Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-10
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell of
Whistling Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles,
Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.

Il have q letter. said the Colonel.
from II, ID. Latin, of Saugertles y.
I. He was a member of the old Chi
cage Light Guards and also of the
ZouaYe Cadets, knew the men of the
Light Guards almost as well as I knew
the men of our own company, the ca
diets. There were times when the Light
Guards could not muster their full
strength. On such occasions we of the
Zouave Cadets would don the Light
Guard uniform and march with that
company, The Light Guards returned
the compliment when we were short OF
men.
Il marched with the Light Guards
and wore their uniform at the time
OF their last public appearance. and
suspect that Latin did the same. At
all events he writes; L served in the
Light Guards under Captain John h.
Wyman, Captain George B. Mcclellan.
and Captain Booth. 1t seems strange
that l should he among the few sur
yivors OF the old Light Guards as we'll
as Of the Zouaves. | remember that at
the time l joined the Zouaves I was
the oldest man in the company. When
we made the forty-five day tour Of
the country, in 1860, l was the only
married man IN the Zouaves, and yet
here | am at the age Of &c, in good
health, looking backward at the good
times we had forty five and more years
ago
There are few old Chicagoans,"
continued the Colonel, who will re
member c, Dwight Latin. Second Lieu
tenant Of the Chicago Zouaves under
Ellsworth as the chief organizer and
explolter OF the local Sons OF Malta.
The limitations took place In a not very
pretentiouS building that stood where
the Marshall Field retail store now
stands, and there was great fun when
Latin was present The initiated wore
caballstic letters. which read In the
right way, declared, In effect. 4 have
been sold But having been sold, they
were the more anxious to involve
others. have known them to postpone
an initiation when Latin could not be
present because Lafiln's presence meant
more fun.
That old building on the Marshall
Field lot was the center Of interest on
the nights when the Sons of Malta toob
in new members. | have thought often
of the Sons of Malta who went into
the service to become good disciplinar
Jams and soldiers. Not a single case ear
remember in which the grotesQut
horseplay OF the Sons of Malta was in
troduced In the army. The boys like(
fun and there was much practical iok
ing. but in our immediate comman,
there was no resort 10 haZing methods
even with raw recruits. The order o.
camp at night was against noisy frolic'
or mysterious gatherings. and when tn,
enemy was in front there was serious
business in hand"
"If the boys missed any fun In tn,
ItiiNt StlN tltt WI lFbid tlANf Ia
made amends at their reunions sine,
the close of the war. Most Of thu
boys | knew appreciated the stories
about chaplains. but to show you tina
to relate an experience of my own
Some time ago there was soldiers
reunion at Nashville. Ill Among thos,
present were two Methodist preachers
ministerial friend of his, IN making hi,
pastoral calls, stopped at a farm house
for drink Of water The we'll was
quite deep with water. to the depth OF
ten feet 1t was equipped with the
old-fashioned windass and bucket
THE preacher let the bucket down
and brought It up filed with cool
water. There being no cup or gourd at
the well. he lifted the bucket 10 the
windlass and leaned forward to drink,
when his false teeth feel out and went
with splash to the bottom of the
well. The preacher bewalIed his fate
colored man working near. The situa-
ton was explained to the colOrcd man
who said at once that he would get
them out and without trouble. He
went to the house. asked for piece OF
fried chicken. tied a string to 1t, and
lowered it into the we'll.
After some maneuyering he sue
ceeded in placing the piece Of chicken
near the false teeth. No sooner was
this done than the teeth closed on the
chicken and held fast until thel were
drawn out and returned TO the minis
ter. The differences were plain and tho
story amused the boys greatly. :
THAT reminds me- said the Ser
geant, "of our old chaplain. He was a
strict churchman, and lie had full
measure Of common sense and human
sympathy. lie always had little spell
Q l.ne,rr<. l,s nv +g,.r.T G.fltCr.