The National tribune., 1906-09-06
GEN. NELSON ON DUTY.
He Wa. Thorough Soldier All the Time.

He Was n Thorough Soldier All the Time.
Editor National Tribune: Several ar
| ticles lately published in The National
Tribune touching upon the life and
career of Gen. Nelson remind me of a
little experience 1 had with him and
which shall. never forget.
In January 1862. our regiment (the
46th INDY was encamped at Camp
Wickliffe. KY, about "a miles south of
Bardstown. Gen. Nelson was in COM
mand of the division, encamped there,
and Col. Hazen, of the 41st Ohio, was
| Military Instructor of the camp. Talk
about instruction. OF course, we need
ed it. but we got all that was coming to
US. It was company drill in the morn
ing, battalion drfll in the afternoon, in
spection, dress parade, etc, In the after
noon. Battalion drill was, usually, with
knapsack and an aecouterments on our
backs 1t rained nearly all the time.
the roads and drill grounds were mud
dy. we were short Of rations on account
OF the almost ampassable roads. and
consequently were not in the best OF
spirits.
Just before the battle OF Mill Springs,
at which Gen. ZDllicoffer was killed. our
commanders were especially vigilant,
for they were looking for a raid from
the Confederate forces. Our picket and
campguards were under special orders
to be yigiiant at night, and to report the
least suspicious noise or appearance of
anybody outside the lines.
One dark. rainy night I was on guard,
as thought, as a matter of course, on
the very worst place on the line. 1t was
on the south side of the camp next to
where the Confederates were, where the
brush was the thickest, and. as 1
thought. just the right place for the
rebels, as we called them. to make their
attack. / was marching back and forth
on my beat, trying to look into the i'm
penetrable darkness about me In the
dense foliage, carrying my old Belgian
musket in both hands like a boy look
ing for a rabbit. when 1 heard q very
suspicious sound out IN the brush. I
listened, and listened again, and was
sure 1 heard somebody walking out in
the brush. The noise grew louder and
palmer. 1 kept walking back and forth,
still looking to see what terrible object
1t was. Finally, through a little OPEN
ing, 1 discovered a large man walking
directly towards me. I waited until he
approached within about 20 feet of me,
when suddenly I faced him, brought
down my old musket to "a ready" call
ed out in a somewhat shaky voice,
Halt! Who goes there?" at the same
time cooking the old musket, which
sounded like the springing of a bear
trap. The stranger stopped Immediate
| ly, and answered promptly, "a friend
with countersign." at once replied,
There is no countersign out yet" and,
strange to say, none had been given me.
I began to think something was
wrong. as the man In the brush started
towards me- saying at the same time:
at matters not; 1 am Gen. Nelson,
commandant Of the camp. can go any
where 1 please" I Immediately con-
cluded this was scheme to take ad-
vantage Of me, and I yelled at him,
Halt; mark time," and 1 again cooked
the old musket.
| He Immediately halted and marked
time.
called, Corporal of the Guard. Beat
No. o. Guard headquarters was a
fourth of mile away. and kept my
visitor marking time until the officer OF
the Guard and his escort came around
and gave me the cOuntersign, when
admitted my visitor according to Regu-
lations.
To say that was scared draws 1t very
lightly. l was young, raw recruit. II
was my first serious military experience
and to me 1t was a very grave affair
Indeed, I knew that someone had been
guilty of negligence in not communicate
ing the countersign to the guard.
| feared ! should have to suffer for the
| discontinue the visitor had suffered
| but. military man that he was, he ap-
preciated my devotion to duty. He raved
and swore at everybody at guard head
quarters but myself. He wound up by
saying he was glad to find one man in
the camp that understood his duty. and
was not afraid to perform 1t, and that
was the guard who had worked him
nearly to death marking time. OF
course, felt relieved and somewhat
elated at the notoriety Of having cap,
tured Gen. Nelson, bus. best of all, al
having been complimented by him. The
affair was, I think, an important epoch
in my life as q soldier. 1t impressed
me with the importance of devotion tC
duty and strict obedience to orders.
i OF course. the other guards, officer.
Of the guard, etc, were not SO wei
pleased with the outcome Of the affair
as I was, and many uncomplimentar!
remarks were made after Gen. Nelson
had departed, but a few days after tn,
above-described incident another oc
Cured that changed the feelings Of tn,
boys towards Gen. Nelson. AS I said
we were on very short rations, no breat
OF any kind. but as a substitute We wer,
living on what we called "slapjacks.
pancakes made Of -four. water and salt
{. baked in the fryingpan. 1t is useless t.
undertake to describe them; those wht
have eaten them don't need any de
scription Of them. and those wh,
haven't hope will never know wha
they were like. One day as we wer,
getting dinner some of the boys wer,
baking some Of the indsscribable cake,