The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-05-24

y:
speedily followed by a number of others, and win
ming the appreciation of Major WEIGH of his regi-
ment. who was a witness of the heroic act. He
was in the front rank of the charge back upon the
enemy, and in the almost hand-to-hand conflict
that followed fell severely wounded through the
left hip by a minnie ball.
ION the morning Of December IL. 1862, while the
Fifth corps was drawn UP in line Of battle on Stat
ford heights waiting for orders to cross the Kappa
hanock river and enter Fredericksburg, Colonel
Stockton, commanding the Third brigade, First
division, called upon the Sixteenth Michigan for a
volunteer to carry the new brigade flag that had
just reached the command Sidman, but now par
italy recovered from his wound, sprang from the
ranks and begged for this duty. His patriotism and
fidelity to duty, well known to Major WEIGH, now
commanding the regiment, won for him the covet-
ed prize. much to the chagrin Of several other COM
rades who valiantly offered their services. Lead
ing his brigade on its famous charge UP Marye's
heights, in that terrible slaughter under Burnside,
he was again wounded. but not so severely as to
prevent him from planting the cOlors within 100
yards of the enemy's line, where they remained
for 80 hours. Three days later he proudly bore his
flag back across the Rappahanock. marked by a
broken shaft and several holes, caused by the enc
my's missiles during the charge.
1T was in this battle, Sunday, December IA,
1862, while the brigade lay all day hugging the
ground behind the slight elevation a few yards
in front of the enemy, mOmentartly expecting an
attack, that Sidman. with a comrade of his own
company, displayed humanity as well as remark
able valor by running the gauntlet through IA rail
road cut for canteens of water for the sick and
wounded comrades who could not be removed from
the lines; this at a time, too, when the enemy's
sharpshooters We're SO stationed as to command
tho ground a considerable distance In the rear OF
tho brigade lines. 1t was this distinguished service
- l,.,nn;ty - rolnr al 1ur in tho fora nf q
vigilant enemy and with almost certain death star
ing him in the face, that prompted his officers In
recommending him for the medal OF honor. The
war department, with a full record knowledge of
his service from Gaines Mills to Fredericksburg.
and for reasons best known to itself, decided that
the medal was earned at the first-named battle,
with continuing merit to the end of his military
service.
"Perhaps the most dangerous duty that a soldier
can be engaged in is that Of scout. In a book pub
lished after the war, and called Hampton and Ills
Cavalry the following definition Of a scout Is
given: The scouts of the army did not constitute
d distinct organization. but suitable men volunteer
ing for this duty were detailed from the different
commands. The position required not only cool
ness, courage, zeal and intelligence, but special fac
ulties born In some few men,
.'The line Of demarcation between a scout and a
spy was at times very ill-dehned. for. as the scouts
we're usually dressed in enemy's uniforms which
they had captured. they were by strict military law
subject to the penalty of spies If taken within the
enemy's lines, and they were not without pleaSahl
experiences of that sort.
Undoubtedly one of the most distinguished OF
this class was Archibald Hamilton Rowand, Jr,
who received the medal because of the Endorsement
Of General Sheridan, who knew and appreciated
his great services to the cause.
.Rowapd was born March 6, 1916, in Philadel-
phia. Pa, and enlisted June II. 1862, in Company
vrA ~ Nsun{nfo nn DIV mi cnrvOH nnftI
August II, 1865. His services were not only re-
markable. but most valuable to the cause. He was
one Of the most daring and most trusted OF Sheri-
dams scouts.
"Once. while scouting for Averill, he was cap
tured, but told such a plausible story to the Con-
federate officers about being a Confederate scout
with verbal orders from one distant general to an
other that he was allowed to depart. The first time
he was detailed on scout duty his two companions
were shot and killed. On his next trip his com
rade and his own horse were killed when they were
IS miles inside Of the Confederate lines. but How
and managed to dodge the enemy's bullets and get
hack alive, vowing at every jump never to 90 on
scout duty again. He soon recovered from his
fright, however. and started out on another trip.
While with Sheridan he was asked to locate the
Notorious partisan leader. Mai. Harry Gilmore and.
If possible, effect his captu1e.
AFTER several days hard work he found Gilmore
stopping in q large country mansion near Moor
field, w. Va. This ne reported 70 Snerluah, WHO
sent with him about fifteen scouts under Colonel
Young. They dressed in Confederate uniforms
and, followed by 900 Federal cavalry at q distance
az several miles, to be OF assistance In case the
true character Of the scouts was discovered. they
arrived near Gilmore's command about d~aybreak.
and Rowand went forward alone and, slngle-hand-
cd. captured the vidette without a shot being fired.
The scouts then entered the family mansion and
took Gilmore out OF bed and back to Sheridan's
headquarters"