Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-31
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECiTAlS OF CAMP AND BAT
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion ReIntS
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.


Il wonder said the major, "if
any of the Seventy Sixth Ohio men
men can tell what become of the boys
of Company struck by lightning at
or near Young's Point, La, in Fehru-
airy. 1853. The story was told me
thirty or more years ago. and l have
forgotten the details. | remember,
however, that a member of Company
said that on the night Of February
IA, 1863, the tent of the non-commis-
stoned officers was struck by light
ming.
1.-TWO Of the men In the tent were
killed by the bolt and four others were
disabled. The lightning, In fact, caus-
ed as much eommotion 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 IL 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 a Twenty-Third
Illinois man told me the story of
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 fred as he had strength
and opportunity In the afternoon the
rebels opened 4 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 sx-pounder
on the advance line could open on the
enemy.
All got out OF the way except the
wounded mau, 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 poor fellow made no protest or
complaint and was not rescued from
his trying situation until the gun had
been discharged several times. Now
/ would like TO know what became of
that man
zone Of the regiments in that battle
of Lexington" said the captain, had
been in service not more than hun
bred days, but the men fought like
veterans. 1t is true they were infor
mai and irregular ut 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-poundcr 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
dignant men. most Of the boys in our
part of the works in front of the his
pital cut out for the main works
around the college. T.. A. Jcllison,
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
could find in the cartridge boxes Of
the dead within his reach, JcIllson
tied handkerchief to his ramrod and
went over TO the movable hemp bale
brcastworks of General Rains, rebel
commander of the investing force.
"Jellison was received by General
Rains himself. who asked eagerly if
Colonel Mulligan had surrendered or
was ready 10 surrender. JeliSon re
Piled that he didn't know. he didn't
come from Colonel Muligan, and
couldn't speak for him. He represent
ed only himself and ms he was out Of
ammunition and was occupying an eX-
posed position he was ready to sur
render. Scarcely noticing the explain
alton. Rains wrote out formal de-
mand for the surrender OF the Union
forces and sent it to Colonel Null
gan by JellisOn.
The latter delivered the message
to Mulligau, secured another gun aud
more ammunition, and again opened
on the rebs In later days JeIis0n ad-
ntted that this WAS very irregular,
but 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