The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-23
A CAMPAIGN EPISODE. -
ANDY" Held the Advance Position
After the Regiment Fell Back.

With deep interest the survivors Of
The One Hundred and Fifty-ffth regi-
ment, Pennsylvania volunteers. are
awaiting the appearance of the forth
coming history Of that giment. which
viii come frC-. lie press in a few
weeks. The records of the war de-
partmeni, he pocket diaries of officers
and men. the faded letters from the
soldier boys at the front to loved ones
at home, as well as the memories Of
the few survivors, have been searched
for facts in order that the achieve
ments of this famous fighting reg
ment, in which Pittsburg was so deep }
ly interested 45 years ago, may net
fade entirely into oblivion, says Pri-
vate John 7. Porter, in Pittsburg Dis.
patch.
Truly %Truth is stranger than fc.
ton" No dime-novel literature ever
contained more thrilling adventures.
more hair-breadth escapes or more in
dividual deeds of heroism-not fool
hardness nor dare-deviIism, but cool
yalor and pluck-than this history of
the One Hundred md Fifty-fifth
To the schoolboy as well as the
psychologist the story of Andrew
White is replete with human interest
and affords rich material for refiec-
ton.
This former boy was mustered into
The service with the regiment while
he was yet Is years old. He was quite
large for his age having the appear
anCe Of being much older than he
really was. Almost illiterate he had
polished manners, the correct use OF
language and the dignified department
Of West Pointer. Bst notwithstand
ing these accomplishments he was
still only child in years and feelings
and as such did not take military dis.
cipline at all seriously
If he did not take kindly TO disagree
able picket duty Andy" as he was
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.
pervious to advice. admonition or
threats, he did about as he pleased
AS one of his officers has expressed it,
Andy" was like the Irishman's flea.
fo when You attempted to put your
finger upon him he wasn't there. I'm
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 responsibility saved
him from severe penalties
When Gen. Grant assumed command
Of the armies and initiated the Wilder
ness campaign on May ), 1864. with
The avowed determination to fight it
ont on that line if it took all sum-
mer," Andy" Whites nature seemed
70 change
All symptoms of his constitutional
defect disappeared and his bearing be-.
came courageous. During the follow
Ing Is days OF continuous fighting he.
was always at the front ready for
duty, always answered to his name at
roll call. and never shirked any dan
gerous service. On June is, 1864,
+ when the regiment made the memoir
able charge on the enemys works in
front of Petersburg, which resulted in
such dreadful carnage in its ranks.
"Andys' conduct was heroic Escap-
| ing unframed, he risked his life many
times in rescuing wounded men who
! had fallen on the field close to the
/ cnemy's works In the darkness of
the night he crept up almost under
| the enemy's Notifications in search of
/ dead and wounded men
On June %, few days later. when
/ the regiment was forced back from
an advanced position it had taken,
/ Andy" White held his ground. He
! was missed. from his company, and on
! n search instituted the next day he
/ was found still in his advanced posi-
/ ton. but badly wounded in the leg.
! lie suffered an amputation. and upon
/ recovery was honorably discharged
! from the service. From that time to
/ the date of his death a few years ago
his career was an eventful one, which.
| however, has nothing to do with his
! military service. "