The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-05-24

speedily followed by number of others, and win
nIng the appreciation of Major Weich OF MS regr
ment, who 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 connlct
thai followed fell severely wounded through the
left hip by minnie ball.
"On the morning of December 13, 1862, while the
Fifth corps drawn up in line OF battle on s1ai
ford heights waiting for orders to cross the Kappa
hanock river and enter Fredericksburg, Colonel
Stockton. commanding the Third brigade, flfst
division, called upon the Sixteenth Michigan 1or
volunteer to carry the brigade flag that hao
just reached the command. Sidman, but now par
TALLY 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 Its famous charge up Maryes
heights, in that terrible slaughter under Burnside.
he again wounded, but not SO severely as to
prevent him from planting the colors within loo
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 .
broken shaft and several holes, caused by the enc
my's missiles during the charge.
ut was In this battle Sunday, December IA,
1862. while the brigade lay all day huggng the
ground behind the slight elevation a few yards
In front Of the enemy. momentaruy expecting an
attack. that Sidman, with comrade OF his own
company displayed humanity well as remark
able vaor by running the gauntlet through a 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 enemys
sharpshooters were 80 stationed as to command
the ground q considerable distance in the rear OF
the brigade lines 1t was this distinguished service
Of humanity at Fredericksburg, in the face OF a
v1g1lant 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 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 frst-named battle.
with continuing merit to the end Of his military
service.
Perhaps the most dangerous duty that soldier
can be engaged In is that of scout. In book puD-
lished after the war, and called Hampton and His
Cavalry the following definition of a scout Is
given: The scouts of the army did not constitute
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 idefned, for, as the scouts
were 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 pleashnl
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.
"Rowand was born March g. 1S45, in Philadel-
nb,o Pa and enlisted June IT, 1862, in Company
K First West Virginia cavalry, and served until
August IT, 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 snen-
dams scouts
trred hut told such a plausible story to the Con-
federote officers about being Confederate scout
with verbal orders from one distant general to an
other that he was allowed to depart The first time
be was detailed on scout duty his two companions
vere shot and killed. On his next trip his COM
rade and his own horse were killed when they were
"a miles inside of the Confederate lines but Row.
and managed to dodge the enemy's bullets ana ger
hack alive. vowng at every jump never to go on
scor, doty again. He soon recovered from his
fr,oh+ however, and started out on another trip.
Wh,,e with Sheridan he was asked to locate the
notorous partisan leader, Maj. Harry Gilmore. ana
If possible effect his capture.
"a f+er several days hard work he found Gilmore
stonn,np in a large country mansion near Moor
6ad W. Va. This he reported to Sheridan, who
cont With him about fifteen scouts under Colonel
Youne They dressed in Confederate uniforms
and followed by 800 Federal cavalry at a distance
of several miles, to he Of assistance In case the
trne character Of the scouts was discovered. they
arr4ved near Gilmores command about daybreAk
and Rowand went forward alone and, snglehand'
81 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'a
headQuartefA