The Washington herald., 1908-05-24

what Gen. Sherman meant when he said
war is hell occurred on the picket line
just before the Battle of Lookout Noun
tain" Representative Spight told me the
other day. The two lines were sepa-
rated by Lookout Creek, with the Con-
federate pickets on one side and the Fed
eral pickets on the other BY mutual con-
sent hostilities were suspended until an
attempt to advance was to be made by
one side or the other. Although the or
ders were strict that there should be no
communication, the boys had very
pleasant time for few days. The Con-
federates had plenty of tobacco and no
coffee. The Federals had coffee and but
little tobacco. The result was a salts
factory exchange OF commodities.
ION the morning OF November "a the
Yanks, true TO their manhood. shouted
across the creek, Look out. Johnnies. We
are comingr and the fighting commenced.
What sad commentary upon the bru-
tality OF war; Here men Of the same
race anc blood who had spent the days
In pleasant, friendly intercourse, now. at
the order Of their respective commanders,
without provocation or offensc, began to
kill each other. When will the nations
cease 10 have war;
Senator Nelson's Charge.
1t was during the siege OF Port Had
son. where Senator Warren won his med
al OF honor that his Minnesota col
league. Knute Nelson. also showed that
he was made Of real warrior stun On
Juno ii. 1863 when Nelson. who went
through the war as private and a
'non-eom. was a little over twenty
years old. an attempt was made TO cap
ture Port Hurson by storm. Two charg-
Ing columns were set in motion. The
regiment to which Nelson belonged the
Fourth Wisconsin. was at the head OF
one Of these columns which advanced 10
the attack over an open abandoned sugar
cane field and was exposed 10 the fires OF
the enemy for something like three
quarters of a mile Thes boys I'm blue.
with the Badgers valiantly leading ad-
vanced right up 10 within few rods Of
the breastworks, but by that time there
were so few Of the column left standing
that they were unable 10 get inside.
Nelson was among the handful that
got closest to the breastwoTks He was
only eight or nine rods away when he
was laid low by bullet penetrating a
hip and was unable to proceed further.
The attack took place early in the morn
ing, about sunrise. All that day Nelson
lay on the battlefield. At dusk he at
tempted 10 crawl back 20 his own lines,
was observed by a Confederate picket
posted outside the WORKS. made a pris-
oner. and taken inside tho works and
placed In the hospital. Here he remained
until July O. when Port Hudson fell, and
the Mississippi was open again.
Il received as good care as their own
wounded" said Senator Nelson. but pro-
visions ran out. 50 that during the last
ten days OF the siege our food consisted
of little eornbread, mule meat. and sas-
safras tea"
Goes Into Politics.
After he rejoined hts company and had
recovered from his wound Nelson fought
for his country until the end OF the war
Then he took 20 law. like a majority Of
the veterans on both sides in Congress,
and IL was not long after ne became a
lawyer that he got into politics, also Ike
a majority of the civil war men in Con-
gress.
The story OF Senator Foraker's civil war
bravery has been told often. The same is
true OF the battlefield daring OF Repre-
sentative J. Warren Keifer. Of Ohio. who
entered the Union army as a major on
April n. 1861. and on November 90 1851
was appointed brigadier general by brevet
for gallant and distinguished services
during the campaign ending in the sur
render of the insursent army under Gen.
r. E. Lee
Representative Isaac r. Sherwood. Of
Ohio. enlisted as a private IN an Ohio
regiment the day after Lincoln made his
first call for volunteers He took part
in the first battles OF the war-PhnIipi,
Laurel Mountain, and Carracks Ford
the only member now In Congress who
has this distinction. Because OF his in
trepid hghting qualities he was promoted
20 be a major OF his regiment on the rec
ommendation OF all his brother officers.
Beginning with the Morgan raid IN 1853 10
the muster-out in July OF 1855, he CON-
manded the ll1th Ohio during it's entire
field service, in that time taking part in
no less than thirty battles and engage
ments, many Of them Of the first order.
Because OF conspicuous gallantry dis
played by him at Resaca, Franklin, and
Nashville. he was made brevet brigadier
general
When his own state OF Pennsylvania
would not take him because its quota was
full. Representative William H Graham.
with some companions, chartered a
steamboat, sailed IL down 10 Wheeling.
and got into the late scrimmage" as
members Of the Second Virginia Infantry.
which later became the Fifth West Vir-
ginia Cavalry. Representative Graham.
who was seventeen when he became 8
soldier. saw much hard fighting under
three noted cavalry leaders. Averill.
Crook. and Sheridan. and a bullet found
him at the Battle Of White Sulphur
ha
each other at Appomattox under a flag
OF truce. he was sent to carry a message
20 Gen. Sheridan, thus Witnessed Lees
surrender. and was given permission BY
Sheridan 10 announce the news 10 the
Union Army which he did as he rode back
10 his command, and thus gained uniqus
distinction.
Entered Army at Age of Fourteen.
George W. Cook. Representative from
Colorado, has the distinction OF having
been the youngest chief regimental clerk
In the entire Union army. He was four
teen when he was placed in this posi-
ton, which he filed for an Indiana regi-
ment for eighteen months. Prior to be-
coming clerk he had been d drummer boy
for various Indiana regiments in the
Army of the Cumberland. In order TO be-
come a drummer boy he ran away from
home when he was twelve. This was in
1868. and from then on TIN the close of
the war he was a boy soldier in fact and
deed as we'll as In name.
Representative Cooks was a fighting
family. His father. who was a lieuten-
ant in the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry.
died OF disease contracted while a SOL
der. His mother was a daughter Of an
ensign and lieutenant in the War of 1872.
and his only brother. who died in the SER
vice of his country at the age Of fifteen
years. was a bugler in the fathers COM
pany.
The Union veterans in the House num-
Der twenty-four. OF the eight Confeder-