The National tribune., 1888-09-06
Looklng 10 Guerrlllas.

EDITOR NATIOSAL TRIBUNE: Some Of my
comrades Of the doth Ind. who were on detail
in the gun squad have asked me to write up
our experience while serving as artillery.
Ia April, 1862, our regImeat-4Gth Ind.-and
the 43d Ind were attached to the naval feet Of
Commodore Porter, FOR the reduction Of Fort
Pillow. Our Colonel thought II would be a
good thing 10 have some artillery with his COM
maad and therefore borrowed three 12-pognd
Dahlgren guns from tie feet, detailing seven
men from the regiment for each gun. Now,
am only going 10 speak Of what experience the
squad to which 1 belonged had. An officer
from the feet came ashore twice a day TO drill
rs The drill Of field and naval artillery IS
quite different. The officer was very par,icu
lar 10 teach Us 10 estimate distance, the proper
elevation and time Of the fuse Of the shells
We tried 10 perfect ourselves IN those details.
We did net have much use for our guns I'M
I'll after the battle OF St. Charles, Ark, June
IL, 1852 when the gun to which 1 was at
tsched was put On a small sIde-wheel steamer
% patrol White River from ST. Charles 10 Car
endon, Ark, the highest point TO which our
feet had ventured az that time. Our trans
ports were loaded Wlth supplies for Gen. Cur
tis's army, which was coming down through
Missouri and Arkansas 10 form junction with
the feet We made daily trips between those
points, expecting 70 meet his scouts or ad-
vance. sc had on each trip one or two COM
pan.es Of infantry with Us to help fight the
EuerriI.as that sWarmed on both sides Of the
river. Our boat was made buiiet-proof by cot
ton bales. The orders were for US 70 shell any
point that We thought concealed guerrilias.
On our trip up the river, just below Aber-
deen. Ark, Comrade Pencil, who was on the
lookout for baslWAackers, noticed at q bend
where q sand-bar extended out into the river,
dog az the edge, seemingly drinking. Upon
close observation beEueI noticed going from
the thiczet q man, who doubtless called the
o0g, who went back wagcing his tail and both
were lost to ssght. C5uradc PenuelI called nv
attention 70 what he lad seen, and we sighted
the gun, which happened 10 be loaded with
canister, and let her 70. Next day re capt
Ure3 man who said our shot bad killed zine
men and tie dog, beside WCundiug several,
thereby frustrating their game, which was to
pick OF some Of our men. The comrades call
Cd IL pop sb0L
Al Croeketts Bluff the bu5hwbackers had
the advantage OF us, the bluT being as high as
the smole-lacEa Of the steamer. They could
come 20 the Top 0l the bluff, FIRE down OF US
and step back cut 0f sight the bluff being per
penclcuiaI. On another TIP UP the river Ye
stopped At Aberdeen, small town, 70 take On
board a woman aud children, the husband be-
ing ia the Union army. She pointed out 20
the Major C the path Ind, 10 charge Of the
Infantry, an old rebel whom she said had been
one ol her worst prosecutors, and the house that
he lived IN. Upon taking them on board we
proceeded ca up 70 Clarendon. That even
ing Oh our return 10 ST. Charles the com
Tades made j up mot letting any one but the
squad know what we proposed doing that we
throw shell through the upper story Of the
old Te9s house NAen within a hall mile Of
the town We put a shell 10 our gun, which was
given the proper elevation. the gun being on
the Doler-dcci. We fired, making & he shingles
IL from the Old gentleman house. The Major
came rushing out from the cabin. wanting 70
know what we had seen. We told him that
there was shell in the gun that we wanted out.
We continued patrolling the river for some
weeks, when We received word from scouts that
Gen Curtis was making his way 10 Helena,
ARK, on the Mississippi River, where we fol-
lowed him by water. There in august, 1852,
We turned our guns over 70 the navy.
The comrades Of the gun squad had bad a
good time for four months; no picket or guard
duty 70 DO. We joined our respective conpa-
mes 70 do duty again as iufautry.-FRED FITCH,
Co 1, 10th Ind, Logsusport, Ind.