U. S., England to Be Allies In Next War, Says '61 Veteran_Only Willard Survivor at 90 Eater to Honor Departed Comrades

Willard, May 29_(special dispatch) _ John McGough, the only surviving Civil War veteran here and one of Seneca County's few surviivng representatives of the Grand Army of The Republic, is nearing his 90th birthday. Yet when he speaks of his experiences at the front nearly 70 years ago, he does so with a boyish twinkle of his kindly blue eyes.
He listens intently to the topics of the day as discussed in the radio programs and is well versed in them. He has come to the conclusion Japan is quite aggressive in her viewpoint of international affairs and believes that, if another war occurs, England and the United States will work hand in hand. He has been a reader of the Democrat and Chronicle for more than 50 years.
Mr. McGough was born in County Louth, Ireland, Aug. 30, 1844 and came to this country when he was about four years old. His parents came to Penn Yan and Mr. McGough resided in Yates County until about three years ago when he came to this village to make his home with his son, Charles.
He enlisted in Penn Yan Oct. 30, 1862, at the age of 18 in Company C, 44th Infantry. During the war he was transferred twice, in 1864 to Company E and in 1865 to Company D, Fifth Veteran Infantry. He took part in virtually every engagement of the Army of the Potomac, seeing service at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Gettysburg.
In commenting on the routine of army life, the aging veteran remarked that the food for the most part was good and if one got what the government allowed there was more than enough. This, Mr. McGough found especially true while guarding the supply trains from Alexandria to the front. At times, he stated, the hard tack was wormy. It was soaked in warm water and fried in grease. The menu also included "good old fat pork" and coffee. Although Mr. McGough never partook of the privelege, he recalled that a canteen holding three pints of whisky might be had for 50 cents.
Mr. McGough received his honorabel (sic) discharch Aug 21, 1865, and returned to Penn Yan to farm. He has attended nearly all the Memorial Day programs in Penn Yan and eagerly looks forward to tomorrow's event. For 11 years he was commander of Phil Sheridan Post, GAR. He enjoys the reunions sponsored by Justice Robert F. Thompson at Canandaigua each summer, and plans to attend in August.
This modest Civil War hero is pleased to recount the happenings of the boys in blue and can remember minute details. His health is comparatively good. He can read a newspaper, his hearing is excellent for his age, and he walks with a firm step, spurning a cane except as a safeguard against falling. He said everyone was kind to him and he had no complaints to offer on life.
All of Mr. McGough's four children are still iving, Charles McGough, John McGough and Miss Anna Rose McGough are employes (sic) of Willard State Hospital, and Albert McGough is an automobile salesman residing in Rochester.

(photo included, article by J. W. Trainor)SOURCE: photocopy of unidentified news article, in possession of family member

John Henry McGough