didn't known any more
about the etiquette of the occasion
than the little Dutchman did, or than