The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-07
A SNOWFALL BATTLE.
Interesting Account Of Bloodless Fight Between
Comrades.

| To THE EDITOR: The day of the month is
forgotten, but it was in January, 1863. Gill
| bert's Samuel A. Ohio Brigade was occupying
prominent ridge overlooking the city OF
| Frankfort, Ky. Snow had fallen to the depth
of some 16 inches, and was now rapidly melt
! ing. There were four regiments, and they
| were encamped in the following order from the
right the 103d 44th, 10th, and Tooth Ohio
! The 1st Ind. and 4th Ohio batteries were sta
toned near this line, but in separate position.
| As will be readily understood, the left of the
| 44th joined up to the right of the 10ith Be-
! tween these two regiments there was not at
| that time the most friendly feeling; it was not
! anger or hatred, but it was not love. This pc
cuiar relation grew out of the fact that the
| 44th was veteran regiment, and the 10Th,
new regiment, had on several occasions APP
peared on dress parade and battali on drill tog-
! ged out in paper collars and white gloves.
| Every old soldier will know at once what hap
| pened. The 10th did not relish the nicknames
of "Bandbox-soldiers," Uncle Sans Kids"
etc, and so they "nursed their wrath to keep
| it warm" and awaited their opportunity to
"play even" On the day in question, and at
! about p. m, one of Co. A, OF the 104th, was
sitting in his tent next to the campfire of Co.
B, of the 4ith, and was writing a letter. HIS
| back was pressed close up against the canvas of
the Sibley tent as he sat with writing board
upon his knees, thinking of something to say
| to the loved ones far away in Ohio. He was at
peace with all the world i'll that supreme mo-
ment, little dreaming that any harm was brew
ing in his rear. Just across the interval be-
tween the TANKS of these two regiments was the
campfire alluded to. Around 1T stood goodly
number of Langston's boys, of the nth, crack
ing Jokes, swapping lies, and occasionally throw
ing a SNOWFALL at some one over in the camp of
the 10th. Finally, some of them discovered
the impress of the back of the letter writer re-
ferred to against the canvas OF the Slbiey.
First good hard SNOWFALL was thrown. 1t
fell short. Then some one took up about half
bar of frozen soap, pressed snow closely around
it. and poised himself for the throw. The rest
of the crowd held their breaths in expectation.
The missile went straight to its mark and hit
the poor innocent of the 10th squarely in the
back. There was a shrek, q howl, and such
an oath as only mad soldier can utter. Could
Little Phil have heard that poor fellow swear
he would have been jealous 1t took but
glance at the snickering crowd across the way
to realize where the attack came from. The
alarm was given, and in minute about 200 of
the 10th were charging down upon Co. b, of
the 44th, with a perfect shower of snoWbals.
| The latter regiment rallied almost to man to
the support of their comrades, and in return
the 10Th turned out en- masSe to assist their
men. 1t was too much fun to allow spectators.
| The Tooth Ohio came to the assistance OF the
10ith and the 103d from the right REINFORCED
the 44th. There were now about 160O men on
a side, and they were in admirable array for
such an affair. One side would make desper-
ate charge throw their balls, and then stop to
reload" Then the other would rush forward
and drive their adversaries back. Finally, the
Officer of the Day, knowing well the lack of
good feeling between the first two regiments
engaged, and fearing that some bad result
might follow, called out the camp guards and
double-quicked them upon the scene, ordering
This thing stopped at once, do you hear?"
q official a
hard SNOWFALL square in his front, which al
most doubled him. He was 44th man, and he
knew the ball came from some one in the 10ith.
stack arms, boys, and let's help give those
bandbox devils hell" was his quick response
to the blow he had received, and thus he and
about 60 unarmed guards rushed in to help the
awful din. At one time the 44th was almost
driven from its camp by resolute charge of
the 10th and part of the Tooth. Then the
103d came to the rescue and helped drive OFT
the seeming victors and in turn almost took
entire possession of the camp of the 1O4th.
1t is said that Col Kelley, of the 104th,
rushed among his men and for moment en-
deavored to put stop to the row. But just
then he received an impulse (s0me say 1t was
piece of ice) in another direction and he at
once began to cheer and encourage his boys to
renewed efforts. The wing Of the 104th was
opposite the position occupied by Conkless bat
teries The artillerymen for long time looked
part in such gigantic snowballing. When at
last some of Reilley's boys sent shower of
snowbals among the batteries the truce was
broken, and the batterymen to a man charged
upon the flank of the 104th, compelling that
regiment to fall back to its camp. The strug
gle lasted something like two hours, and only
ceased when the brigade commander, Col. S. A.
Gilbert, came upon the scene with a good-na-
tured grin and asked the troops to quit for
this time" The first response to this pleasant
appeal Of the beloved commander was volley of
snowballs from the crowd then, seeing that the
:" old man " took even that good naturally the
boys sent up hearty cheer and went to their
quarters. There was no bad blood shown, except
by the poor fellow who was struck with piece
of soap, and it was said even he took part in the
subsequent proceedings with hilarity. Several
were hurt during the fight by being hit about
the eyes with balls of slushy snow or pieces of
ice squeezed into the balls When the struggle
ended everybody was good natured, and from
that time on there was very little strife be-
tween the 44th and 104th. Should any Of the
old brigade see this, trust it will recall only
pleasant memories of those old days long gone
by.-BLUECoAT, Attica, Kan.
The Fifth Corps at Antietam.
To THE EDITOR: In your issue of Dec is !
published paper read by Comrade Arthur /