davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
The 9th Ind. Battery.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: wish to cor
rect Comrade Mitchell, of the 21st Mo-, and
Comrade Scott, of Battery G, I'd III. Art, IN re-
gard to our battery being at Mobile. On the
Goth day of January, 1865, which was long
prior to the capture of Mobile and surrounding
forts, the 9th Ind. battery embarked on the
transport Eclipse, at EastpoTt, Miss en- route
for indianapolis, Ind to be mustered out of
the service, our term of enlistment properly
having expired two days after the battle OF
Nashville. One of the boilers of said boat was
deficient, and was leaking badly when we went
on board. Capt. Voris, Of the boat and Capt
Brown, of the battery, reported this, and re-
monstrated with the Quartermaster about put
ting us on that particular boat, as there was
large feet of empty ones going down, but to no
purpose. During the night the doctor that
supplied the boilers with water gave out. The
boats (the Lady Franklin being dashed TO herr
landed at Johnsonville, when, the necessary
repairs being made she rounded out about
4 o'clock on the morning of the 9th. The
wheel had not made three revolutions when
the deficient boiler exploded with terrific force,
completely demolishing the Eclipse and setting
her ON fire and burning her to the waters edge,
killing about go persons outright, and many
dying of their injuries afteTward. Thirty Of
the killed were men of the 9th battery, leav-
ing only about Is alive, many of them more or
less injured. The writer and comrade named
Dwiggins was sleeping under the same blank
cts in the epgine-room, about 10 feet from the
boilers. He was killed instantly and his body
burned on the wreck, while l, being the last
man taken from the burning boat by yawl
from the gunboat, was unconscious for period
of 10 days. l was taken to Evansville Ind,
placed in Government hospital, where re-
manned until about the Goth of March. So,
comrades, you see the 9th battery could not
have been at Mobile or vicinity.
Comrade Mitchell very correctly names our
old brigade, but think he ought to have add
ed the 5Sth H. 1t is quite possible that many
of our old division, or corps, never heard of the
disaster to the old 9Th, and many heard and
have forgotten in either event l hope to hear
from any of them through the columns of the
great TRIBUNE.-WILL d. BUTLER, 9th Ind
battery, Limedale, Ind.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
Ia Evnlains fn Cnmrnde Penn0ck.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In answer to
Comrade John Pennock Co. q, I'D H., Walsh
Station, Cal, l will say that he surely did not
read the article he refers to in your issue of Dec.
], or reading it, did not do so in an intelligent
manner. As he asks bow it was possible for the
First and Third Divisions Of the Sixteenth
Corps to be at both forts at the same time, l
will again state that Spanish Fort was capt
ured early on the night of the 9Th of April,
and that Gen. Bertram's Brigade, of the Thir-
teenth Corps, was left as a garrison, and the
First and Third Divisions of the Sixteenth
and the Third Division of the Thirteenth
Corps Immediately marched to the reinforce
ment Of the troops then and for several days prior
thereto investing Fort Blakely, viz Gen. c. G.
Andrewss Division, Thirteenth Corps; Gen.
Garrard's Division, Sixteenth Corps; Gen.
Steele's Division, of the Seventh Corps, and also
division of colored troops under his command
lattached, / understand, to the Thirteenth Corps
temporarily, and Gen. Veatch's Division, of the
Thirteenth Corps ION reserye) These three
Divisions from Spanish Fort were in position
at Fort Blakely, on reserve, in close supporting
distance Of the investing lines at about
o'clock p W. on the 9Th Of April, and the storm
ing of the works occurred about or 5 o'clock p.
N. by the investing troops. In my sketches of
those works / inadvertently left ost Gen
Veatch's Division, and their position was
left vacant. Comrade Pennock will remem-
Der, perhaps, that the forts were about
miles apart by the corduroy road and 10 miles
by the Sbley Mill road, and easily reached in
the time named by either road.
/ trust the comrade will understand this ex
! PLANTATION, and while l do not think that my
description is perfectly infailible regard il
| as IN the main correct.-R. Is. WINN, Co. Ii
| doth Mo-, White Hall, III.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
DE GREss,s BATTERY.
cOmraae Dixon Wants the dispute Settled.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As 1t mas been
some months since any cOmrade of the Six
teenth Corps has had anything to say in re-
gard to the retaking of De Gress's battery,
and as the comrades of the Fifteenth Corps
cannot agree among themselves what brigade
in that corps retook the battery, / thought
it was time the Sixteenth Corps had another
hearing. There has been too much nonsense
written already in regard to this matter! Take
one instance: About q year ago a comrade OF
the First Division, Fifteenth Corps wrote that
Gen. Wood, under the orders Of Gen. Sherman,
formed his division in columns of brigade at
right angles with the works, and charged down
the line and retook the battery. How much
glory did the man on the extreme left OF the
line achieve in this charge, be being at least
one-fourth of a mile away from the works and
the enemy?
So far as have seen, no one has told clearly
where this battery was located. This seems
strange, too, when it has been retaken so often
lately. / viii try to tell where the battery was
on the line. Take the brick house on the line
on the right of the railroad as a starting point.
The S1st Ohio had at this time about 400 men
for duty. After the works were retaken the left
of this regiment rested about 80 feet to the
right Of this brick house. The 66th III. was on
the right of the SIst Ohio in the charge When
the works were reached the left of the Goth III.
and the right Of the S1st Ohio came up to the
L
organized form there but these two regiments
at the battery. There perhaps were other COM
rades who participated in the charge at this
| place, but if there were they went with these
regiments.
| Comrade Wilson, of the 9th Iowa, in late
/ number gave the report of Gen. Wood in re-
/ gard to this matter. Gen. Wood says, in sub
/ stance, that when he had formed his division he
| charged, in connection with other troops, and
retook the works and the battery. Now, this
/ is ali right. but ii does not tell who retook the
! battery. Gen. Lightburn was in command OF
! the Second Division at the close of the battle,
and made the report of the action of his diyis-
! ion. He is q competent witness. 1t was his
] business TO tell how his division lost these
works and how they were retaken, and who re-
took them Will some eOmrade who can give
! the report of Gen. Lightburn do SO?
believe when we get this report and take il
! in connection with the report of n.Wood and
| the report of Col. Jesse J. Philips, of the Sec
ond Brigade, Second Division Sixteenth Corps
already published, it will go far to clear up this
De Gress battery muddle, and beat anybody's
memory in giving justice to whom justice is
/ due. If the Sixteenth Corps comrades did moi
have anything to do with retaking these works
and this battery, is it not strange they should
know so much about the matter, when they
were fighting two miles away, or had been
Give us Gen, Lightburn's report and settle THU
matter.-GEo. w. DIXON, Co. B, 6lst Ohio
Lima, o.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
The Despair of Science.

Rheumatism and Neuralgia, two remorseless
demons of human suffering, have puzzled the
masters of medical science. They are finally
agreed that the first is blood disease, and that
the second is an affection of the nerves. For
their cure until recently the faculty prescribed
similar remedies Principal reliance was placed
on external applications in both affections
Lately several of the most distinguished ply
sicians of Philadelphia have prescribed nitro
glycerine to neuralgia patients
Now, the dynamite, or nitro-glycerine, treat
ment of the old-school faculty has not yet re-
suited in any cures. Skeptical sufferers from
acute neuralgia or rheumatism, III the majority
of cases, would prefer TO have the dynamite
placed directly upon the affected part and ex-
ploded promptly. Cures are, after all, the vim
dieation Of a new departure in the healing art.
The Compound Oxygen treatment solves the
question as to the complete eradication of both
rheumatism and neuralgia from the system.
Drs. Starkey & Palen, 1929 Arch ST., PhiladeI-
phia, Pa, send Home Treatment which can
be used with perfect ease and safety at the pa
TENTS residence. The effects of the Compound
Oxygen are felt Immediately; the system takes
new tone, and life becomes full of enjoyment
again A postal card sent to the above address
will secure an interesting pamphlet on the dis.
covery, application and cures made by Com.
! pound Oxygen.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Permit me to
ask you hisquestion: Is Maj. Renostilla United
States officer? Ifthis is answered in the aifirma-
tive, / suggest that charges be preferred against
him for conduct unbeeoming an officer and
gentleman.
Specification list. In this, that said Reno, on
the - day of -, 1887, did wilfully, deliber-
ately and of malice aforethought say of and
concerning one Gen. Custer, brave and val
liant officer of the u. S. A., who died in the
discharge of his duty at his post, like true
hero, that he, the said Gen. Custer, was a
coward and a braggart, and that he would urge
men on to fight, but when the engagement be-
came hot would hide himself, etc., etc. (Here
charge the exact language he used.)
He, the said Reno then and there well know
ing that the said charges were false and mali
cious; thatat the time to which said charges re-
fer the said Gen. Custer was the superior officer
of said Reno, the said Gen. Custer being dead
when said charges were made and therefore
unable to defend his fair name and fame.
If this fellow Reno is not now an officer OF
the United States, but member of the GAR
/ recommend the same charges to be preferred
against him, and that he be kicked out uncere-
moDiously.
No Drawer officer ever lived than Gen. Custer
knew him from the time he was Lieutenant
| till October, 1664.-CHAs. P. HESS, First Ser.
] geant Co. c, 9th q. S. Cav, Macon. No.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
Comrade GriGins,s Account of Jonesboro.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Capt Riden-
our, in his account of the action at Jonesboro
in your issue of Feb 2, is in error both as to
the ground occupied by the Fourteenth Corps
and the direction in which the line faced on
Sept. l, "a. The right of the corps rested in
front of the rebel battery, as shown at the anglo
in his map, in the position which he assigns to
the First Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth
Corps The map should show the first line Of
rebel works continued past the angle all along
this front, and the position which he assigns to
the Fourteenth Corps in possession of the rebels.
The troops of the Fourteenth Corps faced east
and not south.
When the order came to charge the first line
was carried at dash, except the portion occu-
pied by the battery in front of the Regulars.
They being repulsed, a second line was thrown
forward and the battery carried, and as soon as
carried we were again ordered forward, still
facing east. The 35th Ind, being on the right
of us, struck the work at the angle, while my
own regiment--the LIST Wis.-struggled on
through the abatis of fallen timber under ter
rife cross-1re. Discovering the railroad cut in
our front, we thought 1t the rebel work and
dashed into it, and az the surgiDg mass Of men
filed the cut the rebel battery of four guns at
the railroad poured into them, double-shotted
with canister, at range Of not more than 90
yards. Our very nearness saved US somewhat,
and we scrambled out and advanced some 200
yards farther still facing east, in front Of and
at right angles to the rebel works. Being sep
arated by this advance from the rest of the
command. re halted and awaited orders, the
rebels meanwhile falling back to their inner
line which they evacuated before morning.
] think the assault was made by the First
Division of the Fourteenth Corps, but man in
the ranks cannot speak with certainty of the
| operations outside of his own brigade, and al
times Of his own regiment.-H. B. GRIFFINa
Co. G, LIST Wis, Long Lake, Mimi.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
An Attempted ESCAPE from Florence.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: VIII you
please grant me space in your valuable paper
to make inquiries in regard to some old COM
rades? ] was prisoner of war; was captured
at Chickamauga Sept. 90 1853; was confined
at Belle Isle, and in several prisons in Rich
mond, Va, Danville, Va, Andersonvllle, Ga,
and Charleston and Florence S. G. While at
Florence | was taken out on parole of honor
by Col. Iyerson, commanding the post. About
the middle of February there was train-load
of prisoners sent south, and it looked as though
they were going to send US all south, from what
we could learn from the guards. The men out
side on parole made up their minds not to go,
and set to work and made preparations for
escape.
On Feb IS, at o'clock, party of 90 of US
started east from the prison, intending to
reach the Pedee River before morning. After
we had got some two or three miles from prison
three Of the party got faint hearted and turned
around and went back, leaving IL in our party.
Ii was nice moonlight night and all went
well with us until we were nearing the river,
when we halted at place where the roads
forfed for short council. While holding our
council We could hear the baying of blood
hounds in the distance.
In a short time the cavalry and bloodhounds
were on to as. Our party separated, some
climbing trees some climbing fences, some run
ming into the swamp. In a short time they
had IA Of us collected together and started Us
for camp. On arriving at camp we were ironed
and put in the dungeon.
Three Of our party were not recaptured that
night. and / have never known what became
of them until about four years ago | found the
name Of Z. II. Ripple, Of Scranton, Pa, in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE and have had some CORE
spondence with him; as regards the other two
/ have never learned what became Of them
JOHN II. CRAWFORD, Co. d, l0lst Ohio, Peru, o.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
lip the Yazoo.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I see a COM
munication In your valuable paper from Capt.
Greene, of the 9Th Wis, headed up the
Yazoo," in which he speaks Of detachment of
Union cavalry coming up to Mechanicsville
from Vicksburg by land and charging the reb-
els He did not give the name Of the cavalry,
but will. It was the Sd battalion of the 9Th
III. Cav, consisting of Cos. /, X, l. and NJ, COM
manded by Maj. Epson. We captured 40 Of the
rebels the first dash We made. We broke their
lines three times, and good many Of the rebels
had the sides Of their heads skinned, for we
used our sabers on them. Lieut.. j. X. b. Brown
had his horse shot from under him and fell
right among the rebels, but he got out all right
We did not lose many men. 1t was Writ
Adams's Brigade Of rebel cavalry that we
charged He was banker in Yicksburg before
the war; but we did not give him much chance
to bank that day, as we kept him moving.
know this to be 80, for ! was there. This hap.
pened June A, 15G3.--LERoY G. STARBUcK, Co
/, 9th III. Cav, Grecnup, Ill.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
I REaaN ID - NERyoUs,


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some time
since under the beading Of Picket Shots"
Comr8Ge Isaac Shuts. Of the 18th u. S. Inf,
wants 10 know the names Of the transports that
Wheeiers cavalry captured and burnt on the
Cumberland River As / have not seen his
question answered, 1 viii give brief account
Of the affair.
On the morning Of the 18th Of January, 1853,
the steamboat William w. Hastings Of Pitts
burg, left Nashville. The boat was crowded
with sick and wounded from Stone River bat
lie. Ali went well with uE until IL o'clock q
10. On nearing HarPeth Shoals, some 30 miles
from Nashville, heard q crash 10 the cabin, IS
IL We had struck something; but / soon took
IN the situation when another crash OF bullets
accompanied by a solid shot came through the
cabin just below the skyiights. We were nearly
AL lying on the floor; hence the two yolieys
were not destructive. A few were hit however.
We came 10 land, aud the rebels came aboard
They went 70 pilisging al once. but as soon As
the officers IN gray came aboard they placed a
guard a the door and kept the rest cut Of the
cabin. Col. Wade, who appeared TO be the
chief officer with his staff, stopped at the bar
FIRST They had plenty in them then, as they
had captured the steamboat Trio before they
did the Hastings, aud got the whisky off her.
After they drank few glasses they were In a
mood 60 deal with us. Our Chaplain and doc
tors plead for Us, bat it had little eject on
drunken men.
To give a full history would be too long,
but ] would like TO ask the artillery Bugler
who lay close by my side opposite the bar if he
has forgotten the look Of that awkward full.
cooked wooden stock pistol Col. Wade pointed
IN his face because the Colonel cid not ike hi.
red stripes
j will close this by saying in the evening
they Jet Us proceed with the Hastings on ouI
Journey, but burnt the tiuclad guuboat Slidell
and transports Trio and P4rthenia, Of Pitts
buTg.-W. w. BoNEY, 18th Pa, Slate Lick, Pa
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
Lookout Mountain.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your is
sue of Feb 8 Capt. Joseph II. Moore, Co. B,
I47th Pa, is represented TO have made the
statement that Col. Cobham's Brgade-the
Second-was in advance and formed the first
line at the battle of Lookout Mountain. my
self was present at the battle of Lookout
Mountain, and the statement made by First
Lieut. Z. T. Hopkins Co. E. l49th N. Y, is cor
rect. Gen. Green's Bridade--the Third-was
in advance, and we did capture rebel camp al
breakfast, and we were the first troops to at
tack the rebels on our left. Capt. Moore's
memory must be poor. Lieut.. Hopkins nc
doubt remembers the foggy morning Nov. "a
1863. and the little house where we filled ouI
canteens with water before we advanced VI
Lookout Mountain.-PETER H. KENT, Co. Z
I02d n. Y, National Home, Va.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
A DistinEuIshsd Clergyman. rssts.

A Distinguished cIsrgymanss Tsstss
Rev. r. " Pickens, President Of the
Methodist Protestant Church Of South
Carolina, writes from Greenville:
About four years ago was attacked
with what the physicians pronounced
neuralgia rheumatism, accompanied with
erysipelas. NY appetite failed me entirely,
and had sn intermitting pulse and very
irregular pulsations Of the heart A ter
rible pain soon came into my chest and
shoulders, and became 20 helpless that
could attend to no business at all The
pains were movable, and would sometimes
pass from one part Of my body 70 another.
Finally the erysipelas broke out or ny lefs
hand and arm, and produced much swell
ing. I was for eighteen months afflicted
In this way, and Of course used great
many kinds OF medicines, but nothing gave
me relief Friends finally persuaded mo
TO try Swift's Specific / noticed decided
improvement while taking the first bottle.
/ continued It's use until had taken about
one dozen bottles, when I found myself
sound and well again, with no sign Of dis
ease left except a stiffness IN my hand, .
result Of the erysiPelas. While taking
the medicine ! gained on an average two
pounds Of flesh per week think s $. 8.
3 valuable medicine, and l frequently
recommend it TO nv friends
Write to the SWIFT SPECIFIC Co,
Atlanta, Ca, for Treatise on Blood and
Skin Diseases, mailed free 70 anyone
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
He Fac : Monnted Ghost. Too.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Lieut.. Soule's
story of "A Mounted Ghost" in The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, reminds me that we also had a
mounted ghost. During the Spring and Sum
mer of 1868 our regiment was stationed at
Moscow, Tenn, on the NJ. & c. Railway, 80
miles east of Memphis One Of our picket
posts was at the wagon bridge across Wolf
River, a short distance west of town. The road
across the river bottom on the west side was
graded up pretty high, with wide bitches on
either side, the road making a straight line
through the swampy forest on either side. At
night they would pile up the floor Of the bridge
three or four feet high and the sentry be sta
toned behind this wooden wall. The common
story was that a man on horseback would come
riding up the road toward the bridge, paying
no attention to the challenge Of the sentry,
and on being fred at would disappear. AS
never happened to be ON duty at that post,
never saw the ghost; but after nearly 20 year:
/ have distinct recollection of the story that
was told in our camp. Perhaps some of the
boys may be living who saw it; if so, | wish
they would tell the story to the readers Of TIL
NATIoEAL TRIBUNE. B. king, Co. Z, 9th
Iowa, Vail, Iowa.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-15
Swamp angel Battery.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: was very
much interested IN a communication in The
NATIoSAL TRIBUNE of Feb from the pen Of
Capt Il. w. Bannatyne, of Co. 3, SD Pa. re-
garding the occupancy Of Charleston ON Feb.
Is. 1865, BY the SD Pa His account is pretty
nearly correct but there is one statement of
the brave little Captain that feel it my duty
to correct. He says that the Swamp Angel had
been dismOunted early in the siege. / cannot
understand how the Captain got the impression
that the Swamp Angel was not factor in the
siege for Immediately after the 200 pound
Parrot rife exploded a 10-inch mortar~gas
placed in the battery and was used for several
months for sheliing the Confederate works on
James Island, when il was taken out and re-
placed by 30-pound Parrot rife The Swamp
Angel was built IN a great salt marsh between
Morris and James Islands, about 500 yards from
Paine's dock, the picket station mentioned
by ComTade Bannatyne, and from il Sumter's
dock was nicely IN range and easily kept clear
by orr little PARROT when properly handled.
When the 3O-pouuder was placed in position, il
was manned by a detail from a New York regi-
ment who had never had experience as artilIer-
lists, and their firing was consequently Of little
effect, very many Of their shells ricochctting
and falling harmlessly in the harbOr half way
| to Sumter. They were finally relieved in Sep
TENDER. 1864 and detail from my company
/ consisting Of Serg't Sidney Albert, Corpis l.. D.
4 Rozeil, ii. ,. Mast and myself, with u men
were put in charge Of the famous little battery
! that had frightened the Charleston people, and
! IN fact the whole Coniederaey.
/ was 10 charge OF the first detachment, AZ
! follows: D. w. Learch, F. s. Lape, Abe Barber
/ John Gavin, John NJ. Taylor, Geo. Garringer
/ Geo. Greenwalt. We always relieved the de
/ tacbment on duty about o'clock p. M. ant
served until four the next afternoon. Ourdut,
was TO watch the movements on James Island
| on cur left, and Fort Sumter in our front, anC
10 use our best Judgment in firing. Sumter
dock seemed TO be our principal target. w,
were required 10 report every day to tn
| chief Of artillery the number Of shots fired ant
their effectiveness; and from the time / wen
| on duty, in September, 1854, until the evacua
ton of Charleston on Feb IS, 1865, the loves
number of shots for any one day was nine, ant
| the highest u, with an average of 10, making
| total of 2 400 shots fired in the five months
Nov, / don't see how all this work of the littl
swamp battery could be done without N,
comrade knowing it. for don't think he wa
ever away from his post of duty for day, AM
was known throughout the regiment as q brav
officer aud one that shoulder-straps didn't rails
one bit above common hnmanity-S. w. TAY
LoR, Co. a, sd Pa, Haryeyville, Pa.