The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10

! made distance of 10 or IL. miles, and stopped
! for the night but the rain did not stop IL CON
tinued, steady, cold rain, such as that climate
/ is subject to at that season of the year. AS
there had been previous rains, and the ground
was soaked full of water, the roads became like
unto mortar bed, and before morning some OF
the boys had to climb up higher on the roots
of the trees, or else be in the water-the ground
| being so soft that their bodies made lndcnta-
! tons We wallowcd through till morning,
however, and resumed the journey again, the
rain abating by spells during the forenoon. l
think we crossed bayou towards noon, which
was considerably swollen and some OF the short
/ legged horses were compelled to swim. III my
memory serves me light, we halted for feed and
rest after travelling some three or four miles
after crossing the bayou; and while there
| detail of six men from Co. b was made to carry
some orders back to Helena. The command
continued on to Clarendon, as also did the
rain.
We will follow those men back to the ford
| ing of the bayou. There just as the last two
were in the stream, they were ambushed by
! party Of JOhnnies, numbering about % who
! fired into them and wounded Corporal William
| Beppy and Charles LafrienaiTe. d. r. Bllhngss
/ horse was shot while he was on it and going up
/ the bank, and keeled over backwards ducllhg
/ the rider, who had 10 pull for the Shore leay-
/ ing his carbine in the bottom Of the bayou. de
reached shore just in time to be picked up by
/ the rebs, along with J. o. Linn. They were
paroled, and returned to the regiment in about
six months. The four who escaped reached
| Helena all right.
To return TO the command again. we find
/ them moving westward at a steady pace, the
/ boys feeling quite glum by spells, as they were
! becoming wet through, the wind changing TO
/ the northwest and growing colder, turning tue
/ rain to sleet. When we camped that night we
stopped about three miles from Clarendon, in a
! bRI of her M n
/ logs enough down to roll together, and by using
j rails from a fence close by, we succeeded IN
getting fires agoing and soon got ourselves to
stcaming around them. Our horses, after stand
ing a while began shaking melee. Though
! VIC kept them blanketed, they suffered terribly.
| / viii say here that it was quite unusual while
on such scouts to make such fires as we had on
/ that night. 1t was a fearful night, too, as IL
began showing about midnight, and by the
morning about six inches Of snow had fallen,
and the ground frozen hard enough to hold a
/ horse. Such time as we had that morning
getting ourselves ready to move! as the blankets,
saddles aud our clothing on us were frozen so
/ that it was almost impossible for us to stir.
/ IS we surrounded the fire one side would
! freeze while the other would burn or bake. In
I reaching Clarendon that morning / must
/ say that | never came so near freezing,
and am certain that some would have
/ persisted if we had had to 20 much farther.
{ ~ men tne CO3bIBauu STRUCK JBG village every
man looked out for himself some taking posses
| sion Of houses, barns and outbuidings-any
place to get where they could thaw out and dry.
| | with three others ran our horses into a
/ woodshed adjoining house, where we stayed
until the next day under the hospitabe roof Of
! one of Claredon's citizens, after which we got
together by company and kept possession of
the town for three days. until the weather
moderated, then started back for Helena.
have one little incident Will mention 1t
happened the night before reaching Helena,
on our return As we had been out of rations
couple of days we had TO depend on the
country through which we passed for our sus-
| tenance, aud while looking around at a large
plantation for few chicks and other deserts, |
succeeded in finding jar of peach preserves.
1t was q four gallon jar and nearly full. l had
good luck in getting TO camp with it all safe,
and when ! set it out to the boys in our com
paBy they just thought had strucl, bonanza,
and / guess / had at any rate. they were all
used up and the boys felt happy" and declared
it was the first time they'd ever eaten any
peaches preserved in brandy.
Now boys, some Of you are living yet come
to La Crosse, Wis, next june II, 49, and II, at
Reunion of the regiment and we viii talk
old times oYer.--O s. SIssOE, Corporal, Co. Il
% Wis. Cav. West Salem, Wis., and Secretary
Regimental Reunion.