Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-25
Rebellion War Record.

Rebellion War Record.
Our ratiOns at this time were not
quite sufficient to satisfy the average
Vermont cavalryman, and Sergeant
Mason and myself were sent out on a
foraging expedition. We went out
few miles without great success till
within mile of camp on our return
homeward, when we struck fine
flock of long wooled sheep. We con-
cluded that fat mutton would be we'll
relished at headquarters, and so l
sorted out very fat looking weather
and the sergeant shot him down. 1t
turned out that the animal was nei-
ther weather nor a eve, but we
didn't mind trifes. After skinning
the creature, l hung his pelt up on
the fence and we carried the mutton
into camp. In due time the mutton
appeared on the table, but if there
was ever a more rank and tough piece
of ''lamb," we never saw it.
In few days afterwards we called
on the owner of the sheep, who prov
ed to be minister of the gospel, and
was doing little business in fancy
sheep raising as well as preaching.
He related to us how those thieving
infantry men had stolen his old buck
-one he had paid $40 for some years
ago-and left him only the pelt. He
seemed to consider that something of
a favor. We took tea with the good
man and were very handsomely treat
ed but somehow that old buck seem
ed to be staring us in the face, and
we realized fully how mean a sheep
stealer could feel. Before we got
away, the good man made very fer
vent prayer, invoking blessings upon
friends and enemies and also upon
the wicked infantry men, who had
stolen a part of his flock. We were
not in just the right mood to respond
with hearty amens, but the prayer
and the kind treatment we received,
so effected me that never afterward
stole sheep in the Confederacy. Ser
geant Mason wanted to own up and
ask the old fellows forgiveness, but
we concluded that would not bring
back the sheep, and hence made no
apologies.
For the next few weeks, while the
regiment was at, or near Woodstock,
nothing of great Importance occurred,
and as a portion of this history was
taken up and treated in Maj. Grout's
interesting articles, | will pass on to
later period, mentioning a few mat
ters that might have escaped his at
tention.
It was the last of May or first of
June, 1862, that we first had the
pleasure of listening to the musical
"zip" of rebel bullets. We had been
called up about midnight-this was
about the first of June, 1862-and
were formed in line, waiting orders
until afternoon.
The occasion of this preparation
was the fact that Gen. Jackson had
made a movement around Gen. Banks
army via Luray Valley, and was al
ready reaching the great turnpike and
the main thoroughfare leading to
Harper's Ferry. The news had reach
ed Gen. Banks, and the whole army
was being put in motion for one of
the most remarkable and rapid re-
treats in the war. The cavalry un-
der Gen. Hatch had been on the alert
and had some very arduous and dan
gerous duty before it. While Col.
Tompkins was preparing to advance
and fight his way direct through Mid
Ul6lOWu. Il GudU UI1cIC
was a grade road-a common road
which ran parallel to the pike which
led down from Strasburgh to Win
chester. ] had been on the road
while scouting for forage. | rode up
to Adjt. Pitkin and told him l knew
road by which l believed we could
reach Winchester without striking
the enemies infantry. eff you do"
he says, ''inform the Col. at once"
[ saw Col.Tompkins, informed him of
the road, and volunteered to lead the
advanced guard through this route to
Winchester. We were very soon
in motion, fire having been set to
such supplies, ETC., as we could not
carry away. We struck the by road
shortly, and made good time north
ward. When about four miles out
on the retreat, we came to the resi-
dence of a wealthy man by the name
of Hancock, where a few weeks be-
fore [ had enjoyed quite a picnic in
relieving him Of few hundred bush
els of corn which we thought our
army needed worse than he did. He
was cripple, and could not join the
rebel army, but he was red hot
southerner. When we reached there
the family were all out looking for
the gray coats to advance and cut off
our retreat, and it was mystery to