The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-06


and swimming our horses over, by which
operation we lost several of them. Our dis
mounted men took 10 the woods, and the most
OF them either died from hunger and exposure
or suffered much worse fate by being taken
prisoners. The balance Of Us reached the lines
the next night and in that little squad we had
representative from neatly every company in
the command. they We're so badly mixed up.
] have lot heard from any of the boys that
were on this raid, and should be much pleased
&c do 50. If our old friend, THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, viii give us the space.-SAAIUEL q.
BROwN, Detailed Blacksmith, Co. B, 18th Iowa
Cav, Greenfield, Iowa
Rec0Ileetions OF an Sih Iud. CaYalryman.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have Just
read Comrade II. 7. Birds account Of the Nc
Cook raid in your issue of April 25 and as /
happened TO be there Also cannot refrain from
giving my version Of the affair. Our regiment
(the 9Th Ind. Cav had been in camp At Mari
eta, Ga, for three or four days, trying TO re-
cuperate q little after 4 somewhat fatiguing
raid Of il days and nights through northern
aud central Alabama and western Georgia,
when We were ordered out on this raid under
Gen. McC0Ok- We marched directly down the
northern side Of the Chattahoochie River, and
crossed on pontOOn bridge ut Sand Town. !
have letter now IN my possession which l
wrote to my brother just after our return from
this raid, when ali the facts were fresh in mind,
SO / am able TO speak from the card in what
] say
The first night out We met small force of
the enemy, and after brisk skiTmish during
which We fred at the fash Of the Johunies
guns, il being too dark 10 see anything else
We drove them away, and tore up the Atlanta
q West Point Railroad loT a considerable dis
tance. About daylight next morning we burned
. rebel supply train and captured a Paymas-
tiers safe, which We managed 10 open and i'm
Inediasely proceeded 20 the task OF reducing
The Confederate surplus. For a long time
thereafter the boys were flush with deprecated
currency. and had no hesitation in Offering 10
buy anything, from sippeIy-elm pie 10 a
farm. When we reached the place lLoveioy
Stationl where We expected TO form junction
with Gen. Sg0neman's command. we improved
the time while waiting 8y breaking IN some
refractory mules which some OF the bows
wanted 10 use instead of their tired-0nt horses.
remember distinctly one mediunl-sized, sane
tlmoniOus- looking mule that was blind of one
eye, and apparently the most oOcile OF the lot,
which proved upon trial 10 contain a greater
amount Of original sin to the square inch
than any four-foOtcd beast / ever became ac-
oDainted with. ] believe it threw every man
who tried TO ride il, and some OF those who ex-
perimented with the sad faced critter" were
nearly KILLED. Among them my brother, NJ.
ID. Ward. was SO badly shaken up that he has
never gotten over il and still suffers from the
effect Of the :" header" he took from the back
OF that hypocriticai brute.
When 1t became evident that the only way
10 effect junction with Gen. Stoneman was
to turn over oBr arms and accouterments and
60 10 a rebel prison, we commenced our return
trip ln manner not provided for Oh the pro-
gram. We skirmished all the rest OF the day
and marched all night, coming about daylight
into the town Of Newman just Is q brigade Of
infantry had landed from a train and were all
ready TO receive Us. We declined TO have a
az hat "a
traced our steps 10 a safe distance and went
around the town. But, owing 10 somebo0 VS.
fault OR column was moved so slowly that by
the time We were safely around the town tie
rebel cavalry had morcd entirely around US
and we're IN cur front and the brigade Of in
fantry before mentioned coming up behind, we
were between the devil aHd the deep sea, so 10
speak. After fighting for several hours the
situation became desperate and il was decided
10 cut cur way out at any risk.
Oar regiment took the lead, cur company IN
advance, and 10 men, fof whom the writer was
One,) under serg't Edward Scott were detailed
rs advance guard, with instructions 10 run
through or over everything that was in our
front" IN column by fours we started, first at
walk, then tTOt, increasing our speed TO a
gall0p as We neared the rebel line, and so IN
expected, apparently, was our action that the
Johnnies actually opened their line, swinging
back so IS TO form sort Of lane, through
which We dashed so rapidly that nearly half of
our regiment was through before they seemed
10 realize that we were running away"
1t was just O'clock when we began our
break for liberty, and at 1890 we were IS miles
away, At the Cbattahoochie River somewlere
down toward West Point, hunting for a ferry.
boat 10 help Us across the river darby
showed Us where it had been sunk to prevent
our getting IT, and we soon had it bailcd out
and began crossing the men and swimming
the horses By morning the command was
nearly ali across but those who were still be.
hind mostly had to swim, as the Johnnies had
caught up with Us by this time and proceeded
10 make life burden TO all the \ snks IN sight
Several horses were drowned in crossing tia
river, and few men were killed while trying
10 cross on RATS and by swimming. We then
started on again, and marched 50 miles belor,
stopping Tor a few hours Of rest aud seep
Those whose horses were lost at the rivel
started on brayely afoGt, but were soon left be
hind, when they left the road and took to ths
woods. Some were captured and some man
aged 70 pick up horses, and thus keep alons
with the procession" Among the latter / re
call the case Of Henry n. Garrett, Of my com
pany, who succeeded III getting an old plug O
horse and side-saddlc, upon which he rode
IN triumph until we got back TO Marietta
There were about six regiments / think
that started out on the raid, among which wer,
the Stll Ind, Sth Iowa and ID Tenn Cay
The others ] cannot now recall; but our regi
ment, think, was the only one that retained
lis organization throughout the entire raid
There were representatives of All the other
regiments who came out with US, bat they
were badly scattered and disorgaBized. l think
COmraae Bird must be mistaken when he SAYS
his regiment and the three pieces OF artillery