The National tribune., 1889-05-09
How Lost NV Bacon.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While on The
march through South Carolina, l and Corp'l
Myers, of the 9th Ohio Cav. were detailed to
go out with toraging party to procure some
refreshments for the inner man. There were
some Is or 20 in the squad from differ
ent companies and we branched out some
three or four miles to the left Of the main
road on which our command was march,
ing. We presently came to a large plantation,
IN the smokehouse of which we found large
quantity of Bacon -four and cornmeal, to which
we helped ourselves. / remember that my
load consisted of four large sides of bacon and
sack of cornmeal. had fastened a piece of
bacon on each side of my saddle; the other
two were tied together and thrown across NV
horses's neck. The sack of meal | carried on
the pommel of the saddle, in front of me. We
were all loaded up finally and took up our line
OF march Tor camp, well pleased to think what
a welcome we would receive from our hungry
comrades. We had proceeded in this way
about half mile Corpl Myers aud myself
bringing up the rear, till we came to Bride
path leading to the left through the woods,
which the Sergeant in command decided would
lead US into the main road, where our command
was, and thus cut off several miles The head
OF the column moved into this path, when our
attention was attracted by company Of cav
airy coming up through the woods on our right.
CarbInes were unslung, aud many were about
to fire into them, but l called out: Don't
shoot; those are our men," Some had blue
coats on, but on looking closer l saw The light
colored brides and trappings, so different from
ours, and about the same time they sent very
convincing evidence of the fact of their being
enemies III the shape of Yolley from their car
bines, and followed it by charge Our boys
gave them an answering volley, but we were
so hampered with our provisions that we could
not use our arms with effect, and seeing that
they outnumbered us five to one, there was no
help for it but to run. The boys disappeared
through the woods like magic; Corp'l Myers
and L, being IN the rear, were not much over 30
or 40 feet from the charging Soutbrons We
realized our peril, and with that blood curdling
rebel yell sounding in our ears, we started to
follow our comrades. My horse made plunge
or two, the cornmeal sack dropped from my
hands, the strings that held the bacon snap
ped, and, freed from all membranes, leaned
forward TO escape the balls that were whistling
all around. became separated from nv com
panions, ana IN my excitement | pulled out
into the road by which we came, and with
three or four rebels close at my heels away
we went my pursuers discharging their reyoly-
ers at me and the bullets cutting the air in
closer proximity TO my precious carcass than I
cared about. My old comrades will remember
the little sorrel mare which | rode during that
march. She soon left them far behind and
"iSh az i''aV hdu one courage TO look around,
AFTER race OF nearly mile, | had gained
nearly 800 yards on them, and the sight of our
plckets gave me great relief In fact, my spir-
It's, which were at Zero bounded up to about
100 degrees, so to speak. While l felt very
thankful for my escape, Icould not help won.
dering what had become of my comrades: and
regretting the loss iof SO much good bacon /
Wended my way, solitary and sorrowfrlly, into
camp, arriving there an hour or so after all the
thp CT no nf
just as became separated from him. burly
rebel was close behind, yelling and firing a re-
volver They had all given me up for dead or
captured, and my appearance was hailed with
great joy by my old comrades.-DR. JAMES N.
MoMAsTER, Co. c. 9th Ohio Cav, Demos o.