Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-02-24
0LDIERS AT HOME.
THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.

How the Boys of Both Armies whiIed
Away Life in Camp Foraging Ex-
periences, Tiresomc Marchcs-Thril-
ling Scenes ON the Battlefield.
Il happen to know said the Cap
tain. that officers of high rank who
came to the volunteer army from the
regular service had. after the war.
great longing for the friendship of the
men who served under them. The last
time General Rosecrans was In the city
at an army gathering he sat next 10
one of his old lieutenants who had be
come famous as novelist and promi-
nent in public life, For time the gen
eral took no notice of the lieutenant,
and the latter. reSentful, took no no
tice of the general. | saw where the
trouble was and smillngly introduced
them. Then RoSecranS said with that
rare smile of his, Il have been waiting
for the Judge to speak to me- II was
his place, you know
''Then the great strategist opened his
heart and said that when he met Sc
many of his old command prominent in
literary. commercial. or public life he
wondered how much they cared for
their old commander. He was not long
In doubt as the Judge, who in his turn
explained that most of the old volun-
teers were hero worshipers and that
their old generals stood on high pedes
tails, not to be approached without
ceremony. Rosecrans laughed at this
but said that II the men of his com
mand cared as much for their general
as their general cared for them they
would rush into his arms whenever
they met him.
'Rosecrans went to Congress from
California In 1885. and lived in Wash
ington for several years. In that time
he met many of his old soldiers. one
day an old resident showing friend
from Iowa about the city said as they
passed an elderly gentleman on the
street, That was Rosecrans.' He was
surprised TO see his sedate and digni-
fed friend turn and go at full run
TO Rosecrans. He feared that Rose
Grams would not like that sort of meet
ing, and he hurried forward to explain
As he approached he saw the two
shake hands, and saw that Rosecrans
held on to the hand of the Iowan.
''The general turned as the old resi-
dent came up to say how glad he was
IN or old
hour Of greatest extremity at Chicka-
manga, had served him we'll The two
became great friends, although one
commanded an army and the other
rode horse and carried a carbine in
the cavalry. When the crash came at
Chickamauga the cavalryman had rid
den to the side of his general, and had
stared there until the general com
handing was out of danger"
Il remember" said the major, ''the
surprise of General Steedman when he
met one of his old soldiers under most
unexpected circumstances. The gen
eral was greatly interested In series
of military sketches appearing in one
Of the dailies and wanted to meet the
author. | introduced him. and after
expressing his appreciation of the
work, he said to the writer. You
were In the army, of course, but In
what divisionT In your DIVISION was
the reply. L carried a rife in your
old regiment The h you did
said the general And yet you write
like that That's better than being
major general
AS we walked away Steedman said
No wonder we licked them. with men
like that in the ranks. But what are
we coming to? / find my men In pub
lie Office or successful as lawyers, or
making money in business, most Of them
running away ahead of me. and asking
no favors OF anyone. / wonder II the
bond of comradeship will hold together
the major generals and the privates.'
This was in 1872 Long before he died
the general knew the bond would hold.
even when one of his old privates told
him that he socked him once with a
SNOWFALL"
IL Iooc' sdid IiIe sergeant, / IN
expectedly met my old division general.
The war was over, but he was still In
the service. and was In uniform when
we met on the street | was doing
we'll in business. and was counted quite
fellow in my circle. But when |
came upon the general, self.poised. dig
nitied, as sure of himself as he was at
Antletam, | had something like the
buck fever. was back In the camps
and my impulse to speak to him as an
old friend seemed ridiculous. But he
seemed TO understand and turning 10
me, said Weren't you on the bridge
at Antietam? You were remember
that you came to my side I'm the melee.