Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-01-21
Civil War Stories
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With the Guerrf3Ias.

With the Guerrf1IaS.
In the spring of 1865, when the war
was nearing its end, train OF open
boxcars left Huntsville, Ala, for Nash
vile. Tenn. 1t was filled with Union
soldiers bound on various errands.
There were several detachments going
up into Tennessee on different kinds
of duty; there were a few who were
going north on furloughg and there
was one, Joe Wagner, who had been
discharged for disability and was
bound for his western home. He had
been a good soldier, had seen much
campaigning and fighting in the last
four years, and hated to leave before
his regiment did. But long pull Of
fever had thoroughly weakened him,
and when the surgeon bluntly said to
him, Joseph, just as sure as you don't
get I'D in the cool northern air we
shall bury you here in Alabama, he
made no more objection to taking his
discharge.
He had, of course, turned in his gun
and accoutrements before leaving
Huntsville, retaining his blanket and
overcoat And the habit OF bearing
arms in the enemy's country had be-
come so confirmed In him that he pur-
chased good revolver and metal car
tridges for it before starting. 1t was
we'll for him that he was thus thought
full.
The weather was mild, the way
through the woody and mountainous
country of northern Alabama was pic
turesque and pleasant. Spring odors
filled the air. The dfscomforts Of trav-
cling in this style of car, which the
transportation quartermaSter was In
the habit of thinking good enough for
a lot of soldiers, were much alleviated
by the good temper and jolly humor
Of the men. Probably IL would have
been the same if the whole journey
had been taken through a cold and
driving rainstorm, as the soldiers fixed
motto was make the best of it,' But
In the mild atmosphere, tbs bright sun
and the bursting bloom OF the young
spring, they laughed, sang and TESTED,
and would have danced had there been
room in the crowded cars. Occasion
ally they were serious, and then some
one would tell some blood-curdling tale
Of the atrocities of Dick Cotton, a we'll
known guerrilla of that region. whose
doings were much talked about at
Huntsville. And then the sergeants
(fcr there were no officers along)
would caution the men to keep their
muskets in hand, as they might be
fired on from the woods.
Joe Wagner was weak, AS has been
said and the weary, rocking motion OF
the train put him to sleep about the
middle of the afternoon He had
found a place to lie down at the rear
end of the last car, and with his over
coat rolled up and put under his head
for a pillow he was reposing comfort
ably on the hard boards. when a great
mishap occurred to him. At an earlier
hour of the journey, some OF the indie
pendent American soldiers aboard, in
search of greater comfort, had kicked
out the end boards of this car, that
they might sit with their legs dangling
over. Some of them were in that posi-
ton when Joe went to sleep, and his
disaster was almost certain to happen
AS the train rounded sharp curve
going about fifteen miles an hour, this
car gave a lurch and Joseph and his
overcoat rolled out on the track to-
gether.
He was a little bruised and good
deal shaken up and astonished- Before
he could get to his feet the train had
disappeared round the curve, and in
the momentary bewilderment the sol
der did not know whether the noun
tains had fallen on him or he had been
struck by a solid shot. When his
senses and the truth came to him, he
picked up his overcoat and ran round
the curve. The train was in sight, but
was fast disappearing. He shouted and
waved his overcoat, but attracted no
bodys attention. He perceived that he
was in fix"
Yet not very bad one.
Our soldier sat down on a rock and
carefully reviewed the situation. The
sun was at least three hours high
There was some chance OF another
train passing north before dark,
though that he could not depend upon
But lie knew that there were detach.
ments of infantry guards at exposed
points along this road at NO great dis
lance apart Since leaving Huntsville
he had observed two or three The
correct thing for him to do was to
take to the track and reach the first
guard post as speedily as possible. The
soldiers there would take care of him
till another train came along and they
would flag it for him and send him on
his way.
This was a good plan, and he started
i