The National tribune., 1886-03-18
THAT CHERRY TREE.
Comrades UnIucky Trip After the Toothsome
Fruit.

To THE EDITOR: In the year 1864 while on
the march from Culpeper, Va, to Petersburg,
/ remember we stopped for short rest near
Cold Harbor. | noticed, not far from the road,
a clump of very beautiful cherry trees, loaded
with fruit, and as they were not very far from
where we went into camp made up my mind
l would go and get few of them, and | had
nearly reached the goal of my hopes, when no
less than five rebel cavalrymen dashed out
from some thick underbrush Or woods and de-
manded my unconditional surrender. The
fore man dashed up to me with drawn saber
and cooked revolver, and said: Hell-horn
Yank, we got you, amt we2 Have you any
firearms about you? If SO, unbuckle!' Well,
they jumped off and went through me in less
than five minutes; stripped me of everything
! possessed, then told me to file in and double
quick march, and did march. Well, we had
not gone more than half a mile when we came
to very thick growth of underbrush, and
there | noticed about % or 80 Of our men lying
on the ground, surrounded by Mosby's band of
guerrillas, and they filed ME in with the rest
of the boys l made up my mind l was in for
some kind of an adventure. / did not know
but they intended to practice on us for targets.
However, l had naught to do but wait and
bide my time l was not long in suspense, for
we soon had orders to get up and march, and
as we had a squad of graybacks behind US and
another in 'front.' we had no other alternative;
thing, as you might say, we were sorry look
ing set of fellows. 1t was very hot and sui
try afternoon, and one of our boys was very
badly chafed from over-marching, and he kept
hanging back as it seemed almost impossible
for him to keep up. As the rebs were all mount
ed, you may expect they bumped us along pretty
lively and one of them rode up to this fellow
and drew his sword and said: '' You damned
Ianky what are you hanging back here for2
Get along, OF I'll cut your d head off!
Our boy stopped aud looked him in the eye for
about minute, and finally said: Cut, you
damned rebel; I'm from Green Mountain,
Mass. Cut, you son Of smoky hollow and I'll
take that sword away from you and there will
be one less rebel" The fellow wheeled around
and rode up to Mosby and said few words to
him. He did not return to execute his threat.
| guess he thought the Green Mountain boy
was made of good stuff / made up my mind
that | would escape or die in the attempt, for l
had no desire 20 go to Libby Prison or be led
Off and shot. So / took up position on the
outside and in the center of our squad. We hsd
then been marching about two hours, all the
time in thick woods and dense underbrush, and
finally came to an old windfall. In getting
their horses over the old logs and through the
brush the rcbs got pretty well strung out, and
| thought this was my opportunity. / made
dash for dear life, and | doubt whether either
horse they had could have caught me as |
sprang to my work; but l did expect the bull
let's to whistle around me. AS good luck would
have it ! escaped without a scratch. After
wandering about three days, made out to get
back to my regiment.-JoHN g. CASEY, 9TH
Wis Bird Island, Mimi.