The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-09-27


~ from the diary Of farmer soldier
by the name of How, who had come
to camp with no uniform or training,
except love of liberty, and ability to
handle his gun; and his descriptions
and went and the officers tried to
form them into soldiers, gives most
vivid picture of the material that
Washington had to use and how he
used it. That brief and quaint diary
is now the property of Historical
Society. most highly valued. The
book of Capt. Wells is not brief nor
quaint. but delightful spun yarn of
personal experiences, we'll written; he
has not tried to write narrative of
the War or campaigns, but has given
the story of his own experiences in
camp, on the march, in action, in
capture. in the prison pen, in escape
through the tunnel out of Libby Pris
on, in meeting President Lincoln,
visiting home to find the fond mother
just dead while her soldier boy was in
the dread prison, back to his regiment
with deserved promotion, his share in
Stoneman's raid through Georgia, his
second capture and confinement, and
exchange when almost dead with
| Touch of Elbow" reminds the old in
| fantry soldier of the marching line
that was kept a line by each man
touching elbows with comrades on
either side as he advanced in. the light
or darkness.
= Capt. Wells begins with a descrip-
ton of his home life on the Michigan
farm with graphic incident that will
lappeal to all farm-raised boys or men.
His account of his joining Albert
Sydney Johnston's army that started
to suppress the Mormons in 1888,
and his descriptions of the then 'front.'
Eier, the army ox-teams and wagon
Itrains is Of deepest interest.
Capt. Wells regiment was part
|of the column that chased Morgan
when on his raid through Indiana and
lOhio. His brigade commander was
I Col. Sanders, a Kentuckian; after
Morgafi's force had all surrendered
lSanders went among the Confederates
; thinking he might meet acquaintance
; las most Of Morgan's men were from
} Kentucky; almost the first man he
met proved to be the brother of the
; girl to whom Sanders was engaged to
be married, which is simply one OF
the multitude of cases where relatives
; and former friends found themselves
) on opposite sides during the war, one
of the greatest evils of civil war. The
{, story Is delightfully."- told. Another
J most vivid incident is how the ad-
j vanced posts suddenly discovered
u each other on opposite sides of the
: Chattahoochee river on hot day
when the Jonnies called out Hello
. there Yank! are you going to shootF
mot so long as you don't interfere
with us" was the reply. WELL we,
uns don't shoot unless you-uns do
and then both sides plunged in for a
swim, and while in the water met ano
) traded tobacco and coffee. Such in
: cidents now and then furnished light
} on the dark picture of the war. The
: book is as full of such good stories
I as good pudding is of plums. W.
cannot have too many such books,
repeat, which, tell the real story, ane
lwhile it will foster patriotism, viii
/. also give such view of the real ant
I awful side Of war, that it will teacf
!. the young to be slow in advocating ;
resort to arms, but to be ready to &c
II their part if it must come.
|. A member of the local Grand Army
! Post has all the letters he sent hi!
! parents and his "best girl when il
4 the service, which have been COPIED
and are highly valued by his children
II II is possible that among the pa
Y pers and old letters of other familie
!. even out her in the far west, there ar
I copies Of such letters. or soldiers
& diaries; every scrap of such ought t.
Il Be saved; and If one has no othe
: place Of deposit, place them with tn
1. Iiocal G. A. R. post, or with their head
quarters at Boise. or with the Stat
81 Historical society, which will event
tally be the custodian Of all sucl
! fittings.
w. 5. HAWKES..
II r TX *