The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-13
CONDENSED LETTERS.

VIM. Fl. Foster, Captain, Co. D, 3Sth Wis :,
NeoshO, No, does not believe in this wranging
between the Eastern and Westward comrades.
He thinks it hardly becoming in those who
labored for one great cause to be perpetually
throwing mud at one another.
T. Hale SOmers, Co. E, 18th H., Franklin,
Pa, writing in regard to the prize drill which
was held in Memphis, Tenn, in March, 1862,
between the nth and 41st H., says the judges
declared the list superior in the manual of arms,
but badly drilled as regards flank movements
When the 14th marched to the drill grounds
she expected to meet the 4lst in fatigue uniform,
but was surprised to find that the members of
the whole regiment wore collars and white
gloves. The comrade adds that, although the
4lst did win bugle by their neat appearance,
there was no bad feeling whatever against them
by the 18th. He concludes by saying that while
the 41st wore paper collars and white gloves
they were at all times ready to throw them off,
take up their muskets, and go any place where
mortal man dared go.
z. III. Mayl, West StewartstoWn, ". H, thinks
the officers should receive no more pension than
the rank aad file. He is also in favor of the 50
law.
II. L. Wells Winfield, Kan, indOrses recent
communication in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
which claimed that the 18th No. fired the first
shot at the battle of Shiloh.
John Long, Co. A, 9th No., Ration, New
Mexico, writing in regard to the battle Of
TupelO, says that Co. A, 24th No and one
company Of the Nth, one of the 9th and one
Of the 32d Iowa repelled the night attack at
Tupelo, spoken of by Maj. P. G. Smith IN a
recent issue of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
ThOs. b. Norman, Co. b, 3lst H., Poland, ILL.,,
remembers very we'll the mining of Fort Hill
during the siege OF Vicksburg, as he was one
Of the miners engaged in that enterprise
ID. III. Murphy, Scyene, Texas, thinks some
ko~ of he Id ffo~- ~I-
some of the exploits Of that regiment.
A. LOughride, Denver Col, writing in re-
gard to the TupelO expedition says: That 5000
veteran troops could have been thus defeated
by 10000 rebel troops and that "a cannon, $50
wagons and 1000 men should have been thus
lost and the matter never investigated, is a
bot which % years have not dimmed.
w. II. StOkely, Hancock Veteran Corps, e.
dorado, witnessed the execution Of Mrs. SuFTatt
and the other eonspiratOrs. He has in his pos
session piece of the rope with which the I'M
fortunate woman was hanged.
III. ID. Gilbert, Co. K, 9th ILL.,, Martinsville
Mo-, has the utmost confidence in Commissioner
of Pensions Black, and wonders how any old
soldier can have any other feeling than that of
qualification in having so conscientious and
able man at the head of the Pension Bureau.
Nathaniel Patterson, Co. d. 45th H., Hanni-
bal, Mo-, eOntradicts the statement of f. M.
Gosnell, Co. G., Sth Ill, that the Third Brigade
Third Division, Seventeenth Corps, was between
Gen. Logan's headquarters and Fort Hill at
Vieksburg, aud claims that it was camped
around the White House, which stood on the
west Of the road leading TO the fort, and that
Logan's headquarters were to the rear and east
Of the road.
A. G.. BObo, Co. ID, ID Va Cav, ZaIeski, o.,
sends copy of Gen. g. A. Clusters compliment
airy address TO his men, issued at Appomattox
@. H., Va, April 9, 1865.
John X. BOnney, HOosier Prairie, Ill, says
that Gen. Black is undoubtedly the warmest
friend of the soldier who has ever been hOnored
with the responsible position of Commissioner
Of Pensions.
Owen F. Wright, Meade Center, Kan, writes
that Gen. French christened the 18th Ind the
Gibraltar Brigade at ARtietam and also pre-
sented the regiment with fine rifle in recog-
ton of its gallant action on that bloody field