Evening star., 1915-10-10

sonal associations were SO intimate
difference in political Affiliations later
on served to utterly destroy the kind
ly communion of the old days when
they wore the same uniform and served
under the same flag.
xk
when my father was a captain in
the old LIST Infantry. Jefr Davis was
the adjutant of the regiment. I had
been good fellow and chum' with my
father since I was knee high to a
duck at San Antoine, Corpus Christi,
Fort Phantom Hill, Fort Towson, Fort
Smith (on the old Santa Fe traiD,
Jefferson barracks. Fort Leavenworth,
Fort Pierre. Fort Smelling. Fort
Ridgely, Fort Abercrombie and other
places where he had been stationed.
and at some one of these posts 1 had
known Gems. Scott and Lee, the two
Johnstons. Grant, Sheridan, Beaure-
gard. Mcclellan and many others. the
recollection of whom is most gracious.
Although 1 met some of them officially
as enemies In the days of the civil
war. the remembrances of their cour-
tesies and genial consideration OF me as
lad were paramount, and when our
ohStdi UusiHcSS nau Deen completed
they had the goodness to recall our
FORMER association. and renewed in my
heart the genial friendships formed
when 1 was mere boy. 1t was
through these army associations that I
secured my appointment as a second
lieutenant before 1 had reached the
age OF nfteen years. During my thir-
teen years Of army life. spent at diner
stationed. 1 had learned Thoroughly
the manual of arms and many company
movements. as set forth by Scott, Har-
dee and Casey and also much OF the ar
tiilery drill. so that when I reported
Tor duty with my regiment the l27th
New York Volunteer Infantry, at Up
tons Hill, I was better prepared to tll
the duties of my position than most of
the other officers of similar rank. and
even some OF higher rank, because of
the recent organization and lack of
time Tor instruction and study since
leaving New York.
I'm the spring of '63 we left Clouds
mills. our headquarters there havinb
been at Mrs. Tallihero's house. We
marched down the Leesburg pike to
Alexandria and embarked for Norfolk,
Va. from whence we went to Suffolk
to relieve Peck's 7th Corps, which was
being besieged by Longstreet. Thence
to West Point. Va, back to Yorktown,
and entered on the second peninsula
campaign via Williamsburg and
Charles City to White House Landing.
thence to Newport News and via Wash.
ington and Frederick, Md, to Gettys-
burg. After the Gettysburg campaign
we marched via Berlin and Warrenton
to Alexandra and embarked for Nor
ris Island, s. c., doing garrison duty at
Fort Wayne. after the capture. Here
was detailed to command the Swamp
Angel Battery.
Finally we occupied Charleston as
provost guard, after marching along
the Charleston and Savannah railroad
from Honey Hill via Salkehatchie and
Adam run, at all of which places we
had several engagements before ad-
vancing. From Charleston We were sent
home In July. 1865. and mustered out Of
the service.
'I have permitted the ego to overrun
this lengthy conversation, but when one
has held so unique a place as the youngest
commissioned officer, and again the
youngest Of three generations. all COM
missioned in the same war. and had been
in it and Of it in the several campaigns
OF 30. stupendous a conflict from almost
the beginning to the end. it is difficult
to comprehend that there is limit to all
things. So have rambled along all be-
cause Of having followed in spirit with
tne damDleTS ana over tno
'old-time highways and byways. rode
with orders along the picket line from
Falls Church through Munsons Hill,
Uptons Hill and even out to Vienna and
old Fairfax Court House some fifty-two
years ago. The face of the country has
so changed since the old days that I
could not have located myself except for
your description of the old people and
the old places. In the days of which I
speak the land was deforested and a num-
ber Of houses razed to secure a clear
range for the guns in the chain of forts
that were built for the defense of the
capital Today find the country densely
CODED and the old trails and the old forts
almost obliterated, and memory has be-
come dulled, too. so that the old veteran
but must trust to you II he would resume
his rambles over historic ground
One Of the interesting features OF this
matter Is that while Col Abercrombies
father was in the service as brigadier
general, his grandfather, Robert Patterson,
was also in the Union service as major
general of volunteers. Gen. Patterson
had served through the second war with
England as first lieutenant in the 22d In
fantry, United States Army; first lieu
tenant in the 32d Infantry. cautain and
depot quartermaster general and as cap
tain in the 32d Infantry, and served
general of volunteers, participating in the
engagements of Vera Cruz. San Juan
d'Ulloa, Cerro Gordo. Peroto. Puebla,
Ayotla. San Augustine. Molino del Rey,
Chapultepec, San Coame and the City Of
Mexico.