Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-04
THOUGHTS OF BLOODY DAYs.
William E. Minshall Recalls Thanks
giving in War Times.

EDITOR CENSOR: After reading the
memories of Col. Rogers / feel like
trespassing on your columns. | was at
Arlington IN 1861 but was not in on the
good things spoken of by the General.
Right here let me say that | have just
| finished reading the most minute,
graphic and thrilling account of the
battle of Gettysburg ever written, and
It was from the pen of one of Company
| |, 9th Wisconsin Franklin A. Haskell
afterwards colonel of the 36th Wis
consin, killed at Cold Harbor;, perfect
gentleman, a matchless soldier whose
memory | revere. To him cnore than
any man belonged the honor OF fashion
ing the future and fame of the Old
Iron brigade. In 1862, on November
9th, as orderly sergeant of Company
f., 10th Wisconsin, saw to it that the
boys had fine Thanksgiving feast.
We were then camping on the old Viii
son creek battle ground near Spring
field, Missouri. shall ever remember
how happy the men were, never dream
ing that a few days more and many
would be shot down in battle. On
December 4th, late in the afternoon,
came the stirring order Strike tents,
prepare to march with 100 rounds: and
then began that fearful forced march
of l20 miles in three days and nights
toward the battle field Of Prairie Grove.
Arkansas, the Gettysburg of the west,
where the Goth lost 227 men, Sc being
killed in the charge against battery
of six guns supported by 10, 900 infantry
in gray The writer led Company f
after Lieutenant Blake had fallen and;
fell after the guns were captured. Only
1903 men of abe 10th were reported as
ready Tor duty on the morning of
December 8th.
Thanksgiving day, 1868, came to the
10th at Brownsville, Texas. There we
had much to be thankful for. The
campaigns of Vicksburg, Yacoo City,
Atchafalaya and the terrible thirteen
day stormy crossing of the Gulf of Mex
leo and capture Of Brownsville had
passed into history.
In 1864 we had gone back over the
stormy gulf and had passed through the
great battle and siege of Fort Morgan,
Alabama, and were camping on the
sandy point between Mobile bay and
the gulf. We again had much to be
thankful for but very little to feast on
bean soup, coffee, hardtack and musty
hog. Many Of the boys had scurvy,
not having had anything like vegeta-
bles for several months. A few days
later one settler brought some potatoes
from New Orleans and | paid him 50
barrel Out of this we had an Irish
feast, and then away for dash at the
1onnies in Missssinpi Here we sllir-
mished for few weeks with General
Farried: RATED lumber which the Goth
pushed down Dog river to the gulf. On
this raid we had TO subsist for one week
on noth.,s but sweet potatoes, another
extreme. The writer furnished coffee
and sugar toward the Christmas dinner
of the familr of Colonel Denny. a con-
federate officer, and joined them on the
occasion. Our next meeting with JON
ny Reb was at Spanish fort, Alabama,
where the writer got his last token of
respect from these gentlemen on April
s, 1865, the same being piece Of shell
in his knee.
Thanksgiving this year, 1866, was at
Sparta, Wisconsin. Everyone who had
worn the blue ia defense of liberty and
union had reason TO be thankful that he
was alive and at home with loved ones
Now. forty-two years after the close of
the civil war. we Of the old army again
have met here in Chicago, on two occa-
sions recently the society of the army
of the Potomac at the Palmer house,
and George H. Thomas Post at the Ma
sonic Temple on each occasion with a
fair one beside us to feast and listen to
music and the songs and stories Of those
days Of trial What mighty changes
have been sounding on the bells of long
ago
The boys n blue arc turning gray,
Thinner grows their ranks and thinner.
They PLAYED deaths game for many day
But death is now the winner.
w. Il. MINsHALI..
trhicayo Novernher 27