The National tribune., 1888-07-26
Bonneville and BIaeklands.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In Gen. Pope's
article of recent date he mentions Blacklands.
Well, that's where ] got mine, so have rea-
son to remember it. also remember the way
we got there and the way l came back.
On the night before we entered Bonneville,
where the train load of arms and ammunition
was destroyed by the cavalry, we were Skin
mishing with the enemy. The infantry would
move slowly ahead and then would come q
volley of musketry, and after while the enemy
would fall back and we would close up with the
infantry, and then they would move ahead and
we would wait while and then close up again.
The night was dark as Erebus whatever that
Isl; IN fact, the darkness was so dense that you
could have hung your hat upon it. / know
that to be so, for l left my hat hanging up some
where in the swamp that night, and have never
since been able to lay hands on it. However,
did not start out to tell you about losing my
hat, for ! expect there was one or two more
lost during the war, but what / meant to speak
about was my horse. Not long ago The Boy
Spy spoke of the affection existing between
the soldier and his horse and that the soldier
could slip his bridle-rein over his arm and lie
down in front OF his horse and go to sleep in
safety, knowing that his horse would not step
on him. | can youch for the Boys" truth
fulness IN that, as have done that very trick
more than once and the night OF our approach
to Bonneville, Miss, was one of these times
We had just got through the swamp and en-
tered a lane Though l doubt if any one knew
OF the fences, unless some one who ran up
against them in the dark when we had to
halt, and to keep from going to sleep on my
horse (being lead driver) / dismounted, and
finding sort of bank within two feet of my
horse / sat down on it. The rain was falling
steadily, silently, soakingly; but in spite of
rain and skirmish firing | went to sleep, and
did not wake until after daybreak, and then
thought a cannon-ball had carried away both
my legs for they seemed to be nothing but
stumps, and they to be numb at that. l soon
discovered what was wrong. Ny horses were
lying down In the road and / being a six
tooter, my feet were out in the road and my
saddle-hOrse had his head pillowed on my feet
and was sleeping soundly. ! aroused myself
and upon looking around discovered that was
the only man in the battery who was awake
men and horses were lying and sitting in almost
every shape, sound asleep. Putney soon gave Us
blast on the bugle that brought men and
horses out of their sleep and onto their feet. We
had an apology for breakfast and then went
into Bonneville. In the afternoon we went
out scouting with some cavalry and came back
and spent the night in Bonneville, and the
next day went out with two regiments of cav
airy to Blacklands and got into the bang
upest" skirmish we ever struck, and after got
loaded in the hip with piece of rebel shell
we all came back and went into Summer quar-
tiers few weeks after at Rienzi.
Now, Mr.. Editor, have refrained from Civ
ing names or numbers of regiments here for
fear some eomrade will rise mp to tell me am
mistaken. am almost afraid to give you my
own name for fear some one else will claim my
wound and the munifcent $6 per month which
/ am drawing. If they would only take the
aches and pains and the disability with it, they
would do me favor for in that case, being
only 40 years old, might reasonably hope to
live TO read the conclusion of The Boy Spy
A. b. HODGE, Battery l, I'd ILL., Art, Wilton
Center, Ill.