Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-07-12


New York Heavy Artillery regiments,
which fought as infantry during the last
Richmond campaign. My hesitation to
repeat it arises only from the fear
that it may be regarded by some
comrades as opening dark chapter of
soldier experience at the South that
might better be left untold. I must
disagree with them. The comrade who
told this story told it in the most per-
feet good temper. He stated, in tell
ing it, that it was an experience that
it was not agreeable to him to state,
and that he heartily wished it had
never occurred. But that is the way
we are accustomed to regard very many
change the facts now; and however We
may regret that such things had to oc-
cur, it is better to tell them truthfully,
just as they happened, and in that way
it will but appear that they are told
without malice, and only with the de-
sire to show the war in all it's phases
and aspects.
In the vicinity of Richmond and
Petersburg, at least i'll those sections
which had been continually traversed
by our armies, it was not easy to find
anything in the way Of forage or pro-
visions. Near our lines there were
many of the people living on army
rations dealt out by the commissary,
and it was not often that good "find"
was reported to headquarters.
But once in while, in some secluded
out-of-the-way nook, our scouting cav
airy scented supplies, and then train
was sent out with an infantry guard to
bring them in.
It may be we'll to explain here just
how this kind of thing was done during
the war The people generally, and
very many of the veterans, do not un-
derstand the theory on which the
United States Government acted dur
ing the war in regard to supplies
taken from the people for the army in
Southern districts. The theory was
that every citizen was rebel It was
harsh one, but probably necessary.
Our quartermasters and commissaries
did not go about with their pockets
full Of gold or greenbacks; they simply
took what they wanted, wherever
they could find it, and gave their Off
cial receipts. Ii, at later day, the
holder Of the receipt could prove to the
proper officers Of the United States
Treasury that he was loyal citizen,
he was paid for his property; if not, he
had contributed just SO much to the
Union cause, and could have no re-
lief except to gnash his teeth with
rage.
1t was upon one Of these small raids
that about half Of my company was de-
tailed to go out about ten miles in the
rear Of our lines and guard dozen
wagons. The place was small plan
tation, somewhat hidden by intervening
woods. Nobody unacquainted with the
country would have suspected that q
house and barns lay in that vicinity
and nothing but the perseverance of
our mounted scouts ever discovered
them.
The burns were filled with hay and
anthreshed wheat. It was all valua-
ble forage, and detail of half our
guard was soon at work loading the
wagons.
Those Of us who were not thus en-
gagged sauntered around the grounds
near the house. We had stacked arms
upon our arrival here and had, as
usual, left guard over the arms, but
it so happened that three OR four of
the comrades had their muskets with
them. I suppose that, out OF some idea
of personal safety, the American
soldiers sometimes had, without con-
sulting their officers, thought it pru-
dent to keep their musksts with them.
However that was, strolled into the
rear grounds Of the place with three of
these armed soldiers. We were not
pillaging; there were strict orders as
to that; we were simply looking about
at our leisure.
I heard cry, "Look Quit" looked
up and saw ct the rear second-story
window of the house, L should Judge
about sixty feet from where I stood,
the barrel of gun projected over the
lowered SASH and man behind. 1t