The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-29
RETROSPECTION.
The Battle Of Court-PIsster Gap-A Remarkable
Flag Planting.

To THE EDITOR: Imagine, if you can, the
pleasant surprise III store for me in The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of April /, in the letter of my
illustrious compatriot, B'v't Corp. John Smith.
Upon reading his inspired thoughts my heart
melted until it became sea of gravy, and /
soaked the columns of THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE through and through with unavailing
tears. Corp. John, return your shake with q
hearty grasp and a cordial abandon.
For a moment, John, caught glimpse be-
hind the curtain of the past, and imagined l
saw you rs in the days of yore-a doubleend
ripsnOrter, wearing Government shoes, and
humping yourself to keep up with the process
sion.
And 80 you remember all about the battle of
Saleratus Plains and indorso my account of
that affair, barring the mules and henhouse?
Now, am not going to quarrel with you about
the number of mules present on that occasion,
for you always were an authority on mules, but
/ must insist that it vas henhouse our right
wing rested upon, and not an iceh0use" | am
friend Of the hen under all circumstances, and
shall always raise my voice in her defense.
Time has demonstrated the fact beyond doubt
that hen beef played prominent part in
crushing the rebellion. Even a setting hen,
labOring under feverish desire to matriculate
family, is entitled to the sympathy and re-
spect of grateful Republic. The Judgment
of the wise man is tempered to circumstances,
John, and 1 fervently hope you will withdraw
your icehOuse structure.
1t is curious how things do sometimes turn
out in this world. You and / flung ourselves
upon the altar of fame and glory. Wherever
duty and rations waited there we could always
10 found. We were often famed by the hot
breath of shot and shell, still neither of them
placed their trademark upon our manly forms.
Yet, we suffered grievous atliictions for S13 per
month and found. You were crippled for life
h1zt ofnra lnc,,, Of n1.l,n
and l, as you say, was severely wounded by
falling from hen-roost, all of which inspires
me to remark that war is a mighty dangerous
business.
You say you Were in every battle Of the war,
and believe everything the boys write about
their army experiences. That's right. Now, l
want to ask if you remember private in the
10th Oshkosh by the name Of SeeyOulater Be"
cobb? He was the only man in the regiment
that could look pint of U. S. bean soup in
the eye and make it quail. He was of a dark,
iron-gra disposition, and, after a tussle with
the succulent bean, he generally became anx-
ious and even taciturn. Now, John, if Mr.. Be-
cobb is alive, l want you to help me find him.
just before the battle OF COurt-Plaster Gap he
borrowed my gridde- greaser, which he never
| returned, and l want it badly. l carried that
greaser for over two years, and it entwined it
self about the tendrils of my heart until l had
learned to love it.
VI course you recollect how calamity the
l47th Kalamazoo fought at Court Plaster Gap,
and to save their colors from capture their
ColOr-Sergeant tore the flag from the staff and
| swallowed it. A few days later he became
| seriously ill and broke out with the Stars and
Stripes Poor fellow, he could not survive the
shock, and while the mellow sunshine kissed
the flowers and the jay-hawks hawked at each
other from the treettops, we planted his re-
mains beneath the grGensward of the Blue
Ridge. That was the most remarkable flag
planting episode ever witnessed. tell you,
John, our old brigade was holy tearer But
many OF our comrades have entered the gates
of Heaven, and heard the lofty arches of Para
disc ring with the glad cry, 4" Welcome Home"
If you ever come this way, John, call and see
me. You will find the portcullis of my castle
open and the latch-string hanging on the out
side. If my dog does not recognize you, just
let him smell your breath that will fix him.
Au reuoir.--CUI BoNo. 10th Oshkosh Wv,
Detroit, Mich.