Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-07-13

Some Wisconsin Soldiers in Nebraska
l am visiting relatives and friends
at North Loup. in Nebraska. 1t Is
little village fifty miles north OF
Grand Island. There is a small
Grand Army post here, and I find
that the most of its members served
during the war in Wisconsin regi-
ments. Some readers Of this corner
may be glad to hear about them.
Here are tire names of those | have
met:
Henry Throughgate. It'll wis. In
fantry.
Henry Chase, S7th Wis, Infantry.
w. H. Rood. 9th Wis. Infantry.
Henry Davis, 22d Wis. Infantry
Maxson Greene, LIST wis. Cavalry.
George Larkin. 18th Wis. Infantry.
Caleb Ayers, 5th wis Infantry.
N K. Redlin, Sth wis. Battery
Like all other war veterans, these
men are growing old and feeble.
They are held in very high respect
in this community, for they have
served their day. and generation well
in peace as well as war The young
est of those named is my brother.
w. H. Rood. the village postmaster.
He is sixty-one years old. He has
never yet had a pension, but will, in
December, have reached the age when
Uncle Sam will begin thus to reward
him for his service. He was less
than sixteen years old when he went
INTO the army in 1864.
one of the oldest men in the list
| have given is my uncle, Henry
Thorngate. He will be eighty-one in
September. He and his three broth
ers went into the service early in
the summer of 1851 They wete rot
boy soldiers. George. the youngest,
was then twenty-seven. and David.
tire eldest, thirty-six. They did not
become soldiers through boyish en-
thusiasm, but from manly conviction
of duty. David and Henry were to-
gether in Company !, 7th Wisconsin,
Charles, in Company A, 4th Iowa;
and George, in Company E, 9Th Wis
consin. George was wounded in the
battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, May
5. go. and Henry at South Mountain,
Maryland, September 4. '62. Because
of these wounds, both We're discharged.
George enlisted later in 18th Wisconsin
battery David died in a hospital at
Alexandria, Virginia, July 16, 1862.
Charles re-enlisted as veteran and
served four years and one day. He
died in Weeping Water, Nebraska,
November Z. 1888, of disease con-
tracted in the service, and Georges
body lies at rest in the cemetery
on the hillside over yonder not far
from where | am writing He died
December IL, 1893.
sat yesterday with my uncle
Henry talking over the old days. I'll
let him tell here some things he
said to me in his reminiscent mood.
Your uncle David and kept
pretty close together after we en-
listed. We bunked together, ate to-
gether, marched together and stood
guard together. In April, so, we had
some very bad weather. with only
shelter tents to cover US. We got
wet and cold. as a matter of course.
and David took cold. He staid along
with us awhile, and then became a
member of the bodybuilding corps.
He was mechanic, and so could
do the work required of him there;
also, he thought that, as he was not
we'll. it would be some easier for
him than in the ranks. But he did
not get better, and by-and-bye ne
had to go to the hospital visited
him once in the hospital. near Fred
ricksburg. He was able then TO sit
up and talk with me. The next I
knew of him he had been sent to
day as / was going along our com
pany street one of the men called
to me. He had a copy of the Wis
consin State Journal in his hand
went TO his tent and he spoke out
abrupIlY-with a most unfeeIing tone
Yours brothers dead do not
know when I was ever more shocked.
It would have been better for him
to use a gentler tone Of voice and
be less abrupt This is something
we should all think about. A great
deal upon our manner of doing and
saying things. David diedNof bleed
ing at the lungs I suppose that
the cold he took in April led to quick
consumption. You may be sure that
I was lonesome after that.
'It was on the morning Of the
2sd of August. 50. think. when Lieu
tenant J. Y. P Bird and stood
talking by a campfire I think the
smoke attracted the attention Of the
enemy, and shots were fired in our
direction. One Of the cannon shot
struck the ground ard. gianeing up.
ward came right toward Us. we
could see II Lieutenant Bird stem
ped in one direction and I in an.
other TO avoid IT, Il passed us and
nit Lieutenant Frank Oakey's arm.
and so hurt ii that It had to be am.
putated. Poor fellow, he was a good
officer. and all the men liked him.
But cannon balls, like all other deadly
missives. have no respect for per
sons. They nit the good as well as
the bad The bail was picked up
By some one and given 10 Frank. /