The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-11
THEY FOUGHT SIDE By SIDE.
E. A. Ford Tells of Experiences OF
Late H. P. WoIcou of Topeka.

z, A. Ford. passenger traffic man
ager OF the Pennsylvania railroad, is a
veteran of the Civil war and was lieu
tenant of Company B. Forty-frst Ohio
volunteer infantry. During his field
service he was correspondent for the
Cleveland Herald and his articles on
camp and army life were among the
most interesting published. Lieutenant
Ford was seriously wounded in the
lungs at the battle of Stone River.
Colonel H. p. Wolcott who died in
this city March 1, was in the same
regiment with Ford and was also
wounded In the battle of Stone River,
losing his left foot. At that time he
was lieutenant of Company K. Forty
hrst Ohio. Ford and Wolcott were
both carried from the battlefield in the
same ambulance, and narrowly es-
capped capture by Wheeler's cavalry,
which was harassing Rosencran's com
municadons with Nashville.
The family of H. P. Woicott recently
received letter from Mr. Ford in
which he gives the following account
OF the thrilling ride to Nashville that
New Years morning in 1863:
My first acquaintance with H p
Wolcott was made in the Forty-first
regiment of volunteer infantry in 1861
The acquaintance soon ripened into
friendship We were both wounded in
the battle of Stone River, Tennessee.
~
December 81, 1S62=WoIcott in the
foot, I through the lung. and chance
threw us together in the field hospital
tent the next New Years. morning.
We were 80 miles from Nashville
our base of supplies, and army wagons
we're constantly being sent there to
bring forward war necessities. VOL
colt and 1 were placed in one of these
temporized ambulances TO be conveyed
to the officers hospital in the old City
Hotel at Nashville. There was f3ng
train of teams and wagons and monde
scripts and stragglers and deserters
in this procession, which moved away
from the battlefield without special in
cident until it reached Lavergne. about
half way from Murfre esboro to Nash
Vile, when it was vigorously attacked
by Wheeler's cavalry in the attempt to
destroy our line of communication and
a part of it was captured.
The wagon in which Wolcott and 7
were riding (jolting) was, believe, a
little in front of the middle of this
army train and luckily escaped cap
wagon in our rear. including all of the
train behind, were captured. with
teamsterS and struggling soldiers (2).
the mules cut loose and the wagons
and contents destroyed. Wheeler was
in a hurry and had no time to haul
away the captured plumber and so de-
stroyed it or left it for recapture by
the rear guard of the Union forces
which we're close upon his heels.
Our part of the train having es-
capped with it also escaped stragglers
and deserters from our army. I was
too weak to sit up so rode all day lying
fat upon my back. WolcOtt was by
my side, but sat up most of the time
holding his left leg (now minus a
foot) to protect it from additional
bruises, in his left hand and arm This
left his right hand free, and you would
have shouted with patriotic joy If you
serters with their knapsacks and guns
still IN hand, would attempt to throw
them into the wagon upon me and
then try to climb in themselves, when
Wolcott with his. cooked revolver in
that now most useful right hand would
deliver them a short address as fol-
lows: Get out of here. you miserable
towards and deserters.- We've been to
the front and had a smell of gunpow-
der and a taste Of blood. Now you go
and try it. You can't ride with US. Get
outr And he kept them away, thus de-
Tending me, utterly unmindful of hiTn-
self. and perhaps saved my life
Il will ever remember with honest
gratitude my New Years ride of fifteen
hours in an army wagon, on the first
day of January, 1853, from the battle-
field of Stone River to the hospital at
Nashville. with Harlan P Wolcott."
Both Ford and Woleott We're unable
to go back into service after recovering
from their wounds. Ford took up
railroad work and has risen to his pres
ent position, passenger traffic manager
for the Pennsylvania railroad VOL
colt was appointed paymaster of vol
unteers with rank of major and served
until the close of the war. when he was
discharged and given the brevet at
lieutenant colonel. In 1873 he came -
Kansas and helped found the town Of
Garfield. in Pawnee county. then the
western terminus Of the Santa Fe rail-
road.
Chicago and Return s2O.oO-st. louis