The National tribune., 1907-12-26
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
The Estimate of Mcclellan.

The Estimate of Mcclellan.
Editor National Tribune: Rising
fresh from your vigorous portrayal of
the Second Bull Run in The National
Tribune, 1 cannot resist the desire to
say just a word in appreciation of your
estimate of Gen. Mcclellan. To my
mind you have the most correct con-
ception of what he was and what he
did of any writer whom I have ever
read. In my study of the campaigns
of the Army of the Potomac under his
command, which study 1 tried to make
impartial and thoro, 1 reached exactly
the same estimate of Mcclellan as a
commander which you are giving us,
and 1 am heartily glad that you are
doing this service TO true history in
this fearless and straightforward way.
I only hope we may have your excel
lent series of history studies in book
form little later. The National Trib-
une is all right for reaching us old
boys and our families now, but later on
we shall want to have the true truth
left for others to read.-Jas. L. Bowen,
Springfield, Mass.
COmrade Bowen's praise is most well
come, coming as it does from such a
capable CTltlc. he IS the autnOr Oh
Massachusetts in the War" History
of the 37th Mass" etc, and has been
for 40 years writing very acceptabiy
for the pub,ic.-Editor National Trib-
une
Ores Give on Electricity.
Luminous vapor marking the location
of extensive ore deposits at night was
recorded $50 years ago in Germany,
and has been noted since in North
America, but the observations have
been generally attributed to supersti-
tion and error Recent investigation
has proven the reality Of such an eman-
alton from the earth's surface. 1t is
especially frequent just before and dur
ing thunderstorms, and has been re-
peatedIy photographed by German
physicist, K. Zenger, using plates coat
ed with fiuorescent substances. The
electric radiation should be most in
tense over spots that are good con-
ductors of electricity, such as beds of
ore and even Of coal. The photographs
seem to show the variations in intensity
very readily. and this may give a very
simple and valuable means of locating
ore deposits.
The Oldest Living Mother.
John A. Wilkins, Delta, O., is almost
sure he has the Oldest living mother
of any soldier in the United States.
She was born in Ireland in 1893, and
is consequently now 108 years old. She
has very good health, and is interested
In everything, enjoying exceedingly a
ride in an automobile short time ago.
Comrade Wilkins's father was a Scotch
man, and served under Wellington at
Waterloo, and his grandfather was one
Of the Scotch Grays," and also took
part in that great battle. Comrade
Wilkins himself served out two enlist
ments. He was not one of those SOL
diers who would rather fight than
eat," who knew more about placing
the men than his Colonel or General,
and he was never promoted for brav-
cry; nevertheless, like Falstaff, he thinks
1t was his honor that pricked him on
Who Killed Gen. A. p. Hill.
Adam Hovine, Co. H, 10th Ohio,
quoting from Gen. ]. Warren Keifer
with regard to the killing of Gen. A.
p. Hill, says that in the early morning
of April Co-p'l John w. Monk, 138th
Pa, who with another comrade was
accommodating in advance of the other
troops, was met by a Confederate Off
Ger and his staff. The officer called for
the surrender of the comrades, where
upon the Corporal fired and killed him.
He proved to be Gen. A. P. Hill, then
=.
Corporal and his companion escaped
and Hills staff bore his body away.
The I'd Ky.
James Smith, 1923 Lamont St, Bal
| timore, Md, enlisted May, 1861, in the
I'd Ky. That and the 1st KY. were
known as the "Orphan Regiments" as
no State claimed them for a long time
They served in West Virginia for some
months, and then We're sent to Ken.
| lucky, where they Joined the Army OF
the Ohio under Gen. Nelson, and were
subsequently part of the Army of the
Cumberland in the Twenty-first Corps
and, lastly, were in Stanley's Division
of the Fourth Corps. Comrade Smith
| is Senior Vice Commander of Wilson
| Post, of Baltimore.
Wants to Hear.
Comrade ]. X. Sanders, Co. G, 14tf
| ILL.,, Fairbury, Neb., wants to hear from
| the red-headed boy in blue who stooJ
beside him on the boat watching the
approach to a little town as they were
gsing down the Ohio River from Par.
| kersburg homeward bound. A grouI
| Of people stood on the shore, and the
| hoy said, There are my father and
mother" He went below, and left the
| boat, swimming to shore, where he was
warmly welcomed by a man and wo.
man. Comrade Sanders would like tc
hear from the unknown swimmer.
Wants to Hear.
J. l.. Steele, I'd Iowa Cav, Grand
Junction, Colo, wants to know if First
Lieut.. NJ. Conner and Capt b. F. Stiles
are still alive and where living, and
also to hear from any of the boys OF
| Co. C of his regiment, either by letter
t1r., - u,-;t~