The National tribune., 1906-01-18
THE TOCSIN OF WAR.
The Response to 1t in Every Village by Crude Volunteers Who
Afterward Became the Best of Soldiers
EUGENE POWELL.
Captain GOTH Ohio;
Brigadie.0eneraL
By EUGENE POWELL,
afterward learned and endured, and
our arms were crowned with corre-
| SpOnding success

afterward learned and endured, and
spending success.
A Patriotic Town.
My native village, containing a popu-
| lation of about 1000, at once raised two
infantry companies, of one Of which
was Lieutenant and had the honor to
be elected Captain Of the second. In
that capacity I reported my command
for duty at Camp Jackson, in the
suburbs of Columbus, o., April 18. 1861
That camp was merely an Enclosure
situated just north OF the city. had been
used as park. and since called Good
ale Park. At that time it contained nc
cantonments suitable for troops. These
volunteers were, however, confined there
during the day, and were marched tc
different public institutions within the
city for their meals. Some were pro-
vided for at the Penitentiary, others al
the Blind and Lunatic Asylums, and the
officers Of these institutions displayed
wonderful activity and resources in pro-
viding for the troops SO suddenly quar-
tered upon them. These troops were
known in camp by nick-names derived
from the institution at which they took
their meals; as jail-birds, lunatics, blind
bats, ETC., as everything there was fun
and good-fellOwship.
to have 1t assume the appearance OF
military order and discipline, but this
effort was of rather a crude order and
OF slack discipline. Sentinels were post
ed at the gateways and posts established
around the inclosure, but no attempt
was made while at this camp for drill
by companies or the formation of bat
talions Everything in this respect was
left to the activity and capacity Of COM
pany commanders.
Confinement at this camp soon be-
came very irksome to the troops. for
the want Of something to do. The Union
volunteer could not be made satisfied
that he was performing his full duty as
a patriot by being kept in an Enclosure
and marched Indian file to the beat of
a drum to and from his meals three
times day. He had an ill-defined no.
ton that there was something beyond
this; but beyond little could he hear and
less could he see, for at that time the
plans and purposes Of Generals and
Governors could not be seen or felt
This want of something to do on the
part of the men was soon made mani
fest in insubordination and lawlessness IS.
Still, the patriotic fires were ever burn
ing bright in their breasts, but they
were impatient of the restraint and con-
finement Of camp, and vent was given
to their feelings in reference to deser-
the crime Of desertion were in some
way turned over to them for trial by
drum-head court-martial by enlisted
men, proceeding not exactly in ac-
cordance to Army Regulations, as at
that time we were not regulating our
action by Army Regulations. but rath-
er by our will or disposition. BY this
court those men were sentenced to have
their heads shaved and then be
drummed out Of camp. This sentence
was promptly executed, and the excite
ment attending the march throughout
the camp was intense, as the feeling
against those culprits was fearfully
aroused after such a regular. fair and
impartial trial, and really it was re-
lief when the sentinels' bayonets at the
gate were brought down between vol
unteers and deserters. / was afterwards
informed that those men had no inten-
ton Of deserting, but had merely taken
a longer absence without leave than
others were taking, and thereby gave
the opportunity to their comrades in
camp to have something to do by try
ing them for desertion. The whole pro-
ceedings were irregular and were a
moving exhibition of mob violence, with
its usual irregularities and cruelties, as
those proceedings, il they gave any fun