The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-09-26
a EPISODE
ANDY" Held the Advance Position
After the Regiment Fell Back.

with deep interest the survivors OF
the One Hundred and Mfty-hfth rogi-
ment. Pennsylvania volunteers. are
awaiting che appearance Of the forth
coming history Of that regiment which
win come from the press IN a few
weeks. Tho records Of the war de-
partmcnt, the pocket diaries Of oncers
and men, the faded letters from the
soldier boys at the front TO loved ones
n home. 40 ven az the memories Of
the few survivors, have been searched
Tor facts in order that the achieve
ments Of this famous fighting regi-
meat. In which Pittsburg vas 30 deep
ly interested f5 years ago, may not
fade entirely into oblivion, says PR
yate John r. Porter, In Pittsburg Dis
patch
Truly Truth is stranger than nc
ton" No dime-novel literature ever
contained more thrilling adventures.
more hairbreadth escapes or more In
dividual deeds Of heroism-not fool
hardness nor dare-devilism. but cDpl
valor and pluck-than this history OF
the One Hundred n Fifty-hth.
To the schooIboy as well as the
psychologist the story Of Andrew
White is replete with human interest
and affords rich material Cor rehec.
ton.
This former boy was mustered into
the service with the regiment while
he was yet l3 years old. He was quite
large for hts age. having the appear
ance OF being much older than he
really was. Almost ~illiterate he bad
polished manners. the correct use OF
language and the dignihed department
Of a West Pointer. But notwithstand-
ing these accomplishments he was
stiil only a child in years and feelings
and as such did not take military dis
cipline al all seriously.
II he did not take kindly TO disagree
able picket duty Andy. as he vas
familiarity called. would not go on
duty. If the skirmish line appeared an
Uncomfortable or dangerous place he
would not be found there. Desiring
TO visit his home he did not consider
the formality OF securing a furlough
necessary. but went without one. I'm
p%ervious { o advice. admonition or
threats. be did about as he pleased.
As one OF his officers has expressed IL.
ANDY" was IKE the Irishman's flea,
for when you attempted to put your
finger upon him he wasn't there. Tn
der the same circumstances an older
man would have been made to suffer
severely for such erratic conduct. but
this boys extreme youth and apparent
constitutional irresponsibility saved
him from severe penalties.
When Gen. Grant assumed command
OF the armies and initiated the Wilder
ness campaign on May 8 1864, with
the avowed determination TO fight Il
out on that line n II took an sum
meg. Andy" Whites nature seemed
so change
Al symptoms % hts constitutions
defect disappeared and his bearing be
came courageous During the follow
ing rs days Of continuous aghting h'
was always az the front ready fol
luty. always answered 10 HIS name 81
roll call. and never shirked any dan
cerous service. On June IS. 1864
when the regiment made the memog
able charge on the enemys works II
front OF Petersburg. which resulted n
such dreadful carnage IN its ranks
"Andy's' conduct was heroic. Escap
Ing unharmed. he risked his life MANI
times In roscuing wounded men WIT
had fallen on the field close 10 th'
enemy's works. Ia the darkness o
the night he crept Up almost undo
the encmy's Notifications IN search o
dead and wounded men.
On June 20. a few days later. whei
the regiment was forced back iron
an advanced position IL had taken
Andy White held his ground, 81
was missed from his company, and OF
a search instituted the next day b.
was found sin in his advanced posi-
ton. but badly wounded In the les
lie suffered an amputation. and upol
recovery was honorahly discharges
from the service. From that time q
the date ~ his death a few years ag.
his career was an cventful one which
however, has nothing 90 do with hi
military service