Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-01-21
A Dead General.

Gen. +. NJ Rogers. a soldier from
private TO ereyet major in the Sixth
Wisconsin. made the remark. In one
of Gen. Grants battles about Peters
burg. in June. 1864, he received a dan.
gerous wound. Upon reaching Wash
ington It was found that gangrene had
appeared Within a week he was sent
home TO viroqua, to die. On the way
he grew much worse, Blood poison
1as Fastening the end.
In an interview Gen Rogers tells
the story.
My high fever turned to an icy
chill. heard DR.. Rusk say 10 Or.
Tinker. the family would better be
called
My mother and sisters came to the
bedside. took my hand, kissed my fore
head sobhed goodbye and left the
room-lett it that my bride of few
months might be alone with her dying
husband. My young wife was weeping
when she entered the room, realizing
that in short time she would be a
widow. Then came minister, heard
some of his appeal that the soldiers
life might be spared TO his wife, moth.
er, sisters and country. Night came
total darkness my last night. yet
fought and still had just the least
glimmer of a hope. ] shiyered with
cold that no artificial warmth could
prevent, and was, oh so tired When
the last night was half gone l fell into
a troubled smmber, thought, or
dreamed, that | was in camp on the
shore OF a river and could look across
into the Eternal Beyond | was wait
ing my turn to be ferried over. The
water was clear and without a ripple.
War scenes and bits of army life APP
peared. | saw Gen. James Wadsworth,
our brave old division commander, shot
and fall as | had seen him fall in the
Wilderness, the May before saw
thirty-seven OF my company who had
been killed at GAINESVILLE, South Noun
tain, Antietam, Gettysburg and else
where, on the other shore. They
seemed to be waiting for me. | was
not afraid to go over, but still hoped
for life and a return to the regiment
Over yondeT | saw Co. l getting into
line under Old Glory, as | witnessed
II so many times in Virginia, l saw
the ferry coming in my direction, saw
It land, felt the angels lift me and
carry me to the boat; realized that
was dead. My old company waved the
flag and sang welcome as we APP
preached the shining shore. was In
heaven, free from pain How quiet
and peaceful II was, and what beauti-
full sights | saw
Two days afterward / awoke 10
look into the still sober but less trou-
bled faces of my wife, mother and sis.
tiers, and to hear the doctor say, You
have won the battle and will In time
return TO the regiment When / first
looked at the dear ones my thought
was to ask them why they had so soon
followed, but the doctors remark resur.
rected me"
A few months later Capt Rogers
llmpeu BACK on crutcheS TO MS com
mand, near Petersburg, and partici~
pated in the battle OF Hateher's run,
but was obliged to quit the service be,
cause OF the unhealed wound two
months before Appomattox. Two years
later he was made an officer I'm the req
ular army, but that same old Peters.
burg hurt led to his return to private
life. In 1855 Gov Rusk commissioned
him quartermaster general of the state.
In spite of that ride to the Other
Shore in 1864. he is, in 1909. at 10,
erect and vigorous, but that Confeder-
ate bullet gave him a hitch in his step
that will stay by him to the end
A. Watrous. In Milwaukee Wisconsin