The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-08-10
WAS BABY OF COMPANY c.
CAPTAIN MATRAu OF NORFOLK
IN CHICAGO PAPER.
YOUNGEST CAPTAIN IN STATE
Lieutenant Colonel, Writing In Chi
cago journal Today, Tells How II
Came About That Present Norfolk
Railroader Joined the Army.

|
| Today's Chicago Journal contains
picture OF II. c. Matrau of Norfolk
as he appeared at the age of sixteen,
n year after he entered the northern
army in the civil war, and also an in.
teresting little story of Mr.. Matrau,
written by Lieutenant Colonel j. A.
Watrous, U. S. A. The article is head
ed, "Brigade's and States Youngest
Captain" and is as follows:
| "A letter from an old officer of the
Iron brigade, in Nebraska, says.
| When you Wisconsin boys go to Fond
du Lac to visit our old commander,
Gen. Bragg, who has just returned
from China, be sure and let me know
in time, so that can be with you
"That letter presented impressions
from memory's plates pleasant to re-
fleet upon A sturdy youngster in
Michigan had a misunderstanding
with n recruiting officer in May, 1861,
and left home for Chicago. He was
not quite Is, and the recruiting officer
declined ito enlist him, and when told
by the boy that he didn't know his
business the dignified officer threat
ened to have him arrested.
"Twice he tried to enlist in Chicago.
When word came that a few recruits
were needed to fill up a Beloit com
pany he went to that city and was ac-
cepted for the state service, the cap
tain telling him that he might fail to
be sworn into the United States SER
vice later on. He was small for his
age, yet he scorned to go as a fifer or
drummer; he wanted to carry a gun,
| like other men.
"Our company had been mustered
in and we were allowed to see the
other companies go through the cere-
mony. When Company G's turn-that
was the Beloit company-came more
than 100 men who had become inter
ested in the little chap stood around
to see If he would pass muster. He
had picked out pair of large shoes
into which he stuffed insoles, and high
er heels and thicker soles had been
added. The high-crowned cap and the
enlarged shoes lifted the little fellow
up, as he thought, so he could squeeze
! through.
81 can see him as he looked when he
started to walk past the mastering Of
ficer. | can also see Capt. Mcintyre
of the regular army, who mustered in
our regiment. The minute the boy
started down the line his eyes were
fixed upon him and he watched him
until he reached the left of the COM
| I nj ip' &c ct,nila pf
approval as the little fellow took his
place. He had won the day He was
mustered into Uncle's Sans service
for three years, or during the war.
"Baby of Company G."
"They called him the baby of COM
pany G. 1t happened this way: The
regiment participated in the Fourth Of
company G passed, young lady called
attention to the boy and said: Look
at that little fellow. He's only a
baby
"At Gettysburg company G's baby
was a sergeant. He had been In the
battles of Gainesville, Second Bulls
Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred
TliH-IiuSl SlooSllS anu
Charlottesville. No soldier in the
regiment carried a larger knapsack,
kept up better in long march or load
ed and fired more rapidly than the
baby of company G, or behaved better
} under fire or in camp.
when the campaign of 1864 began
he was his company's first sergeant
anI had &c oh cit
: little fellow
when the brigade was behind for
tiflcations at the left of Petersburg,
+ the fall of 1864, cluster of the boys
, who had left ohome as privates We're
= promoted. In the package of commits
| sions that came to headquarters one
evening was one making our little
+ friend first lieutenant of Co. G. He
y was placed in command of the com,
D pany and commanded 1t with great
4 distinction in several battles.
n Three months later he was made
e a captain, being then a little past Is
e years of age, and in Gen. Grants clos
t ing campaign about Richmond and
n Petersburg he was in Command most
of the time of two companies and part
Y of the time of three.
n Now Railroad Man.
It so much for the baby of Co. G as
e a soldier-so much about Capt. Henr!
II c. Matrau, the youngest captain il
r any of the Wisconsin regiments.
e Capt Matrau has been a railroad
1t man ever since the war. For twent!
n years he has been the Northwesternj
S. representative at Norfolk, Neb. ha
Is served several terms as mayor, as
lie member of the school board and is al
1t honored member of the Nebraska Com
mandery of the Loyal Legion"
r. -