War Day Memories from Coffeyville, Kansas • 16

WAR DAY EMORIES--A TOLD BY THE RANK AND FILE. 16 very unpleasant indeed, as the) ground was cold and wet. When Bragg found out that we had abandoned the Round Forest he moved his right forward and occupied it. About 10 o'clock the enemy opened tire with all of his artillery on our entire line. They made it pretty hot for us for, a couple of hours.

But when our artillery returned a much heavier dose they seemed perfectly willing to keep quiet. Our loss was not very great considering, the number of shells they tossed over at us. Their infantry made a display as though they would like very much to charge us again, but they steered shy of doing any foolish thing like that. During the artillery duel that 1 have spoken of, while Bradley's Gth Ohio battery was poking the enemy some sounders, Stokes Chicago Board of Trade battery, stationed several hundred yards in the rear, opened fire presumably on the enemy, but instead sent a raking fire of canister through Bradley's battery, causing it to withdraw in order to keep from being cut to pieces by one of our own bat teries. How this mistake occurred 1 do not know.

I know this however, that there was great birthday by the Post and Corps No. 171 attending the First M. Church and listening to an excellent sermon delivered by Rev. Barker of the Presbyterian church, Received Commission and Badge. During the past few days the writer has received from Adjutant General Charles R.

E. Kock, his commission as "Aide-de camp" on Commander-in-Chief IL M. Trimble's staff, and also a beautiful badge of the Aide's, rank. The commission is 17 by 22 inches and very finely engraved with "old glory" and the Commader's Headquarters Hag grappled by the eagles talons. The regular G.

A. R. badge occupies one side of the Commission and the Aide's badge the other. The words GRAND ARMY OF THE RE-PUBLIC, surmount the flags eagle and Sunburst and the other wording is as follows. The Commander- i i Grand Army of the Republic.

To Comrade C. W. Kent, Greeting: Reposing special trust and confidence in your Fidelity and Ability and in your zeal for the Interests of the Grand Army of the Republic and devotion to its principles, I do by virtue of the power and authorty in me vested hereby appoint you Aide-de camp and I authorize and empower you to enter upon and perform the duties of said office in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Army of the Republic and for so doing this shall be your cemmission. Given at the Headquarters ot the Grand Army of the Republic at Chicago this 27th day of February, 1912. Charles R.

E. Koch. Adjt. Gen. H.

M. Trimble Commander-in-chief The badge is surmounted with the Colonel's strap rank, from which is pendant the gold ribbon into which is woven the regular flag ribbon, and this carries the regulation G. A. R. star.

This honor, coming to us without soliciation, is highly appreciated, and' we hope to merit all the confidence thus placed in us by the highest officer' in the grandest organization it was ever man's privilege to belong to, for it is anorganization based-, on the ndbjest principles ever vouchsafed to man, "Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty," and behind whose door the wealth of all the earth can never buy an entrance. Battles ot Fort Donelson (Continued from page 9) They so severely punished the Confederates that even after the latter had, by an obstinate contest of six hours, gained possession of the roads leading southward from Dover, they were no longer in a condition for the escape they had fought to secure. (To be continued) Washington and Lincoln Memorials We were sent the program a1 few days since of the Lincoln Memorial services held by Post No. 1 at Topeka in the Auditorium on Sunday, Feb. 11, and as it was such an excellent one we reproduce it here as follows: PROGRAM Call to order and introduction of Master of Ceremonies, J.

G. Wood, Patriotic Instructor Lincoln Post No. 1. Master of Ceremonies, "Re marks," Patrick H. Coney, Past Department Commander.

Song America" by the Misses Wyatt, the audience joining. Invocation -Rev. Stephen S. Estev, Pastor First Presbyterian Church. Music Lincoln Post Drum Corps.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address George A. Huron. Song "Star Spangled Banner," the Misses Wyatt. Memorial Address Rev. Arthur S.

Henderson, Pastor First Congregational Qhurch. Song "Lincoln's Day in Lincoln's Land," the Misses Wyatt. Doxology, the Misses Wyatt, the audience joining. Benedictiou -Rev. A.

S. Em-bree, D. Music, Lincoln Post Drum Corps. The Post Relief Corps and Sons of Veterans at Independence held a joint Washington and Lincoln Memorial service on Saturday afternoon. Febru ary 24th, the speakers being Attorney Thos.

Wagstaff of the Sons, for Washington, and S. P. Miles for Lincoln, and Mrs. Hendricks, Department President of the W. R.

C. The addresses being excellent, were attentively listened to and frequently applauded. There was some most beautiful and appropriate singing by the ladies and a Son's quartette, and afterwards a supper partaken of such as only the loyal women know how to prepare. Sheridan Post No. 00 of Coffey ville observed i nc 1 ing posted by our chief of artillery, in a very commanding position, though not in veiw of the enemy.

Some of the guns were pointing toward the enemy's right Hank which was nearly due east, while others were pointing to the north across Stone's River. Rosecrans also placed several brigades of infantry in the rear of the batteries, out of sight of the enemy. I for one felt like I wished they wouldn't come, but if they must have some more of it, I was in for giving them such a good thrashing that they would not speak to us all summer. On January 2nd the enemy opened on us with a line of batteries nearly a mile long and kept it up for more than two hours. The shells flew thick and fast and furious but our causualities were not so verv great.

They kept dropping shells all the forenoon over at us, and as the boys expressed it, just to make us squat. Continued in next issue Senator Charles Curtis has stood up like a hero of olden times, with the men in the United States Senate who wanted to do somethiug for the men. now in need, who made it possible for this Nation to have a flag that is honored by every civilized country on the globe, and whoso, flag now the sun never ceases to shine on. Senator Bristow has also not been found wanting when his vote was needed to help push along legislation in this line. We cannot say how the comrades in some other states feel about certain Senators actions toward Pension legislation, but we feel that if one of our Kansas Senators were to act so, it would hardly be good policy for them to return to this state for a future residence, for Kansas with all her freakish political breaks, has never gone back on the men who could be depended upon in the Nation's great trial.

There are yet thousands of old soldiers not members of the Grand Army who would like for that organization to help them on pension matters, but. they should all come into our ranks, -shoulder, and then our representatives will listen to our demands. Don't overlook the fact that you can get the McCall Magazine three years and War Day Memories one year for only $.5.00 War Day Memories only 50c indignation expressed about it at that time among the officers. Stokes' men were good fighters and I suppose that there "was some reasonable explanation made of it. It was evident from their boldness, that Bragg intended to try us another whack, before being satisfied that he could not whip us.

When he would get too pestiverous, some nssnnlt-ing column would sally forth from our line and drive him back to where he ought to have Stayed. It rained all day at intervals, as it does always after a battle, making it very disagreeable hugging the ground without any thing under us, so as to keep out of sight of the enemy's sharp shooters, but it is the duty of a soldier to obey orders. This was a pretty sporty new ear day. More noise than the average small boy would even think proper on a new year day. The enemv shelled us heavily all day.

Every preparation on our side, indicated that Roecrans antibipated another battle with Bragg, and that too on our left, as heavy columns of infantry were seen massing in that direction. Just a short distance to our left, many cannon were be.