Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-01-11
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.

cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.
VI the Confederate Cabinet no mem
ger survives, says the Boston Tran
script The first rank of the Confed.
crate statesmen is no more. Indeed, it
IS difficult to recall survivor of even
the more prominent of the Confederate
lawmakers and administrators Of the
lesser grade. Senator Vest, of Missou-
H. VINO was long the last survivor of
me Senate Of the Confederacy, has
passed away. Reagan, of Texas. long
represented the Cabinet of the Confed-
eracy, but he has gone, too.
VI the Confederate Generals, Lieu
tenant General Stephen D. Lee, of Mis-
lss1pp1, is the most conspicuous surviv-
or, and even he is better known to stu
dents OF military history in the North
than to the majority Of Northern wear
ers of the blue hereabouts. Though he
served In Virginia in the earlier period
OF the war, he does not appear to have
been closely related, If at all, to the
IL.
greater part of his campaigning was
passed either in the trans Mississippi
department or as lieutenant of Hood
IN the disastrous Nashville campaign.
He was regarded by the Confederates
as trustworthy officer, but as he laid
down his sword at 3d. it is impossible
to form an opinion Of his capability for
higher commands. Here and there are
found in the South men who as officers
were not identified with the great
achievements, but were at least Of local
distinction, like Senator Morgan and
Pettees, Of Alabama, who held general
rank. The list of surviving colonies
and subordinate officers Of the Confed-
IN the North, It was young mans war,
judged by the masses in arms, but the
great lights of the lost cause have all
gone out
What is true of the Confederacy is
measurably true of the Union. All Of
the foremost Of Lincoln's councillors
and commanders have passed away. OF
those who commanded "armies" only
Generals O. 0. Howard and Grenville
NJ. Dodge are still with us. OF the
conspicuous survivor. Many general of
ficers of lesser celebrity are still borne
on the rolls Of the veterans, and there
are colonies, majors and captains who
are still active in business, professional
and official life. On the retired list of
the army are still more veterans whose
names carry memory back to the brave
days of old as associated with strik
ing incident or policy. Among these
is General Rufus Saxton, who was
employing negroes as soldiers. Now an
octogenarian, he knew the household Of
Jefferson Davis we'll before the war"
He had many good-natured controver-
sizes with it's members as to the trend
of events, believing the slavery question
could only be settled by war. After
one Of these discussions, the story goes
that Mrs. Davis assured him that if he
ever came South as an invader she
would see that his grave was we'll
cared for, charging herself with that as
friendly duty.
The years have soothed temper on
both sides, and the North and South
can judge to-day as historical charac-
tiers many whom their fathers viewed
through the passions and prejudices Of
contemporary politics. Even Jefferson
Davis is studied to-day rather than
hated by the historians Of the North.
His widow passed many years In the
North, an object Of curiosity not I'M
kindly, and treated respectfully as the
relict of a historical character. Posi-
bly her apparent capacity for home life
at the North may have been acquired
from her husband, for he, strange and
contradictory as it may seem, had ex-
pressed a strong liking for New Eng
land. Nor was it an illustration Of OPP
n0sites attracting a strong nature. To
q Rostonian who visited him at his Mis-
sissippi home, long after the war, Davis
EXPRESSED a preference for Boston, and
sounded him on the ACCESSIBILITY of max
ing his residence in our city. The re-
nlv being evasive, Davis expressed re-
greet. 1t may be added that, differing
with him as they did on the great Is
she. his New England colleagues IN the
Senate still liked him much better than
any other of the Southern leaders. Hen
ry Wilson felt a personal regard for
jefferson Davis which the latter re-
Joke on the Captain.
The following narrative sounds lit
,+1a too much as if made up for this
case. It seems a little singular, to say
Tho least. that this same incident, prac-
+icallv. should have happened to Gen
oral Grant and several other generals
and favorite colonies of the war. We
,t 70