davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
Died in q Rebel Camp.

To THE EDITOR: In a conversation about a
year ago with man named Moore. who formerly
belonged to Jenkinss rebel cavalry and operated
in and about the Kanawha Valley in 1861, l
learned the following bit of history concerning
comrade of the gallant 18th Ohio: Fred
Smidt, German, and by trade blacksmith,
belonging to that regiment, was captured by
Jenkins's men near Gauley and taken to their
bivouac about 10 miles above the mouth of
Loup Creek. he was taken sick with fever
and died in the rebel camp mentioned. He had
on his person several papers of value only to
him, and among them was certificate for about
$400 on an Ohio bank. These papers were all
placed in tin can and were buried with him.
Do any of the comrades of the 11th Ohio know
anything about this man, or of any or all the
facts stated? My informant has since moved
from here and is residing now in Southern
Kansas near the Territory line. l mention
this matter for the reason that some comrade
or friend of the Union soldier referred to may
not know what fate befell the poor man.
would have mentioned it sooner, but had mis-
placed my memoranda of the conversation. and
have just this moment discovered it.-THEo.
BoTKIN, P. c., Montgomery Post, No. 80, GA.
E., Mound City, Kan.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
Evacuation or Iuks.

To THE EDITOR: / have read 10 much in
THE TRIBUNE in iaudation of tho SD Ohio
and the brigade to which it belonged, that
silence has ceased to be virtue. I wish here
simply to correct enc or two misstatements in
TRIBUNE Of Aug. Ia, made by the brave cheese
eater who signs himself "The Ohio Brigade"
Errorone: He states that their brigade eyacu-
ated luka, Miss, in September, '62, leaving Col
Murphy and the Sth Wis with orders to DESTROY
the Government property, of which there was
large amount, but that order Col. Murphy
failed to obey, for reasons known only to him
SELF, and the property fell into hands of rebel
Gems Van Dorm and Price. He furthermore
says: " was afterwards court reporter at the
court-martial which dismissed Col Murphy
for his failure to obey that ordern
Now for the facts in the case: The last Fed
eral force which occupied Iuka at that time
consisted of five companies of the 5th Mimi,
one battalion of the 9TH ILL.,, one, section of Sd
Mich. Bat. and the 9th Wis, all under command
OF Col. K. G. Murphy, commander of the Second
Brigade, Staniey's division. On the next day
after this force entered Iuka, Gen Armstrong's
division of rebel cavalry, $500 strong furiously
attacked the place, making several distinct
charges upon Col. Murphy's small force. each
one Of which was handsomely repulsed. Col
Murphy learned from Major who was cap
tured In the first charge that Prices army.
$4,000 strong, was only days march distant.
and would be in town for breakfast the next
morning, and his orders were to hold the place
until the supplies there stored could be moved
and not destroyed. To do this even against
Armstrong; cavalry was no boys play, and to
attempt it against Prices whole army would
have required the vslor Of the Ohio Brigade" !"
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
Chickasaw Bluffs.

To THE EDITOR: In your paper of August z
appears an article on Chickasaw Bluffs, Miss,
written by F. d. Mason and J. w. Fry, AID
Ohio The article is ably written and gives a
correct description of that most gloomy affair,
which is still fresh in my mind. The writers
speak of A. J. Smiths division. Now, don't
they mean Morgan l.. Smiths division? / do
not remember General A. ]. Smith on that
expedition, but / do know that Morgan L..
Smith, formerly Colonel of the Sth Mo-, COM
manded our division, which was formed in the
Yazoo bottom, on the right of Frank Blair S
and Morgan's brigades, and well do remem-
ber the charge those troops made on our left,
and how we tried to get across the bayou. But
it was all in vain, and entailed loss of many
brave boys-among them Capt. Caspar Schleich,
of the 5oth Ill. Among the regiments remem-
Der mostly, who were next to my own (the
55th Ill.), were the 9th and 9Th Mo-, the 54th
and 57th Ohio, tho SD Ind, the 113th, 10th,
and 127th Ill. After five or six days of con-
tinual skirmishing, exposed to rain day and
night, we were all glad to get on the trans
ports again on Dec. 81, 1862. On January IL,
1868, we were rewarded by the capture of Ar
kansas Post. / will also mention that Gen.
Morgan L. Smith was severely wounded at or
near the bayou.--JACoB FINK, Lieut., 55th
Ill, Smithfield ILL.,
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
The 9Th III. at somsrrille. Tennessee

To TIE EDITOR: Your paper of July 81
contains an article from my old comrade
T. W. Surby, in which he asks why the 7th Ill.
Cav. was not REINFORCED on the 26th of Decem-
Der, 1863, at Somerville, Tenn. Think can
tell him why, and think Gen. Grierson (if
hyingl viii bear me out in what say. After our
fghton the oath las Surby says we fell back and
fed and intended TO stay all night, but were at
tackled. Boots and saddles" was sounded
and we were soon on the retreat, with Co. as
advance guard. -Four men were wanted to go TO
camp and report what we were doing. The first
four lof which / was one) had the privilege of
going If we wanted 10. So, after brief council
:. A. Battershell, Carson Taylor, Lem Carlyle
and myself started, each On good horse and
armed with carbine and revolver. We rode
al night and until o'clock next morning be-
fore we reached camp. i being the senior
member of the party had TO report to Gen.
Tuttie. The General received me very coldly,
and when ! had told my story. asked me if 1
had seen Gen. Grierson. told him no. "Well,n
said he, you report TO him; / will 20 with
you" The two Generals greeted each other
cordially, after which Gen. Tuttle said "Gen.
Grierson, here is man right from the 7th."
The General heard my story very patiently,
and then said: We had better send REINFORCE
ments at once" "No," said Gen. Tuttle,, /" Col
Prince will watch his corners and send in
couriers." "Well,D said Grierson, "hc may
be surrounded SO he can't" "There is not a
bit of danger" said Tuttle. Some rather
sharp words followed, and Tuttle being the su-
perior officer, land, as believed then and do
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
The 1s2d N. 7. at Marye's Hights.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue of Aug. z
/ saw an article from the pen of Lieut.
Hodgson, late of the 9th N. Y. in regard to
the storming of Marye's Hights, May g. 1868,
in which he probably unintentionally) does a
brave regiment an injustice.
In his enumeration of the regiments that
composed Shaler's brigade he omits the 122d N.
Y. entirely. This seems more strange when it
is know that the 1st j.. /. and the 122d were
on the best of terms, and the only theory / can
advance for the omission is that we were at
that time new regiment and the old brigade
was not posted as to our movements. We GER
tainly belonged to the First Brigade, Third Di-
vision, Sixth Corps at that time and ever after
wards, until the brigade was broken up at the
Wilderness, when we were assigned to the
Second Division. In the charge mentioned our
regiment acted as support to the rest of the
brigade; and as proofthat they were under fire
that day, would cite Lieut. III. to the numerous
wounded, amongst whom noticed our brave lit
tie Adjutant, Mon. Church. would not be un-
derstood as desiring to detract from the we'll
earned reputation of the old 9th N. Y, for no
braver regiment ever left York State, but | do
desire to see justice done to the old 122d.-C. H.
ENos, l22d N. Y, Thorn Hill, N Y.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
The 7.h xass. At xar,e,s Hlshts.

To THE EDITOR: should like to see the
troops that did the work Of storming Marye's
Hlghts get the credit for il. Our regiment
the 7th Mass.-lost, in killed aud wounded in
that fight l25 officers and men, ali told; and
the Both n. T., OF our brigade, was on our left,
and lost some men. When we went up 10 the
works we thought il was as bot place as we
sver got into in our lives. Justice is all we
ssE. Oar regiment formed by fours IN the
street and marched up to the works 1t was
the Mayor Of the Both y. 7. who was killed in
that hght by piece of shell striking him IN
the head. ] think the 61st Pa. was on our
right, and lost its Colonel in tho charge. II
was said at the time that our flag and that OF
she 9th Me. were raised over the works about
the same time. There were troops coming uE
on our rear that were commanded by David
Russell that had on the Sixth Corps cross. and
they had on the red cross OF the First division
Of the corps, aud the reason why / remember
the circumstance 20 plainly is that David Rus
sell was our old Colonel and our Captain wa.
an aid on his staff, and he spoke TO us as the
troops moved Elong into line of battle on our
left.-ORANGE 8. PRATT, Co. K, 9TH Mass.
Eockland. Mass.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
Tn. krtiI,er, at Iuks

To TIE EDITOR: In answer TO J. c. NJ of
Co. J. 10th Iowa. in your paper Of Aug. 81, /
viii state that be is mistaken in stating that
his regiment supported the lIth Ohio battery
az luka. The 10th Iowa supported two guns
one section Of the 18th Wis battery and these
two guns and the 10th were on the extreme
left Of the front line and down near the little
log house on the road that ran diagonally up
through the woods to the rear. The IIth Ohio
battery was upon the main road-aIl six guns
Of IT, While al Minneapolis at the G. r.
meeting ] met some Of the 5th Iowa and the
18th Wis. batteries and over 100 of our old
regiment, and we talked Iuka 10 our hearts
content Here is the front line: On the main
road the llth Ohio battery: OF right Of this the
5th Iowa, supporting the llth Ohio, with the
e6th &0. On the left Of this battery was the
sSth Ind; TO their left the zth Mimi, then
two guns Of the l2,h Wis battery and the 10th
Iowa. Here is description of those battery
horses, and a. good many Of the boys at
Minneapolis were talking Of that scene we
give IL again: In depression in the ground,
shout three or four rods in rear Of the llth
Ohio battery, we saw II horses from two Gals.
sons ia one tangled mass. Some below were
dead, others wounded, and above them al
stood noble looking bay horse, with his hind
legs entangled ia the harness down among the
dead and wounded animals beneath him. dc
stood head erect; his right fore leg was bent
over and rested on the neck Of dead animal
beneath him his eyes were wide open, aud his
n0striis distendcd, out Of which hung like q
great thick beard q white foam fully foot
long and sfreaked with blood-he was dead
A. L. BRowH, 4th Mimi, BEownton, Mass
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
The 1i0th PennsyIyania

To THE EDITOR: Comrade Currier, of the
9th Maine, is mistaken when he says the 18th
Pa. helped take Marye's flights. We lay be-
low Fredericksburg about mile and a half.
Sometime in the forenoon our regiment and
the 95th Pa. were started across the plain to-
wards ravine, the 95th leading. When we
got part way across we started on the double
quick. The rebs opened on us with artillery,
but they did not do us any damage as their
shells did not burst until they got about over
us or a little past; but we were not long in get
ting under cover in that ravine. We had not
been there long before we got word that the
Hights were taken. We did not see them taken,
let alone helping to take them. After they were
taken we marched up through tho town and
out the prank road toward Salem Church, where
we found all the rebs we ted-HowARD
BARWIs, Co G. l19th Pa Morrisville Pa
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
Gettysburg.

Many regiments engaged at Gettysburg have
marked the positions held by them at that
battle by monuments or tablets. Not to be be-
hind in the good work, the 18th N. J. have
appointed Col. James S. Kiger, Trenton, N j.
Capt. Frank NJ. Acton, Salem, N. j., and Serg't
Joseph Burroughs, Washington; d. c., COM
mittee to have prepared monument or tablet
to designate the line held by that regiment on
the Sd of July, 1868. This regiment was re-
cruited in South Jersey, it will be remembered
occupied the right of the left center at the
famous stone wall" and its smooth bore mus
kets dealt destruction to the veterans of Petit
CREWS brigade of North Carolina troops, OF
Longstreet's Corps. in the grand and final
charge on July 3, and its survivors confidently
appeal to those who believe the war was moi
fought in vain to help them intheir desire to
carry out the object above stated
Subscriptions will be received by the COM
mittee or any member of the society, of which
due acknowledgment will be made.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
CONDENSED LETTERS.

Comrade c. G. Wilson, Co. A, 47th Ind, Blue
Hill, Neb., thinks that no one regiment is en-
titled to especial credit for the brilliant fight
of Hovey's division at Champions Hill, as they
all did equally well, and shared alike in its
dangers and glory.
ID. NJ. Boyer, Sergeant, Co. L, 7th H. Cav,
Logan, Kan, replies to 'Vet," of fMarshalltown.
in regard to the Moscow battle He supports
Comrade Surby's account in the main, and
thinks Vet " I" is nowhere when it comes to
the truth"
J. E. Ingham, Co. F, 93d ILL.,, Algernon, Neb.,
who carried the flag of his regiment at Cham
pion Hills, where it lost one-third of its num-
Der, corrects Comrade Harris as TO some minor
matters in the latter's account of that fight.
Chas. w. Hadlock, Co. ID, Sd Mass. Fl. A.,
Portland, Me-, protests against the statement
that the forts around Washington were garri-
soned by "newly- enlisted men. supported by a
mob of hastily organized militia" His regi-
ment was mostly made up Of former nine
months men who had seen service, and were
| good, reliable troops, as were many others in
the forts. He would like to hear from any
members of his regiment.
A comrade of the old 1st Ohio, who is too
modest to let his name appear in print, wants
to know why some of the boys of his regiment
do not occasionally have something to say OF
that splendid corps. The 1st Ohio boys seem
to be backward about coming forward" They
were not so in 1861.
VIM. Flesher, Whitesboro, Texas says that
there are several Union soldiers in his neighbor-
hood, and they keep the fires of loyalty and
fraternity burning brightly.
j. C. Emmons, Macomb H., thinks the place
for the new Soldiers Home is in Washington
Territory.
Frank Faucett, Lieut., Co. F, 30th Ohio Iro-
quois, Oak, writes that there are host of
comrades out there, and that Providence has
generally blessed them with, bountiful crops
He and they think THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
the greatest paper in the world.
N. c. Weather and Andrew Ludy, Co. K,
46th Ind, Chase, Kan, are naturally very much
enraged at the statement of As. Winchester,
that their regiment broke and ran at the bat
tie of Iuka. They say their regiment the 9Th
Iowa and the 4th Mimi, held the front line
during the entire hour and 40 minutes that
the battle lasted, and left number of men on
the field to show how well they fought.
d. S. Green, Co. B, sd Wis, Goodwin, Oak,
says that it is his impression that the trophy
sent from Cheraw to Washington, and which
had the inscription upon it, was an 1s-pound
Blakely steel gun.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
aThat Iowa Sergeant.n

To THE EDITOR: / notice in your issue Of
July "a a typographical error in giving my
name as NJ. j. Landram instead Of W. j. Ian
dram, referring to Serg't Griffith at the siege of
Vicksburg. In regard to errors of this kind,
am somewhat like the soldier who said he did
not care so much for being shot in battle, but
dreaded to have his name misspelled in the
dispatches. Serg't Frederick, of Co ID, 22d
Iowa, corrects me by saying that / was mis-
taken in stating that Serg't Griffith belonged
to the21st Iowa; that he belonged to the 22d
Iowa. l presume he is correct My state
ment was based upon the report of Gen. Grant,
which is as follows:
No troops succeeded in entering any of the ene-
my's works, with the exception OF Sergt Griffith,
Of the 2lst Iowa, and some IL privates of the same
regiment. OF these none returned except the Ser
geant and possibly one man.
Badeau, in his life of Grant says:
LAWYERS brigade In Carr's division. which had
carried the tete-du-pont the Big Black River
dashed forward with its old impetuosity, supported
by Landram's brigade of Smiths division, and
within less than 10 minutes part of regiment,
the I'D Iowa, succeededin crossing the ditch and
parapet of rebel outwork. Serg't Grif-
Eth Of the 22d Iowa fell at the time with his
comrades stunned, but not seriously hurt On his
recovery he found O rebel Lieutenant and I6 men
lying in the outwork, still unwounded. though ex-
posed TO the fire of both friend and foe. He rose
for any man to stay and live. The rebels obeyed,
and, calling to the troops outside to cease firing
Srlffith brought his PRISONERS over the parapet
der storm of rebel shot that killed four of those
willing to surrender. The colors of the 18th Ill
and two other regiments (4Sth Ohio and I3Oth ILL.,,
were also raised on the exterior of the slope.
My recollection is that Gen. Lawler had
only three regiments-two Iowa and one Wis
consin. had fve-three Illinois, one Ohio, and
one Kentucky. presume Serg't Griffith be-
longed to the 22d, instead of the 21st Iowa, as
stated by Serg't Frederick. Gen. Lawler and
myself stood side by side on small knoll in
rear of our commands during the assault on
the 22d of May, and whilst did not then, nor
do now, know to what regiment Serg't Grif-
fifth belonged, / remember distinctly of a Ser
geant of one of Lawler's regiments coming to
us during the day with Confederate prisoners
he reported as having captured and brought
out of the works we were assaulting Gen.
Lawler was very proud of his command, and
justly 80. as they displayed conspicuous gal
lantry here as elsewhere, and reflected great
credit upon the patriotic States of Iowa and
Wisconsin.-W ]. LANDRAM, Brig. Gen., q. s.
Vols, Lancaster, Ky.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
WASHINGTON THURSDAY

But the place was held all day and into the
night, vainly waiting for cars to come. which
came not, to take the stores to Corinth. Ac-
cordingly, at o'clock in the morning he be-
gan to evacuate the place. A company of cav
airy was charged with the responsibility OF
setting fire to the stores. This was TO be done
while the rear of the infantry column was pass
ing out of town. The stores were set on fire
by the cavalry, but they were Immediately
driven away by the enemy's advance, which
put the fire out. Col. Murphy was arrested,
court martialed, and acquitted.
Now about the gun in front of Fort Robinet:
The only gun which we heard of being cap
tured on the morning of Oct. at Corinth was
captured by U. S. infantry, led by the invinci-
BILE Joe A. Mower, commander of I'd Brigade,
Stanley's division. Some other errors connected
with the Ohio brigade will engage my pen in a
little while.-J COLE, 8th Wis., Belmond, Ia
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
A Wisconsin, soldiers Song Book,

To THE EDITOR: During the Summer of
1862, the 1st Wis. Cav. received number Of
new recruits, among them young boy named
Pratt, from Beaver Dam. He was bright, in
telligent, and modest with good habits and
manners-evidently from refined family
Although in different companies he and be-
came greatly attached to each other. One of
our chief sources of enjoyment was singing.
He had beautiful, boyish tenor voice, the
counterpart of my bass, and he had brought
from home his SundaySchool Singing Book
Bradbury's Golden Chain" We eknew all the
war songs by heart and liked to sing them,
but the songs in this book were the ones that
we specially enjoyed for they were 80 many
links in the chain of memory that bound us to
the home scenes which we had left, perhaps,
forever. And 80 around the campfire at
night, while others amused themselves by
playing cards and telling Stories we would
manage to find some quiet corner where, un-
disturbed, we could sing the songs of country
and home and heaven.
One night we had sung later than usual, for
camp discipline was slack in those days, and no
taps " interrupted US. Finally we separated
and sought our blankets in our respective COM
pany quarters About midnight he came and
aroused me hurriedly, with all his accouter-
ments on, saying he was ordered out on scout.
Here is my singing book, Charley" said he
keep it till / come back" Then, hesitatingly,
IL ASseE COIuc BACK you may nave II.
Taking pencil he wrote his name and address
| on the margin of the cover, aud handed it to
me. "Good-by," in duet, and he disappeared
in the darkness. Days passed and his detach-
ment did not return. Then was sent off in
another direction. 1t was months before I
heard anything from Co. K. When at last the
regiment was united again. after much BUSH
whacking, learned that Pratt had been killed
in skirmish. 1 sent home the book and have
| always kept it. Yesterday, in looking over
| some old keepsakes, came across that old
singing book and read around the margin: E.
c. Pratt, Co. K, 1st Wis. Cav, Beaver Dam,
Wis" just as he wrote it that night by the fire.
light, % years ago. In thinking over this in
cident, it has occurred to me that the parents
or other near relatives of my chum may still
be living, and that they would greatly prize
| such keepsake. If this be So will send it to
them if they will write me at Yellow Springs
| o. Beaver Dam (Wis.) papers please COPY
| CHAs. B. PALMER, Co. ID, 1st Wis. Cav.
The National tribune., 1884-09-04
The 9th iii. Mounted Ir fantry.

To THE EDITOR: / see in your paper that
some one asks if there was an organization
known as the "9th Ill. Mounted Inf" / would
say, yes; or, at least, they were so known in
their corps. They belonged to the Second
Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Corps, and
were commanded by Lieut.-Col. Thomas j.
Phillips; their colonel-August Mercy COM
manding the brigade. They were as brave
and noble set of men as ever drew sword or
pulled trigger. / would like to hear from
some comrade of the 61st Ohio. Is the 81st to
have a Reunion this year, or not?-HENRY J.
MUssELMAN, Co. ], S1st Ohio, Martinsville, o.