The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-01-03
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.
OF the Confederate Cabinet no mem
Der survives, says the Boston Tran
crate statesmen is no more. Indeed, it
is difficult to recall a survivor of even
The more prominent of the Confederate
lawmakers and administrators of the
lesser grade. Senator Vest, of Nilsson
ri, who was long the last survivor of
the Senate of the Confederacy, has
passed away. Reagan, of Texas, long
represented the Cabinet of the Copfed
eracy, but he has gone, too.
OF the Confederate Generals, Lieu
tenant General Stephen ID. Lee, of Mis-
issippi, is the most conspicuous survlv-
or, and even he is better known to stu
tents of military history in the North
than to the majority of Northern wear
served in Virginia in the earlier period
Of the war, he does not appear to have
been closely related, If at all, to the
famous Lee of the Old Dominion. The
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 90, 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 col0nels
and subordinate officers of the Confed
crate army is long, for in the South as
IN the North. X was a young mans war;
judged by the masses in arms, but the
great lights CT the lost cause have all
gone out
What is true of the Confederacy is
the foremost of Lincoln's councillors
md commanders have passed away. Of
those who commanded armies" only
Generals o. o. Howard and Grenyille
NJ. Dodge are still with us. OF the
corps commanders General Sickles is a
conspicuous survivor. Many genera or
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
ind official life. On the retired list of
the army are still more veterans whose
names carry memory back to the brave
lays of old as associated with strik
ng incident or policy. Among these
5 General Rufus Saxton, who was
identified with the experiment of
Employing negroes as soldiers. Now an
,ctogenarian, he knew the household of
Jefferson Davis well before the war"
| lie had many good-natured controver
lies with its members as to the trend
If events. believing the slavery question
could only be settled by war. After
)ne of these discussions, the story goes
hat Mrs Davis assured him that if he
ever came South as an invader she
would see that his grave was well
jared for, charging herself with that as
/ 4 friendly duty.
The years have soothed temper on
both sides, and the North and South
AN 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
His widow passed many years in the
North, an object of curiosity not I'M
kindly, and treated respectfully as the
relict of historical character. Posi-
oily 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 strong liking for New Eng
land. Nor WASH 1t an illustration of OPP
Dosites attracting a strong nature. To
Bostonian who visited him at his Mis-
sissippi home, long after the war, Davis
expressed a preference for Boston, and
sounded him on the advisability OF max
ing his residence in our city. The re-
ply being evasive, Davis expressed re-
greet. 1t may be added that, differing
with him as they did on the great is
sue, his New England colleagues in the
Senate still liked him much better than
any other of the Southern leaders. Hen
~ Wilson felt personal regard for
Jefferson Davis which the latter re-
ciprocated.