Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-03-20
A LOYAL YOUNG sourHERnER.

memorial hall the picture of a
rather young-lookng man to be a
soldier Of the civil war, yet there is
on the lapel of the coat a sure
enough Grand Army badge. 1t is a
most excellent picture of Comrade
Wade H. Richardson, leading citi-
zen of Milwaukee. His experience
in getting into the army reads like a
romance. Just see if it doesn't. The
following story is as he told it. after
much urging, to his post. E. B. VOL
colt No l, Milwaukee:
Comrades: At the request of our
commander l give you brief ac-
count of the way / got into the union
army in the war OF the Rebellion. I'll
is perhaps unique, and therefore bet
ter that the record should be full
though | shall be as brief as possible
For be it known that am a southern
er by ancestry, birth and education;
in part allied on one side to one of
the aristocrtic houses of the old
south, my mother being of the famous
Hill family, Of whom Ben Hill of
Georgia, was a distinguished repre-
sentative With such antecedents
and the social environments of that
peculiar institution slavery, it NAV
be of interest to you to know how it
happened that l espoused the union
cause ard enlisted in the union
army 10 explain this l must ask
you to 70 back with me in history to
the famous John Brown raid in Vir
ginia, at Harper's Ferry, and the
tragic ending connected Herewith.
This event caused great excitement
throughout the south, as doubtless it
did in the north But with us this
effort to free the slaves opened the
topic for discussion around the fireside
of every planter in the south.
My father then lived in central Ala
bama. was lad then about l3
studies in our country school and had
been put to work by my father on
his farm with some hired help
negroes belonging to shareholders in
the neighborhood. My father UP to
that time. had never owned slave,
and as ! now learned fot the first
time, for the reason that down deep
in his heart he did not believe in
slavery.
During the excitement caused ~
John Browns raid end his trial she
schcolmaster of the place often came
in to talk over The situation with my
father, as did also the preachers of
the several denominations, who from
time to time visited in our locality.
At these evening discussions around
our fire side | was an anxious listen
er. Ny father being a Universalist
in religious belief, was a humani-
tartan as | believe all members of
that faith are today extended his
creed to include all men, black and
white, good and bad, in his scheme Of
universal redemption. Holding such
views he was the object of attack
of all travelling preachers who Wis
tied the region. He rather enjoyed
the fray, | think for our house WIS
a frequent lodging place for those
who came to convert the heather.
Now, it was on these occasions that
the subject of slavery, tabooed in e
pulpit, except to be defended as in
accordance with divine law, was
calmly and dispassionately discussed,
and the end invariably reached was.
that from the standpoint Of justice
to humanity slavery could not be de-
Tended No wonder that a young
and plastic mind like mine was
formed under such tuition? No
wondel that years after when l had
to decide between freedom and sav-
cry, | chose as | did / would like to
say right here that the incidents
have related led me years afterward
to engage in the profession of teach
ing. and ever impressed upon me as
they do now the great value of the
early teaching of correct principles
of patriotism to the youtl of our
land
But this is a DEPRESSION In the 20
litical campaign of 1860 my father,
an old-time whig, voted for Bell FOR
president In company with him
dJiGuueu d lew pOllIlC II hSCIbSS VI
the Breckinbridge democrats, heard
of Stephen A. Douglas being rotten
egged while trying to speak in Mont
gomery and got pretty well posted on
the political situation. Threats were
made in these speeches I heard to
destroy the Union If Lincoln should
be elected An abolitionist was
painted as a "nigger-lover" and 50
cial leveler.
Lincoln was elected and secession
followed. with a vain effort Of the
Wings to prevent IT, For time we
were without regular organized gov
eminent. Excitement ran high as
you know. Every man who did not
come out and boldly support the sc.
cession movement was rallied at as
an enemy 20 the country, who wanted
the negroes freed Those who per
sisted In their Union sentiments were
socially ostracised In all these
things the negro was made to do
, double duty. To the owner he was
property-to the non-owner he WIS
about to be free and at liberty 20