Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-03-16
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell of
Wh1stling Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles,
camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.

L have letter." said the Colonel,
IRON IL. d. Latin, of Saugerties, n.
l. lie was member of the old Chi
cago Light Guards and also Of the
LouaVe Cadets. | knew the men of the
Light Guards almost as we'll as I knew
the men Of our own company, the ca
dets. There were times when the Light
Guards could not muster their full
strength. On such occasions we Of the
Zouaye 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 l
suspect that Latin did the same At
all events he writes: 4 served In the
Light Guards under Captain John B.
Wyman, Captain George B. Mcclellan,
and Captain Booth. 1t seems strange
that l should be among the few sur
ylvors Of the old Light Guards as we'll
as of the Zouaves. | remember that at
the time l Joined the Zouaves 1 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 l am at the age of 76, in good
health. looking backward at the good
times we had forty five and more years
ago.
There are a few old Chicagoans,"
continued the Colonel, who will re-
member G. Dwight Latin, Second Lieu
tenant of the Chicago Zouaves under
Ellsworth, as the chief organizer and
eXploiter 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
cabalistic letters, which read in the
right way, declared, in effecs, I have
been Sold But having been sold, they
were the more anxious to involve
others. l have known them to postpone
an initiation when Latin could not be
present because Eafiin'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 took
in new members. | have thought often
of the Sons of Malta who went into
the service to become good dtsciplinar-
JAMS and soldiers. Not single case can
| remember in which the grotesque
horseDay of the Sons of Malta was in
PRODUCED in the army. The boys liked
fun and there was much practical jok-
ing. but in our immediate command
there was no resort to haZing methods,
even with raw recruits. The order or
camp at night was against noisy frollcS
or mysterious gatherings. and when the
enemy was in front there was serious
business in hand
eff the boys missed any fun in the
army" said the Corporal, they have
made amends at their reunions since
the close of the war. Most Of the
bows | knew appreciated the stories
about chaplains. but to show you that
not all soldiers liked, chaplains, want
TO relate an experience OF my own.
Some time ago there was soldiers
reunion at Rushville. III. Among those
present were two Methodist preachers,
one of whom told this story. He said
ministerial friend Of his, IN making his
pastoral calls, stopped at a farm house
for a drink of water. The well was
quite deep with water, to the depth or
rem feet. 1t was equipped with the
oId-fashioned windlass and bucket
.'rhe preacher let the bucket down
and brought it up filled with cool
water. There being no cup or gourd at
the WE'LL he lifted the bucket to the
vindIass and leaned forward to drink,
whom his false teeth feel out and went
with splash TO the bottom of the
we'll. The preacher bewalled his fate
in terms to attract the attention of
colored man working near. The sltua-
tion was explained to the colored man,
who said at once that he would get
them ont and without trouble He
wont TO the house. asked for piece Of
fried chicken. tied a string to it, and
lowered it into the we'll.
After some maneuvering he sue
ceaded 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 they were
Drawn out and returned to the minis
fer. The differences were plain and the
story amused the boys greatly.
..-rhat reminds me- said the Ser
geant, ''of our old chaplain. lie was
strict churchman. and he had full
measure OF common sense and human
sympathy. He always had little spell
of coughing before he entered Sibley
tent. and if poker game was IN prog
ross cards could be whisked away