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TOM ROONEY MARCHED WITHSHERMAN TO THE SEA: SAWACTION IN MANY BATTLESSHERMAN’S army was marching through the southern states bound for the sea, and Sherman’s men were busy ravaging the country throughwhich the army was passing.Everything that the Victorious army could not use and that might fall into the hands of the rebels was destroyed. Food supplies, homes, cattle, railroad systems—anything and everything that Sherman could not take with him either went up in smoke or was destroyed so that it could neveragain be used. That was warTom Rooney. ‘i09 North Eleventh street, civil war veteran and a member of the Sherman army that marched to the sea, when interviewed by ahad many interesting andreparter,enlightening things to tell about that march and about his experiences during that war.Is “War” FamilyThe Rooney family, as Mr. Rooney said, is a “war family. Mrs. Roon-; t^e town was jn flaraes. ey’s father was killed during the civil w'ar; Mr. Rooney’s father fought in the Mexican war, and the three sons of the old civil war veteran were participants in the recent world war—Tom, the youngest son, being killed in action.When he was but 16 years old, Mr.Rooney enlisted in the Thirty-seconddragged all the cotton, food, and everything burnable into the streets and had set fire to them—they then fled the city leaving it deserted. A strong wind was blowing and when we arrived a considerable part ofThe army immediately turned into a fire squad in an effort to save some of the buildings but even Sherman’s capable commands and managing were useless and the men were unable to save the town‘‘In those days we had no wagons, or autos or passenger trains in which to ride like the soldiers of the pres-Missouri infantry, and from that da *ent day. We walked then. We walk-on until the close his every hour was filled with war—each day brought new experiences to the lad.Outstanding among the battles In which Mr. Rooney participated, are the battles which occured during the famous march to the sea; the battle of Chattanooga, the battle at Atlanta and the battle at Fort McAllister. In all of these and in dozens of other battles Mr. Rooney fought and the stories which he tells of the hardships endured by the troops and the unique methods employed by the troops in their battles, are of great Interest.Demolish Railroad TracksIn his stories of the civil war, Mrted everywhere no matter how' great the distance was. War materials•and methods have seen a tremendous change since I was 16 years old and first shouldered a ramrod musket. We couldn't carry pup tents and blankets because it rained so much and on the long tramps which we took the burden became too great and we had to ditch all unnecessarybaggage.Idkee Kvperictic*‘‘In those days, too, barbed wirew’as just coming into use and our entanglements were made by cuttiu# down trees. The life of a soldier was„ . . . , . hard, but it was wonderfully educat-Rooney related the manner in which , and I m not at a„ gorry that Mrailroad tracks were demolished by victorious armies as they passed through the country. Loosening one rail at the joint, 100 or more men strung along that side and lifted both ties rolling apd tipping it over, bottom side up; then the men would roll the w'hole thing over, pushing with their hands, almost as fast as they could w’alk. This would twist the rails so they could not be used again without re-rolling at the factory.“We foraged our own food from the nearby fields,” said Mr. Rooney. Half the time we were naked and we had to secure most of our own clothing ourselves. Each man depended upon his own resources to make a living and it seemed that a continual search was going on all during the war for stray chickens, pigs, and anything at all eatable. The government did furnish us with hardtack but it soon ran out and we then procured our own food.Saw Columbus Burn“I was at Columbus when that city burned to the ground. The rebels knew that we were coming and hadmuch of my life has been engagod in war—in fact, I’m glad.”Practically all equipment In AuBttl garaKts was made in this country.T ricksnd every one calls for an encore. We’d like to tell you how many different kinds of ice cream dishes we serve, but after all, the best way Is to try any one of them just once.
Newspaper Details
La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press
La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
Sun, May 29, 1927
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Kris K.
CA, USA 26 Nov 2018
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