The National tribune., 1889-12-19
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Comments and Corrections.


horses aud leaving the guns to the enemy.
The 9th and Goth Ohio were ordered to cover
the retreat, and were drawn up in line at the
edge of the timber at the foot of the NOM tain,
only a short distance from where the batteries
were located. There they remained until all
the troops had passed. Soon after tho order
was given to take to the woods aud fall back
each man for himself. About 500 of the men
were taken prisoners and it was felt that Gen.
Shields was largely responsible for this as
there has never seemed any reason for his
keeping back 90 miles one-half of his division.
The writer was in hopes that DR.. Capehart
would show cause for this, but he has failed to
do so.
w. A. Holland, Co. b, Pennsylvania Buck
tails, Duncannon. Pa, in reply to II. G. Whta-
ker, Co. NJ, I'd N. Y. Cav, who criticized Gen.
Mcclellan, says that he was with Little
Mack " all through his campaign, and although
opposed to him politically, must on truth
assert that no was second to none as q COM
mandcr, and was without doubt the best organ
izcr that ever commanded the army.
Alexander Simon Co. j, 18th Ohio Vernon
Junction, o., in answer to COmrade Young, says
he was Mt the church at New Market, Tenn, and
heard the sermon as delivered by the then
presiding minister, and would like to ask if the
comrade thinks the services were strictly ortho-
dox.
Peter Birk, 18th Ohio battery, Mankato,
Ezra Church, n man named Scott, 18th Wis,
was killed by shell from a battery. An
officer of the 18th Wis. came to where the
comrades battery was stationed and accused
the Lieutenant in command of having caused
SCOTS death, bringing with him the piece of
shell which he claimed was fired by the 18th
Ohio battery. The officer accused soon proved
that all his shells were of larger caliber than
the piece in question, and while the two Off
GERS were engaged in conversation rebel bat
terry, which was concealed in the woods near
by, fred several shots at the group. and upon
examination it was found that the shells were
similar to tho one which killed Scott. The
writer makes this explanation that he may
prove to tho members of the 18th Wis. that
they have been laboring under a mistake in
thinking that Comrade Scott's death was
caused by shot from the 18th Ohio battery.
Will l.. WEIGH, Boston, Mass, in his article
of Nov. % criticizing Capt. Hunt, was made to
say the 9Th Mass, in mentioning the officers Of
the Ranger, instead of the 9th Mass.
Personal.
Thomas L. Scroggy Both Ohio, Xenia. o.,
was shot through the right lung in On assault
on the Confederate works near Rulf's Mill, on
Nicojack Creek, Ga. July 4. 1864 aud taken to
the hospital at Marietta, Ga, as he was after
ward informed, 10 die. Next to him lay
young Confederate who had been shot in both
feet and taken prisoner. The two in time be-
ft,d v,
big hearted woman, came and nursed them
both, bringing danties which Scroggy at first
refused thinking by reason of prejudice that she
might want to poison him but later he accepted
the good things Suddenly no was removed
10 Nashville. and thence home TO Harveysburg
o., where months passed before lie could leave
his bed. IN the meantime he had lost all trace
OF his Southern friends. aud until recently had
no tidings of them Wishing 10 hear from them
and renew the acquaintance, be wrote letter
of inquiry to one of the Marietta papers,
giving the circumstances. and in a short time
received letter from Mrs. Rebecca Pilgrim
who said she was the woman he sought. and
that her nephew had died few years ago A
cordial invitation was extended TO visit her
while in Marietta, and thus the friendship Of
many years before was happily renewed.
ID. G. Scul, NJ. d., Co G. 18th Ind, Lebanon,
Ind, says that at Winchester, as the 18th Ind
was charging up the hill on Jackson's left, a
soldier Of the thinks) the 10th PA. was being
carried 10 tho rear on stretcher by two com
rades As the writer's regiment passed the
trio they called for water, and Comrade Scull
gave the wounded man his canteen, which was
full He would like to know II the poor fellow
ever recovered aud where he is now.
q. IL. Rawley Sergeant, Co. +, I'd n. Y. Cav,
Crown Point, n. Y, says he is a carpenter by
trade, aud must 90 south this Winter on ac-
count OF his health. He wants some comrade
write him az regards the desirability of locat-
ing in bis section.
VIM. K Miller, Co. X, 18th Ohio, Greenvile
O., says that he started with Sherman on his
march. aud undertook to do that march in a
now pair of boots. The result was that after
the first day he had TO go barefoot and carry
his boots. Somewhere between Resaca aud
Calhoun he met member of Kilpatrick's cav
airy, who offered to trade him IA pair of shoes
for the boots, which he was very willing to do
lie would like to hear from that cavalryman.
A soldiers daughter % years of age, would
like TO correspond with "a soldier of good hab-
its. Address Box Isl, Baxter Springs Kan.
Cortland Bennett, Maysville, Mo-, was a
member of Hatch's independent Battalion,
Mimi Cav, and wants to hear from any of
the comrades of that organization who remem-
Der him.
The Oldest Comrade.
Henry G. Crossman, 46 Courthouse Place
Jersey City, n. j.. says that The Naval Post
No. BIC, Department of New York, claims the
honor OF having among its members one of the
oldest comrades in the GAR. John Davis of
Sailors Snug Harbor, Staten Island, was mus
tered into the Post Sept. %, 1886, being then
81 years old, with 81 years of service in the
u. s. Navy.
q. G. Brohard, Pennington, W. Va, writes
that C0plin Post, No. 56. of his place, has on
It's rolls the oldest comrade vet reported in the
years of age was born in Northumberland
County. England and served under yelling
ton at Waterloo. lie came 20 America in 1926
and enlisted in Co. L, Sd w. Va, at the break
ing out of the war. He has never used glasses
until the last year, and can walk two or three
miles. lle never fails to DO at the polls on
election day.
Lost and Found.
I. J. Beals, Co. ], 1st Tenn. Cav, Friends
vile, Tenn. while at the barbecue at Crawfsh
Springs Ga, in September last, found u gold
headed cane which the owner can have by
proving property.
John NJ. Davis Box 222 Kirksvlle, Mo-, has
photo which was found on the field of Knox
Vile, on the back of which is inscribed, Geo.
w. Page, Co. IL, 9th Ohio"
Information Asked and Given.
F. NJ. Householder, Co. G, 152d Ohio, and Co.
G, 18TH Ohio, Noblesvile, Ind says that in
the last of June or early in July, 1864, dur.
Ing Gen. Hunters retreat from Lynehburg,
Va, the enemy had intrenehed themselves in
mountain pass and could not be dislodged,
aud after repeated trials and the loss of q
number of men, the army was compelled to
take another route. In the rapid retreat he
saw young soldier attempt to climb into a
wagon; in doing so his gun was discharged, in
flictinga severe wound in the log of man who
sat in tho front of the wagon. The writer
wonders IL any of the witnesses of the circum-
stances arc living; and if 80, asks them to
write to him.
John l.. Withrow, Co. G, Seth Ohio, Cd Ohio
Cav, Millersburg, o., would like to know who
burnt the mill at Cumberland Gap In 1868: