“As soon as I was able to stand, the doctor with one of my men, Wesley Ware, who stayed with me, took me into a small church which stood beside the road from which the enemy had just been pressed, where he more carefully dressed my wound and administered such stimulants as he deemed necessary.  A number of other wounded were brought in.  The battle was raging on the outside, and close by.

When the doctor was nearly through adjusting the bandages on my arm, am alarm was given by a 4th Ill. Cavalryman who came tearing down the road yelling ‘get out of the way, they are charging down this road.’  All left me but my faithful man, Wesley Ware, who fastened the bandage and helped me adjust my clothing, and them got my horse and helped me mount.  There was no charge down the road, but there would have been had it not been for the heroic action of Lieut. Calais, who hurled his company onto the head of the approaching rebel column, meeting them at a small bridge, where he killed their leader and forced them to fall back.  The man from the 4th who gave the alarm was afterwards accused of having ‘cold feet’ that day, and he never denied it.”

Note:  This account was written by Edwin Farley, though not a Ware, I thought it an important account of a Civil War soldier.  The following about Mr. Farley is from the Preface of his book.

“I have often been asked, by friends, to write an account of my experiences as a soldier, but not until requested by my Grand Army Post have I decided to do so…

I was born in Walworth County, in the TERRITORY of Wisconsin, August 26, 2842.  Worked on a farm until I enrolled as a soldier, August 26, 1861, under Capt. A.E. Smith.  Ten days later our squad joined Co. ‘K’ 8th  Wis. Infty.  Received education in country school, one year in academy.  Served four years and five months in the army; engaged in cotton planting in Coahoma Co., Miss., 1866 and 1876; located in Paducah, Ky., February, 1868, where I have resided ever since; engaged in mercantile and manufacturing business; was Deputy U.S. Marshal 1875-8; appointed Collector of Internal Revenue Second District of Kentucky by President Arthur 1883; was appointed Postmaster at Paducah by President Harrison 1892; was elected State Treasurer of Kentucky 1907 and served four years, and was Department Commander G.A.R. Department of Kentucky 1914…            E. Farley”

Reference Data:

Experience of a Soldier, by Edwin Farley,1918, pages 101-2 and Preface