The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
On Picket Before Chattanooga.-A Wild Cavalry
Charge.

To the Editor NATIoNAL TRIBUNE:
About the second night after the Army of the
Cumberland had stacked arms on It's defensive
line In front Of Chattanooga the writer was down
in the valley picket duty. possibly ban nile
or more from cur line of works. The night was q
magnificent one The moon hung high IN cloud
less sky over the rebel camps We had but Just
returned from Chickamanga, and expected a re-
newal Of the struggle al any moment Inc lines
were still very sensitive, and early IA the evening
the enemy commenced Keeling our siAifInlsh me-
and as The hours advanced became more and more
aggressive Heavy supply and ammunition trains
were heard moving over our pontoon bridge across
the Tennessee at Chattanooga, and this I'M
dOubtediy led the enemy 10 believe that our army
was evacuating the city. Al r. IA. went out ON
post. my station being large oak tree, standing
almost III the center OF wagon road that passed
on either side of the tree. TO my right the line
stretched acgoss field out through the open coun-
try beyond where The heaviest lighting was going
on, and plunged into a Dark forest immediately TO
my left. The rebels did very little shooting where
were, and we probably dad stu less. as we
were expecting them advance. To my right
a rail fence parallel with the road out into
their lines and here / imagined that whole rebel
division might move up under cover. Back IN
front OF our Inc of works huge fires sprang up rs
if by magic showing that our men on the line OF
battle were the alert and ready for work, while
high up above the river, tine other side the sig
mai lights were bowling and noddlng thelrR1essages
from Moccasin Point. Presently a brigade OF M
tantry and battery drew out OF our works ana
came down into the valley, soon convincing our
Southern friends that we had no intention what
ever Of evHcuating the city that night. The condi
ton OF the air permitted sounds TO be heard clearly
and al great distances and the stern commands
mingled with the shouts and curses from the oppos
ing pickles. were plainly audible amid the cEackle
aud din Of the ire along the lines. Some OF the rebels
deserted their sklrmish line that night, and saw
several ia The field 10 my right, running into
lines with loud cries TO not 10 shoot. One
up the inside Of the fence. not over len rods
in front OF me, and STOPPING over, with shouts of
Don't TIRE! don hrel surrender! rushed past
within few feet of my posi-, barely escaping the
shots from our pckets in the neld TO my right. tie
kept straight on as long as could see HIM This de-
rfaf
grew 10 be q common thing afterwards, and do
not believe there night during the two
months and over that the two armies confronted
each other at Chattanooga ia which from tive 10
fifteen Johnnies did not leave their oUtpoSts and
come into our lines desertersi OF course, the de-
ser1ers were most frequent from the regiments
organized Ia territory afterwards occupied by our
army.
Ii must have been about II o'clock that night
when my attention was drawn 10 a noise az OF cav
airy moving within the enemy's lines This
only what was expected by Us down on the left,
that might, and instructions had looked to
probable advance by that road The cavalry, in
deed held the first place ia my imagination that
might and several times had thought detected
troopers oepioylng IN front, but found 1t a
deluSlOn. This time, however, there was
no mistake. Cavalry We're surely in motion and
approaching on the very road was posted on.
Once they stopped, but soon i could hear them
again coming towards and distinguish clearly
the tic, tic OF their the momentum of
fhe cavalry horses measured stride brought the
canteens tin cups, and equipments into sharp
tact. Presently the men my right discharged
IN the WOODS and ln turn Grew iorth blaze trom
the rebel line IN front. But with wild rush the
cavalry mp, and, having fired down the road
IN their direction, ran into the woods. The troop
ers bending low in their saddles, swept past like
the wind. and when, a moment later, reached the
reserves, who had started TO support the picket
line. and already close up, / found them
standing in line and the commander in loud
versatlon with a captain OF cavalry, who. with his
company squadron Of mounted men, were pro-
testing with many oatbs that they Union sol
ders. And SO they actually proved TO be. Having
been detached to destroy bridge in the direc-
tlon OF Cleveland, they had been unable to rejoin
the army before its withdrawal to Chattanooga,
and sc the Confederate right rested opposite TO
lett on tie Tennessee River they had found them
selves completely shut out and in the rear of the
reasei army. Waiting until quite late in the even
ing that their uniform would not reveal their
identity they had started boldly up from the rebel
rear, and answering all inquiries TO their busi
ness with il4e statement thai they ordered out
10 reconnoer Ia 1ront they successfully made their
way through the rebel camps passed the picket re-
The road and the rebel picket line and then
bending down their horses necks, had started
on gAlIop Tor our lines, rushing heaaiong into
them IN the way have described without, far
a. know. sustaining amy casualties whatever. II
was certainly d wild and daring undertaking. and
should Ike well written up for THE TRIBUNE by
some member OF the cavalry IN question. Indeed
is the hope that this article viii lead 70 that
result that nave penneG X
After The was over, we hastened back 10
our places on the line. took my post at the tree
on the road again, and there considerable fir
ing kept UP on the picket line from then until
daylight. The post next TO in the woods 10 my
LEFT was patrolled by a farmers boy from the
French settlement in Stark county Ohio-a MEM
Der OF Co. OF our regiment. had become much
interested IN him. as through the long hours of
picket duty OF the day he related 10 his expert
enee al Chlckamauga. where upon the disruption
OF the right center OF the army. Sunday he had
joined that part which had maintained its position
under General Thomas, and fought a free lance
until evening. he now was taking great pride in
polishing mp a very superior gun that he had Sc
Cured or the battlefield Sunday,-the same arm
with which the Tenth Ohio infantry was armed. AT
GayoreaE was relieved from my post. but before
the morning had paled and slipped from sight
back Of the Cumberland Mountain range and ere
the new born Gay had flushed the hostile brow OF
Missionary Ridge Ia front Death. on his grand
rounds, had relieved the picket my left forever
lie was found at his post IN the morning shot in
The face and stark and stiff but still clutching his
gun GEORGE BARKHAMER
DoFLEsIowN, o. Company L, 18th o. V. /.