Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-09-12
BRIGADE'S YOUNG
EST CAPTAIN.
Story Told by Lieut.. Col. j. A. Wat.
rous, U. S. A., of Michigan Boy.

A letter from an old officer of the
ron brigade, in Nebraska, says:
When you Wisconsin boys go TO-
Fond du Lac to visit our old COM
mander, Gen. Bragg, who has. just re-
turned from China, be sure and let
me know in time, so that l can be
with YOU
That letter presented Impressions
from memorys plates pleasant to re-
fleet upon. A sturdy youngster in
Michigan had misunderstanding
with a recruiting officer in May, 1861,
and left home for Chicago. He was
not quite Is, and the recruiting Of
lfcer declined to enlist him, and when
told by the boy that he didn't know
his business the dignifed officer
threatened to have him arrested.
Twice he tried to enlist in Chi
cago. When word came that a few
recruits were needed to fill Beloit
company he went to that city and
was accepted for the state service,
the captain telling him that he
might fail to be sworn into the United
States service later on. He was
small for his age, yet he scorned to
go as fifer or drummer; he wanted
to carry gun, like other men,
Our company had been mustered in
and we were allowed to see the other
companies go through the ceremony.
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
higher heels and thicker soles had
been added. The high-crowned cap
and the enlarged shoes lifted the lit
tie fellow up, as he thought, so he
could squeeze through.
l can see him as he looked when
he started to walk past the muster.
ing officer. 1 can also see Capt. Nc
Intyre, of the regular army, who mus
| tered 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 company. l can see the
captains smile of approval as the lit
tie fellow took his place. He had
won the day. He was mustered into
Uncle Sans service for three years,
or during the war.
They called him the baby of com
pany G. 1t happened this way: The
regiment participated in the Fourth
of July parade at Madison in 1861.
AS company G passed a young lady
called attention to the boy and said l.:
Look at the little fellow He's only
4 baby"
At Gettysburg company G's baby
was a sergeant. He had been in the
battles of Gainesville, Second Bull
Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred
erlcksburg, Fitz-Hugh Crossing and
Charlottesville. No soldier in the
regiment carried a larger knapsack,
Kept up better in a long march or
loaded 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
| and had got his growth, though still!
little fellow.
When the brigade was behind fort
ifications at the left of Petersburg
the fall of 1864, cluster of the boys
who had left home as privates were
promoted. In the package of com
missions that came to headquarters
one evening was one making our
little friend first lieutenant of
company G. He was placed in
command of the company, and
commanded it with great distinction
in several battles.
Three months later he was made a
captain, being then a little past IS
years OF age, and in Gen. Grants
closing campaign about Richmond
and Petersburg he was in command
most of Ale time of two companies,
and part of the time of three.
So much for the baby of company
G as a soldier-so much about Capt.
Henry c. Matrau, the youngest cap
tain in the Iron brigade, the young
est captain in any of the Wisconsin
regiments.
Capt. Matrau. has been a railroad
man ever since the war. For 20
years he has been the Northwestern
representative at Norfolk, Neb.; has
served several terms as mayor, as a
member of the school board, and is
an honored member of the Nebraska
commandery of the Loyal Legion
CbinaO TOrrpoI