Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-04-10
Civil War Stories


There were Cuakers of all kinds in
the army" said the Captain with
some OF them we had fun and with
Others we had trouble. In 1865 POO
drafted men and substitutes were turn
ed over to me ut Nashville as recruits
for our regiment. They were organ
lzed into companies under the command
of some of our old sergeants and were
put ON duty. The second or third day
e,ie Of the sergeants commanding a
company came TO me and said that he
had queer case. One of The drafted
men declaring that he was Quaker.
declined to carry a gun.
i sent for the fellow. aud when he
came to my quarters | asked him to
state his case He said very impres-
sively that he was Quaker: that he
was conscientiously opposed to bearing
arms that he had said SO when he was
drafted that he would do any duty ex-
eeW the carrying of rifle with the
idea of shooting a fellow man. After
hearing his story sent the Quaker
over to brigade headquarters and ad-
riSed that he be given hospital duty.
The next day sergeant command
ing another company reported to me
thai Quaker who had been detailed
for guard duty declined 10 carry ri
file. The man was sent for and he re-
peated the story of Quaker No. /. But
detected sort of artiGciality in the
plea of this second man and | aues-
toned him as to his conscientious scru-
pies. ] asked him If It came to the
question OF his own death or the death
OF the man who was shooting at him
what he would do. He said without
hesitation that he would kin the other
man. But as he claimed that he could
not participate in actual war because
of his religion | sent him over To bril-
gade headquarters, with advice that he
be given as hard duty as possible in
connection with the hospital service.
Weeks after that when we were In
pursuit of Hood and were making
forced marches, without tents or blan-
kets, | stopped the advance company
under clump of trees that thought
would shelter us from the pitlless rain.
A little fire was built aud we were sit
ting around 1t when there came Stun
bling down the road from the rear n
man who was swearing at the top of his
voice. AS he stumbled into the light
of the fire | recognized Quaker No. >.
Turning to him. | said: How are you,
QuakerT He had been carrying n
heavy load of some hospital material
and had dropped it before the fire for
a rest As soon as he heard my voice,
realizing that he had betrayed himself.
he caught up his heavy bundle and
bolted into the woods and darkness"
MY experience with Quakers, said
the Major. was very different. We
had in the Seventy ninth Ohio a good
many Quaker boys, and they made the
very best soldiers They were quiet,
unboastful, but conscientious ia the
performance of duty. whether they were
on guard or in battle They had their
scruples, and they disllked to think OF
shooting men, In one case. ] remem-
her, one of the Quaker boys came sud
denly on two Confederates. He could
have shot one and bayoneted the other /;
but, very much TO the surprise of the
others boys, he dropped his rifle. sprang
forward on the astonished Confcder-
ates. smote one with his big right hand
and the other with his left. and asked
them to surrender.
ION another occasion one of the tall
est and strongest of the Quaker lads
was on guard on one side OF Il stream.
the other side of which was occupied
by Confederate pickets There was a
general understanding among Unionlsts
and Confederates that neither would
try to cross the stream, and that there
would be no shooting One day. how
ever, restless Confederate on guard
on the south side of the creek. finding
the tall Quaker Oh duty on the other
side. waded tantalizingly into the water
half way across and dared the Quaker
to touch him
THE Quaker ordered the rebel back,
but was sworn at for his pains and
laughed at Without further ceremony
the Quaker dropped his gun. threw off
his blouse and cartridge box jumped
into the water, and said I will teach
thee thy duty Thereupon lie caught
the rebel. dueked him, pounded him.
then carried him bodily to his own side
aud threw him down He marched
across TO his own side put on his
blouse, took up his gun, and when the
officer Of the guard who had witnessed
the struggle In the water, came up. ia
bez saluted him serenely and made 40
mention of the conflict In the water
Chicago Inter Ocean.
LfpeoIn's Joke.
President LineolB's Jokes, especially