Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-24

was regularly enrolled. A soldier at
10 days. Comrade Edward Mcclellan
Roberts! Three years later, as ser
geant of his regiment, he was honora-
bly, discharged at Fort Morgan, Ala,
Sergeant Roberts could tell you
many tales of interest in connection
with his army life, of his being the
man begind the gun at the age of 3,
and much else, but he has almost worn
them out telling them at reunions and
campfires, so he will spare you-all
but one. 1t may please you to know
that the regimental chaplain was one
Comrade Jenkins. Chaplain jenkins
was a fighter, but not profane. De
spite all this Little Mac, Junior" was
an adept pupil of his elder comrades,
and he learned the art Of swearing to
degree equaled by few of his elders.
When asked who taught him to say
such bad words he would blandly re-
ply, "Oh, Cap'n jenkins Gid" If the
tiny soldier was disloyal to his chap
lain he was not to the rank and ME.
He feels sure that the good chaplain
would to-day forgive his early accusa-
tons.
For several months prior to the
close Of the war the Twenty-1rst Mis-
souri, Regiment was quartered at Fort
Morgan, Ala, on Mobile Bay. 1t was
at this post that the 3-year-old SER
geant received his discharge.
BY the time the regiment had moved
to Fort Morgan the lad had become
of interest, indeed, to his older com
rades, he then being between and 5
and rather precocious, perhaps, be-
cause Of his association with his cid
ers. He here found warm, close
chum in Gunner Ephraim Jones.
On one occasion the gunner thought
TO have bit of fun at the expense or
the Juvenile comrade, hoping to give
him more big noise" than he would
relish, In close proximity with the
coast gun. Accordingly Jones asked
the young patriot If he would like to
fire the sunset gun for him.
Sure said the lad, in gleeful an
ticipation When may f1re 1t
now?"
mo. not now; it isn't sunset yet
This big gun, you know, is the one
that makes the sun go down Come
around in an hour and We'll give the
old sun a glorious send-off."
"All right" Ed replied; you can
count on me-"
In an hour Little Mac, Junior, APP
peared
Gunner Jones placed the lanyard In
the small hands of the lad, held MIN
aloft of the coast defender and COM
manded, "Fire!'
"Bang!" went the big gun, which
had a little extra food for the event.
The baby gunner dropped the lanyard
to applaud the music made by the
war dog.
Didn't it scare your" asked the
regular.
mo, it's better'n a drum. If you
are 'fraid of 'er, just send for me any
time. I'll do it for you"
"Eph" took occasion to be 'fraid''
quite often thereafter, and Little Mac,
Junior" enjoyed the privilege of help
ing him out.
For ten years Sergeant Edward Nc
Clellan Roberts has been resident OF
New York City, devoting his time to
writing and literature. On recent
evening he was invited by l.. I. Fet-
ger to visit the Fourteenth Regiment,
camp. United Spanish War Veterans,
at their armory III Brooklyn. A
spread followed an installation OF Of
ficers, and after responding to urgent
calls for a speech Sergeant Roberts
was voted an honorary member OF the
camp, then in command of William j.
Prendergast and was decorated with
button of the order.
Often has the claim made for him
that he is the youngest soldier of the
war of 1876, and the youngest mem
Der Of the G. Ar. been disputed, but
a simple recital of the foregoing facts
has promptly and easily settled each
such dispute-Chicago Inter Ocean.
Band Music on the Battlefield
Edward 2. Tobie, late Sergeant Ma
ior of the First Maine Cavalry, writ,
ing for the Concord IN H.) Veterans
Advocate about the surrender of APP
pomattox, speaks of an incident at
tending the struggle about Dinwiddie
Court House:
How the incidents of the afternoon
crowd before me- Shortly after we
III