Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
i, AND SHELL.
veterans "reminiscences of
tha War of the Re.
bellion.
ding Anecdotes OF Actual Expe
r;cnce and Colloquial Ac.
QUESTION.
y;eb Private's Experience.

member VI So1.tp Poly =, AeAtu MICH
sa, val served in Tennessee. We
!. knoxville in 1864, most of the sum-
a. e',ontins through the country and
Wv nothing to get away with us. On
s'uI of August scouting party of
NV. msn, led by gallant Major I. G. Smith,
\ ' to reconnoiter in the neighborhood
ss, e. Plains. We intended to
''a' ascrimmage" before we returned.
re- did not expect the result that fol-
e. ran on to several parties of stray
s1ohnnies, which were gobbled, march,
nom under guard until we had forty of
~ and vet We wanted more. We charged
IS Flat Greek bridge and up the hill in
ar pomp and glory, to find ourselves
tg,onting two thousand of Hume's Cav
IN line of battle and waiting for us.
course, it was our turn to run then,
III we did, leaving our prisoners with
We retreated to the bridge, a high.
NV one, and there we dismounted and
our Spencer rifles held that bridge for
hours, but we did some desperate fight
Finally, the enemy became thorough
Iroused at being held at bay by SO few,
thew planted q battery on the hill which
h made US git" We started for KNOX
/ ell-mell and they after us. Twas on
krae horse that could run like creased
lining down q side hill, and was gaining
Inv pursuers when I came to a square
II. in the road which gave them a great
Fantage-in having a cross fire on me.
lev shot my horse through just back of
saddle, and soon after navy revolver
pressed against my forehead, and
urrender, YOU Yankee -"
ne distinct and emphatic, cor I'll blow out
Dr brains" I chose to surrender. Twas
y in the hands of the Eighth Texas
yalry. l was marched to the rear and
ipped Of all clothing save shirt and
lts Quite number of our bows, l
md, had preceded me. We were closely
,rled that night, and had green corn for
per At an early hour the next morning
5th-we were on the march, on foot, and
wing lively to keep up with the cavalry.
ring the afternoon my feet were so torn
TO bleed. The officer in command kind
old me if had rather ride on the am
milton wagon that could do so. Twas
d to accept. 1t was not very pleasant
ing, compared with my noble horse. It
nearly night when We came to the
nch River, when a circumstance occurred
would make a mummy laugh.
The river was four feet deep and current
it. When about half way over, the
lie that Driver Johnnie was riding re-
yei to take a bath. He began to settle
1n and , Johnny m to yell: "Ya hoo! Git up
LEY was confirmed Baptist, and deter
ned to go under in spite of his drivers
ling, and down and under he went.
hnny was helped out by the guard in
large Of prisoners and on we went. We
mped that night in a large piece of woods.
lept under the wagon. They gave me
cake for supper. I watched for a
nee 10 escape in the night, but they un-
stood their business. The next morn
-26th-after breakfasting on corn
ger, I was taken by the guard on
trail through the woods. I fancied that
were looking FOR a good tree to
: Inc to, but, after about two miles
anne to clearing in which was house
large peach orchard, the headquarters
lajor General Wheeler. About thirty
'ur boys were there. After General
eler had paroled us, we all had hand
e with him, and he paid us the compli-
t Of saying that eff he had three hun
such as we he could march straight
ugh hell"
ling our hands with excellent peaches,
seating ourselves on the fence while
ng them, the Confederate cavalry
ched by, and it was fun for us to hear
+ remarks.
Where y! did !, you come from?"
Iichigan."
Where is Michigan"
Why did you 'uns come down here to
1re 'ua,s?"
Did you think that you could whip we
les, and we shall before we go home"
We don't believe it."
:om this place to Knoxville was thirty
IS, and we went it on foot-seven in
squad. We stripped and waded the
ch River, and while in the stream
g came the remainder of their cavalry,
III nad not passed us while we were on
fence.
uring that afternoon we came upon three
lnies, who at once threw up their hands
surrendered. We told them to come
6, that we were harmless. We did not
h camp until the 2Sth. Captain Baily
me with outstretched arms and "God
S you, my boy. You have been reported
ID on the oath at the bridge" I was not
in satisfying them that was not
ID. He had packed up my keepsakes
written a letter to my parents inform
hem of the news. to be sent the next
My coming back changed that pro-
nme. EDWARD A. Sits.
J. Johns, Mich.
P;cLa< Evnor;ouco