Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-05-30

fast thinning ranks Of the Grand
Army. The veterans are dying
much faster than their comrades
fell before Confederates bullets
from 81 to '65.
But Gaylord NJ. Saltzgaber is
still in his rugged manhood To
look at him one would preiict
that he is good for many more
years of active life Physically Wig
orous and mentally alert, he will
prove to be one of our greatest
commissioners of pensions, ! thor
oughly believe. He has a thick
compact body hat has known
scarcely a days illness in 6s years.
And this body is surmounted by a
fine big round head. His hair is
white. his moustache CT opped and
grizzled. The flesh of his face is
firm and almost unwrinkled. His
fine grey eyes, agleam with keen
intelligence. bespeak the mans
bodily and mental power
l had a talk with Mr.. Salzgaber
shortly after he was appointed by
President Wilson. and | was much
impressed by him. Woodrow Will
son is fortunate in being able TO
secure a man of his ability for the
pension Commissionership After
he had told me something of his
career. l asked Mr. Saltzgaber 70 re-
late some of his war stories.
81 haven't done much fighting
since '65,' he said laughingly
"Some of the hoys like to talk over
the old days constantly, but have
had too busy a life. and conse
quently have forgotten many of
the details Of my experiences" But
when | got him started he related
many thrilling adventures of the
war. Some time | will relate some
of these adventures in my letter.
Mr.. S~altzgaber was the youngest
of six brothers whom his patriotic
parents sent out with the Uuion
army. Four of them including
the new commissioner yer wound
ed: but all returned alive at the
end of the war. The preliminaries
of war made a powerful impression
on the youthful mind of young Gay
lord. The fall of Fort Sumpter
burned into his soul. There was
the call for volunteers. Gaylord
disappeared from home. The
next day his mother received a let
ter from him saying that he had
enlisted in the Third Ohio Cavalry.
This was in September of 1861.
Young Saltzgaber had celebrated
his 18th birthday the preceding
March but he was big for his age,
he could ride a horse, and the re-
cruiting officer accepted him.
The mother was nearly crushed
by the occurrence. But she did the
best thing she could do, she sent
three of Gaylord's older brothers,
Samuel, Thomas. and william, to
enlist in the same regiment and
company, if possible. to look after
her baby. The two older brothers
had already enlisted in other regi-
ments and this left the parents
alone.
All through the war the boys
watched out for each other, and
all came back to the rejoicing
parents in Ohio. Vat the end of
three years Gaylord had enough of
war and planned to be mustered
out at the end of his enlistment.
put ~ L uidShi, 1tIH' Sdpl. SulNCI
of his regiment made a speech urg-
ing the soldiers to reenlist TO help
preserve the Union and Gaylord
Saltzgaber then only Is years old
but a veteran soldier gave up his
dream Of home and signed to fight
until the end of the war. He was
must cred out with his regiment
10 August 1865.
Among the battles and campaigns
in which Commissioner S~altzgaber
engaged we're Shiloh, Corinth,
P%erryVille, Stone River, Chickama-
qua ending with General Wilson'S
campaign in lower Alabama and
Georgia,
Returning from the front. Mr.
Saltzgaber took up hlacksmithing
as a trade. He then attended a
business college in Poughkeepsie