Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-09-13
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell of
Whfsting Bullets, Bright BayO-
nets, Bursting Bombs, Bloody Bat
ties, Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc.

try in his diary:
Sunday, January 10, 1863, was a fair
and not a cold day. I went on a long
ago planned excursion to Cedar Noun
tain, little way up the Big Tug River
toward the south from our camp, and
as was my usual custom on such occa-
sions I went alone. l knew that would
have to cross Mill Creek, but I was
surprised when l came near it to hear
the roar of waterfall, for I did not
know of the falls The creek was US
ually only a little rill, but now in this
rainy time the water flows about ten
inches deep upon bed of rock that is
as level and smooth as a floor and
about fifteen feet wide. 1t pours over
the square ending Of this bed into the
deep back water of Big Tug River,
which is only about a hundred yards
below and quite flush at this time.
After viewing the falls for a time 1
crossed over on foot bridge and ap-
preached the little gate that led into
the yard Of neat but old frame cot
tage on that side of the creek. Be
fore l had passed through the gate,
however, a very handsome young lady
opened the door to come out, but see
ing me she stopped and would have
gone back If I had not spoken to her.
Stopping in the gate l said:
do not be frightened, Miss, I want
to go to the top of Cedar Mountain,
on6 n5 70 oh to,
the best way up"
The shy girl peeped through the lit
tie opening in the door until | had
made my business known; then she
seemed to have taken confidence in me
and talked to me. She began at once
to direct me up and I was surprised
to note her refinement and education,
for her language and manners were
faultless. When l was about to start
away she said:
II have a mind to offer you the COM
pany of my brother, who l see is COM
ing yonder. You may have trouble to
find the way if you go alone"
AS she spoke l looked in the direc-
ton indicated by her gesture and saw
a young man approaching on foot only
a little way off. Turning to the girl I
said
Il would be pleased to have the
young mans company, but"
pardon me for interrupting you
but If you are thinking Of the trouble
you reed rot mind that, for he has to
p0 no 70 70
on a little errand, and it will be 80
trouble for him to go with you"
/ could not think of rejecting the
kind offer even though under circum-
stances 1 would have preferred to have
gone up alone; but this was the first
real lady 1 had spoken to since I left
the Ohio River, and I said:
Il will be pleased to have his COM
pany, and I only wish I could do some
thing for you to repay you for your
kindness"
She abruptly changed the subject by
saying:
You have heard of the death of my
father, l suppose"
NO. l said, II didn't know anything
of you, nor that there was any one liv-
ing here till l came upon the house a
few minutes ago. How long has your
father been dead?'
Father was a Union soldier, and the
rebels called him out, pretending to in
Quire the way to Shallow Ford one
dark night over year ago, and they
hot !, iohf Vuhnrn T STANDING
He fell back into the house dead. Nam
ma was living then, but he never spoke
to her nor to anybody after he was
shot and mamma died last summer.
We, that is, my brother John, who is
coming yonder, and 1 are living here
and keeping our three little brothers
and sister together"
Eyes, l know now that l have heard
some talk of your fathers death since
you have told me of the circumstances"
said, and after very brief silence l
inquired:
Have you always lived here?"
1t seemed to me she was too bright
q flower to have always lived in this
rough mountain country. But she an
swered:
Yes. Father was raised in this
house and mamma was raised in the
next house down the river. Father
worked his coal mine upon the side of
the mountain before the war"
Our conversation was broken off, or
rather 1t course was changed by the
near approach of her brother, who l
found to be a bright young fellow, but
not as good a conversationalist as his
sister, l did what 1 could to make
good impression upon the young man
for the sake of his sister, and l regret
ted when we reached the top of the
mountain that we must part SO soon.
After was left alone l rested
while and viewed the fine scenery all
around me, the rough mountain co'ln-
trv toward the east and west and the
winding rivers toward the north "nd
south. l saw our camp little way
down tho river and lust across from IL