The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-02

URING the latter part Of the
war, In 1864, and until its
close, In 1865, was con-
nected with the armies under
Gen. Sherman, usually desig'
mated the Army OF the Ten
nessee. the Army Of the Cumberland
and the Army Of the Ohio. wrote Maj.
Gen. D. o. Howard. The campaigns
we're exceedingly active. From Chat
tanooga to Atlanta Sherman's soldiers
were under fire every day. except the
three Just before crossing the Etowah,
for iiS days There was not a day or
night IN which there were no soldiers
slain. The screeching shells burst
over our heads while we were sleep
ing. but, wonderful to tell, the sol
diers had become so used 10 this con-
nict that they lost very little sleep in
consequence Of the fitful and random
firing at night.
In that period OF 1l3 days there we're
10 stable battles fought. In one at
tack ! made at Pickett's MIL / lost
500 killed and three times as many
wounded within the space Of is min
utes. At night ! sat among the
wounded and realized something Of
the horrors OF war. II seems TO me to-
day as ! think Of It like a terrible
nightmare, but It was a more terrible
reality, which l will not attempt TO de-
scribe.
When come to think OF the March
to the Sea" and later the March
Through the Carolinas." what occurs
to my memory first is the exceeding
hardlhood Of the soldiers. They re.
covered quickly from their wounds
mean from those that were not toe
severe. and there was scarcely any
illness. But when Columbia was on
fire an untold number perlshed In the
flames. Still more perished from &C
cidental explosion OF confederate
shells at Columbia and Cheraw. We
like to turn away from the mangled
oorpses and distorted faces Of the
wounded that cannot be described.
feel the same horror and depression
ia view OF these things as ! did a.
Gettysburg, where on both sides up
ward OF $4,000 mem were placed hori
de combat. For several days poor fel
lows, union and confederate soldiers
waited In patience. unattended by sur
geons, simply because there we're no
enough Of them.
Without further detail imagine tn
ioy that came over the armies Of sheI
man as they gathered about Raleigh
n. c.. in 1856. and were told that Le
had surrendered and that Grant ha
sent Lees soldiers home to begin III
anew; that Johnston had surrendere
on the same terms as Lee and all tha
belonged to slocum's, Sohoheld's an
Howard's armies we're to march O
the morrow toward Washington, tn
capital Of the nation. soon to be mus
tered out Of service and then to &
home remember the sudden deprei
sion at the news of Lincoln's death
but still this going home produced to
great JOY to keep ever this cataI
trophe Of their heavy loss very lon
before their minds. They marche
habitually at 20 miles day froI
Raleigh to Richmond, and neve
lseemed weary at the close Of an
I days march-the camp fre was brigh
the old songs we're sung over and owe
again and the cOmradeship knitte
during the war would never cease
was at Its best when the word peace
filled all the air
| know that we were proud whe
we marched past the president Of II
United States in our last great r
view; but, as | remember it, it was
fearful pride even then. A regimen