The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-30

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A bit Of I'M
written history may be Of general interest 10
the 9th Iowa boys, aud to Capt Sherburne, of
Co. l, in particular. 1t was shortly after the
famous Iupelo raid, when Gen. Hurlbut again
sent Gen. 4. J. Smith under protest. down into
Mississippi after Forrest, and while A. J. was
on q still hunt Forrest walked into Memphis
and bid Gen. Hurlbut good morning with few
rounds of shot and shell, and A j. was ordered
back IN hot haste. We were eDcamped on the
Tallahatchie River bottoms on cur return, when
mule feed aud soger provender" were getting
low Capt Sherburne, who was Acting Brigade
Quartermaster thought be would zee if the
country would afford some relief. The Cap
tain Was good feeder himself aud liked TO see
the mules, "a well rs the boys fare sumptuously
If it was TO be had. So on Aug. 1S 1864, with
detail OF about % men from the Second Bri-
gede, started for plantation about three miles
distant with three wagons TO load with feed.
The plantation W8s reached in due time and
found rich in good living 1t had been well
worked by sn old man, few negroes and two
young boys In the house were two. old
sergants, and, as / remember, q very hand
some young widow, her husband probably be-
ing in the rebel army. The Captain was then
q young, handsome and very gallant officer,
and, Of course, 1t was bis duty as well as pleas
ure to console the widow while the boys filed
the wagons. The Captain WIS q very cautious
SIS well AZ gallant officer, and took the precau-
ton TO post picketa and place himself in the
house, where no had q good view OF movements
outside while coDsoing the widow. We got
the wagons well loaded, and they were pulling
out lively for Gasp when the boys thought
! they would help themselves to some chicken.
ham, cream, etc, OF which there was an abun.
/ dance, % recuperste the inner man as well rs
/ the inner mule, and then we started back ia
/ camp.
Now comes the interesting part of nv
/ story. Imagine, If you cGn your humble serv.
ant On his stomach his heels in the air hi,
arm through high picket fence, bunch Of
| taliicathers In his hand, and bobtailed rooster
making tracks for the henhouse. AS nearly a,
! can remember this was the position | was in
when bang blngi zip zip! The rebs had
fired on the pickets, and two minie-bslIs pass
ed over my head. By the time / had reQaine(
my feet ] saw the Captain, hat in hand. rush
! ing out of the house, and this was his com
mand: Attention, b-a-t-t.a-l-i-o-n
and verify believe they might have heard
| him Ia camp three miles away. Whether h,
was so frightened or did 10 az "A russ To n,jsIeaC
the rebels never had the courage to ssk him
but IL had the effect to check the rebs lust tn,
same, they thinking, ! suppose, from thu
command given that he must have
! regiment instead of Is men scattered al
about the yard. One of the bows beat th,
long roll on tin pan. And such long roll
4oH can Det AS DsdL that pan for all he wa
worth, while we got into line in less time thar
II takes me to tell it, and were ready for action
During this time a lively skirmish was kept nj
between the rebs and pickets, and the team
were well out On the road toward camp and o,
the dead run. We began a retreat in good or
der, with the rebs 10 close pursuit, but Gin
Captain kept all the men on skirmish-line. Tn,
timber and brush being fortunately yer,
thick, ] think the rebs overestimated our nun
bers We also thought they had full repi
ment. We got back to camp all right, how
ever, with the loss of one man, wounded. w
met regiment Of cavalry coming out to rein
force us and they said it was reported that NJ
were al captured, and only for the sagacty o
Capt sherburne we undoubtedly would bay
been. He was highly compIimented by Gen
Gilbert on our safe return. In my boyish min,
! wondered be was not made Major General
and have thought a great many times sine
that he would have made good one had Oh
portunity presented.
If the Captain should chance TO see this
hope he will excuse me for being SO personal
But only for his dRshing bravery on more tina
one Of these foraging expeditions the boy
would have gone hungry. whereas we ha
plenty 10 eat, rs alec did the mules / did 10
get the rooster.-ELLIoTT V. SMITH, Co. {
9th Iowa, 0Wosso Mich