TWO MEN Do the state-sponsored historic signs along Virginia's highways ever change? Does the text there ever vary with the years? As I recall from helping to get one of the sturdy, metal signs installed not too many years ago, it used to cost an associated sponsoring group about three hundred dollars or so. I was a charged with writing the copy to be used on the sign we did and requirements were strict and rightly so, concerning content and length. There is going to be very little re-writing or editing being done
Year ago, probably in the 1950's judging by my notes at the time (thoughtlessly undated, of course) I was impressed by the state fact that two men were members of the Union force which faced General Jubal Early of the Confederacy, September 18th and thereabouts, during that which we now call “The Third Battle of Winchester” which we can imagine was not called by any such tidy terms
few years later -war of those men would be further tested when called upon to do their best in the same job, which, like the making-of-war, they have never done before.
There is no indication that the two men ever knew each other. “Rud” as close friends called the older man, was a married man who had three children and a fourth one on the way back in Ohio. He was one who readily attracted attention, however, so the younger soldier hailed from a won named Poland in north easterly Pennsylvania. “Rud” had been named a “.”when he indicated he was a eager to be an active war to fight seditonists and slaveholders. He believed, almost to a fault, that an officer should always lead his men into battle. Five times wounded in battle, it was his personal leadership of leading his men at the battle of Occoquan. In later days of the war. Back home people urged him to run for Congressmen. He agreed, but absolutely refused to do any campaigning. while in the army.
Our second soldier was named William, so Billwas, what his friends tagged him. He alwaystook pride forhavbikng ellisted as a private soldier He stayed so for three months; was upped to Commisary Sergeant, Quartermaster and the Adjuant. then “Veteran”'.
No doubt“Rud” who finished as a Brigadier General,. would have welcomed William as one of his troopers.
Each man, in turn, became Commander In Chief: President Rutherford P. Hayes and President William McKinley.
A.L.M. April 3, 2006 [c447wds]
