Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-31
FIRST SHOTS FIRED.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIGHTING
ALONG THE PQroMAc RIVER.


some OF my experiences IN the first day.
Of the rebellion. l had command Of q
brigade composed of regiments from al
over the north. We were stationed right
ON the Potomac, and every one but my
self was down with the old fashioned
ague-the kind that when man sittin6
on fence has . chill the fence for half {
mile tumbles down. used to take cuI
Of hot coffee when first awoke, and after
thinking over the matter tried this Will
the men Of one Of the regiments n,
matter what the weather was, whenever
they came in from picket or other dut,
they had to gulp down hot coffee, stronI
a. blazes. The results Well, after two
weeks trial they never had any NOR,
shakes. would have tried the same reg
linen with the others. but by this tim,
war in earnest came on, and such httla
episodes as having the shakes were passs(
by without notice.
MASKED BATTERIES EXPECTED.
The veteran became reminiscent and
after a brief pause, continued: @Ther,
has been good deal written and sait
about the first hostile shot in the war o.
the rebellion after the firing on Sumter. j
don't think the story has ever been cor
rectly told, and II you care to hear 1t |!
will tell it, and, apropos, it also illustrates
the power Of tobacco. ! was the conone
commanding the first reconnoitering fore,
that left Washington. We had reached
Conrad's ferry, a short distance up tn,
Potomac, and everything was going OF
smoothly. Up to this time the servic,
had been picnic, and nothing out OF tn.
mOnOtOnous routine Of drilling and prep
aratiOn had occurred. All the talk wher
actual fighting was expected was o.
masked batteries. We had reached the vii
lage common, and gathered about wer.
the residents Of the place, including til,
chief official Of the hamlet Suddenly from
the river bank come the dull boom Of Q
cannon, followed by the sharp rattle O.
musketry. Before the echoes had Giet
away young officer, his face all ahama
with excitement, came dashing down the
street, and as he refined up his horse an6
gave the salute he gasped: Colonel,
masked battery has opened fire.
II had seen good deal Of service ON thu
frontier and in Mexico. SO l was not dur
ried, and made up my mind to show ar
example Of coolness. Taking . cigarette
from my case-those were the days wheI
few were smoked-I rolled it into shap
and, bending over the neck Of my horse
said: Lieutenant, can you oblige me with
q matchY He looked surprised. and theI
with great gravity fished match out O.
his pocket, with which I lighted the fra
grant roll, and then asked him TO finiak
nv staI .,d ths nthsr ne;o.,s ra,ha.sS
= .L,r,",ona - NV, haa ..a,' sa~,-,n
.nnc,rdad ,h.t m..Lsa h.ttS.,
d;dn,, .n,o,,nt 90 r,,,,h 80 e.. ~. -
s,,ann. % ,oh..-.I, -, -.
,;aI ~. :. ~ ,h.;r A., - r...
.. S,,hsao,,a,t :, ,.s,;1,..;o,. -
that the sbots which h.d nc J;stnrbeS IN.
voung of,icer wara f,o,, ou- oyv,, ,,,ns A.
inc st an imaoinarv enemy Ho~sv.r
rhs frat hostils sho, :, ,ha Sa,a 10. a.
ths, dsv thongh .r, e,a.,;n. =. a. ,..hS,
sIou,Iv
sus
n - uau neu .ne !oune once'
siS"sn ss .a'eleu Oo"aIo 'ne IiseI
S ,o.u ~ s.,a saw M .. ohos no a'.enP. nAs
..s..1S.. o"n.r.as. enus " e,oss.
-. o..,a.s .h., vs. ss - .h."is . 81 81
se's -.'. oS .an tnH. no oue sHouiu a P.ass WIN
". 49, ss .nv -. IN. @ t.?
80. ~ 49, -, no, ] Das S nc. .nee -.
en "o M TI ,;.s .e ~ .s alu 'ne nTn u VET
8 seen -h ne nne ~ 'eus.ss s ran az eioht
ss VIC .,se. as n .S anu AnownE Ine,e wa. 80 :
soouu iou aoo's, ueoeInlihcu 70 W..
W 'ue stream Snu n'aAe reeonnoisssncs
on ny wv" "'A
A sENTRY's EXTRA CAUTION.
sAs told Won before 7 had been a uood
while on the frontier and I had Learned
woodcraft from the Indians
There was a muffied sound in the Air
and did inst As the indians had tauoht
me wears before-bent over and nl,ced
INV ear as near the water a eould
and then plainly made ont across tb.
river the rumbline of artillery
I had inst stra;ghtened mn again to hurry
on to INV main body when from the hant
above came the sharp order HALT th.r.r
Locking nm I saw in the firing attitude
one Of the sentries from a New H.mn.birs
regiment With his rife nointin0 directl,
At me he clambered down the hank AND
when he cot near me cried ont. sNov
What are Won doing bere,' gave IN.
proper countersion. but still the aentry
tent me at bay II don't think 7 sh.u IL,
Won ON even with the words he aid AM
hastily calling another sentry tn keer
watch upon me. he bent over me And care.
fully felt over INV trousers and boots Z.
see IL / had not forded the river I men.
tion this 10 show how the characteristie
cuteness of the Yankee manifested itself
even at that early day Of the war
aWben he had satisfied himself that
had NOT come from across the river he
oraveIy .aid TO me AZ he gave the salut.
sAu right and / passed nm To the bInn
.hora Fror, ~. 5;rec,;or ~ ths .ornd.
' = , a % ..e ~ .',In ~ On. =. .ns soInus y.
nsu healu ..oh .ue river su,iace III
vlned the intention OF the Coniederates 70
cross at the shallowest ford. i hastily
massed my troops in field at the head OF
the ford, though concealing them from
s;cbt with INV little battery of artillery
.rce ~ the Confederates v.s not lono AZ.