The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1915-01-06

deeds OF dash or daring above
the rest; all did their duty and
did it well. Of all of the Mime
sofa Regiments it can be said
that they received the highest
praise from the chiefs in COM
mand. Our Corps Commander,
General A. J. Smith, had the ut
most confidence in the ability of
his western men to do anything
he gave them to do, and it was
never any light task. General
Thomas one day as they were
riding at the head of the troops,
said in rather deprecatory
manner, General. observe that
your men have a bad habit of
struggling and they forage bad
ly Also Well! said Gen. Smith,
"You probably observe also Gen
eral that they fight like h-ll,
too" But there were many
brave Minnesota and other west
ern boys who never did either
struggling or fighting after
Nashville.
| feel that | cannot close this
reminder of the old days of sor-
row and of joy, without trib-
ute to the memory of our be-
loved Col. VIM. R. Marshall as
the boys Of the 7th all knew
him. By the sad tragedy Of war
at Nashville he was suddenly
called upon to take the COM
mand of our brigade, and came
home a Brigadier General, soon
after was elected to the high
est office in the States, but to
his boys of the 7th he was al
ways "Col. Marshall" Brave al
most to recklessness where duty
called, without any show of bra
vado, he was still tender-h hearted
and gentle as woman. Know
ing all his men and loving all of
them, he never hesitated to
share with them any hardship
severe duty which devolved
upon them, and while he lived,
among his most cherished
moments were the days of re-
union of his old Regiment at
the Capitol. Here he would an
nually meet and shake hands
with the gradually diminishing
remnant of his boys as he
called them, and together we
would talk over the "old days"
and pay homage to our soiled
and tattered old "colors" repos-
ing in secure quietude and peace
in it's own Minnesota. Here is
where we would see the Coils
eye grown dim and note the fall
tering voice, as we thought and
talked of some Of our brave
comrades who, while bearing the
old flag (as at Nashville) right
up to and over the enemy's
works, had given their young
lives in the twinkling of an eye.
Such was the fate of my chum
POLY" Chamberlain at Nash
vile.
But | must bring these reccol-
lection to an end or run the risk
of exhausting your patience. At
| our muster out. in August 1865.
| Col. Marshall, who could hardly
trust himself to bid us a per-
sonal farewell, issued to each
one a printed order as follows:
Officers and men of the 7th
Regiment, your work is done.
This day you cease to be soldiers
of the Republic and resume the
duties Of peaceful citizens. | do
not need now to testify of your
fidelity, your soldierly endur-
ance, your courage. This has
been done in the reports of bat
ties and campaigns, and is a
part of the history of the armies
with which you have served, and
of the State that in part you
have SO nobly represented in the
field. / shall ever cherish a
grateful memory of my associa-
ton with you, and you have
each a claim upon my regard
and affection that will last thru
life. With sacred sorrow for
the dead, with gratitude to the
Divine Providence that has left
50 many of you to your homes
and families, and commencing
you all to the protecting care Of
that Providence, I bid you all
an affectionate farewell.
VIM. r. Marshall.
Of our Christmas festivities
and feasting, there is but little
to brag about, but the weather
cleared up the day before Christ