The National tribune., 1907-03-07
HIS STORY.
An Ohio Boys Experience in War and
Efcissitudes in Love.

An Ohio Boys Experience In War and
Efcissitudes in Love.
Editor National Tribune: I was liv-
ing in Delaware County, Ohio when the
civil war broke out, and was a lad a
little past l6. When the first call was
made for three years troops, my father
and elder brother enlisted in COM
pany raised in our community. ]
wanted to enlist in this company, but
my father thot l ought to stay at home
with mother, as there was no one else
at home to help her but q little brother
several years younger than /. But
insisted upon enlisting, so my father
finally told my mother she had better
consent and let me go with him, and
he would look after me. In few DAYS.
therefore, 1 enlisted and was mustered
into the U. S. service in Co. j., 30th
Ohio. / shall never forget the morn
ing we three left home, mother stand
ing in the door wringing her hands and
crying. When we got quite distance
from the house l looked back and
there mother still stood. l took off my
hat and waved it at her full of excite
ment myself and little approaching her
agony. We went to Plain City and took
the train for Columbus, and after a
while in Camp Chase our regiment
started for West Virginia. 1 think 1t
was about Sept. 13. 1861, that we were
old Floyd out of that part of Virginia,
we went into Winter quarters at Fay
etteviile, where we stayed till Spring
During this time ! got sick, and after
lying in the hospital for long t;rle l
was sent with a lot Of others down to
Gallipolis. where 1 lay in the hospital
there until / was finally sent home on
a furlough, not being able :or duty,
and soon after discharged for disabil
fly After some time at home, in which
I regained my health, 1 enlisted again
In a company recruited by my brother
in-law, Capt. Robb, of Marysvilln Ohio
Go. G, 129th Ohio), which soon left
for Cincinnati At Nicholasville we
found other troops under the command
of Gen. John De Courcey, former Col
onel of the 18th Ohio, and a couple of
regiments under his command started
for Cumberland Gap, where a strong
force of the enemy was we'll fortified.
We crossed the Cumberland River by
wading, and marching on we drove in
the outpost pickets and Gen. DeCoUr-
cey demanded a surrender of the place.
/ think ii was the rebel Gen. Frazier
who had command of the forces at that
place. De Courcey sent in Il flag Of
truce. saying he would give them till
j o'clock p. m. to surrender. I VIII
here state that they had as many men
as We had, and We never could have
taken the place by storm. AT o'clock
they raised the white flag, and we
marched in, receiving their arms. My
company was one of the companies
which guarded the prisoners hack 10
Nichoiasville, KY. After turning our
prisoners over to the proper authorities,
We started back TO Cumberland Gap, a
distance of 1874 miles. But to re-
turn to my story. After our first days
march back 10 Cum rerland Gap got
sick, and was left at house by the
roadside, where lived an old man, his
wife and lovely daughter OF about
IL Summers. whom I will call Helen.
I was left at this house with orders to
rejoin my regiment as soon as / was
able, but / stayed there three weeks.
and during that time got dead in love
with Helen and she with mo. Tho time
was spent IN making love to Eer, and
the time few. However, ] knew 7 EIust