The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-07-17
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
ments and Corrections.

Comments and Corrections.
George Wetmore, Lieutenant, Co. /, 22d Ny,
| and Captain, Co. j, 18th NY, Syracuse, NY,
| says the account of the crossing of the First
| Corps below Fredericksburg, by Lieut. Col.
Dawes, 9th Wis, was very good so far rs his
| regiment was concerned, but he does not tell
| the whole story. The Colonel says that at the
| time when the boats were being unloaded
there came the first crack of musketry from
the rebels in the rihe-pit beyond the river,
which was true Of the first volleys his (Dawess)
| brigade received; but the First Brigade of
| Kings Division was under fire long before this
| time, as they reached the river before the fog
| lifted and had placed a number of pOntOons in
| the water whom the rebels came out of their pits
on to the flats opposite and gave them a volley.
This was the first firing, and though the rebs
fired rather too high, number were hit and the
men fell back to the stacked guns in the rear,
and then moved down the river and lay down.
When the fog raised our men commenced firing;
the artillery, which was above them, opened,
and the effect was to lessen tho rebel fire. It
was at this time that the 9th and 7th Wis., and,
the writer thinks, the 18th Ind. and oath Mich.
came up tho river below them, got three or
four pontoons in, filled them with men and went
across, Gen. Wadsworth going with them.
John Harnois, Sergeant Co. G., 18th Kan.
Cav, st. Joseph, Mo, says that his regiment
was on the Price raid. A part of the army,
known as Blunts Division, contained Kan
sas and Wisconsin troops and the Cd Colo.
Cav. and the Cd Colo. battery. While
Blunt was with the army on this raid, so
was Gen. Curtis. and the latter being the
senior officer would naturally be in command
of the force. There were present in the writ
ers company ut Hickman's Mills three com
mssoned officers and 81 enlisted men. They
travelled almost continuously day and night
until they reached the Arkansas River about
20 miles above Fort Smith, and of the 80 who
answered the roll. call at Hickman's only q
were left to say Hero" when the command
arrived at Webber's Falls.
Frank II. Pingree, Co. A, 18th Me-, Novelty,
Wash, says there is so much controversy rs to
the troops that captured Fort Gregg that when
he hears n man tell fact he believes it his
duty TO say so. He agrees with J. d. Baker, Co.
X, Tooth N. w. that Frank Foote 4Sth Miss.
(rebel), made huge mistake in not including
the Third Brigade, First Division, Twenty
fourth Corps among the troops that took the
fort. Comrado Baker is in the main correct.
The Third Brigade was composed of the 18th
Nc, 10th Conn. and Tooth N. Y, and these
were the first troops to make the assault. The
writer lost two terminates, one mortally
wounded and the other instantly killed
John w. Herring Co. f. 45th ILL.,. First Bri
gade. Third Division Seventeenth Corps, Green
top, Mo-, would like to ask anyone Of the bat
terry that went into action Immediately ahead
of the 45th III. at Champion Hills, May 9, 1863
If he remembers their Captain or Lieutenant
telling Col. Maltby " For Gods sake, save our
guns." These guns were the first the writer
heard at Champion Hills, and the volleys of
bis regiment was the first musketry-fr the
time being between and a. m, yet Hoyey's
Division is credited with bringing on the en-
gagement. History does not record that five
companies of the 45th III. were in the woods
between n quarter and half mile in front Of
the line of battle in "A hollow, which was about
the hottest place they were ever in.
Theodore w. Kraft, Lieutenant, Co. A. 125th
N. Y, address not giyen.) says that at the time
OF the battle of Cedar Creek he had Just come
to tho army with several hundred other re-
cruits and was placed on the picket-line of the
Nineteenth Corps. While lying down the night
before the fight he heard a rumblng like the
sound of an army in motion. lie went along
his line and was informed by several of the
posts that they had heard the noise and shouts.
which were growing more and more distinct.
After midnight he met the Officer of the
Guard aud told him what no feared, but he
said he need not be alarmed, as q strong force
was TO move out early in the morning Later
on tho enemy began firing, aud the writer
heard the bullets dying over his head. The
enemy advanced with a yell, aud he heard the
sound of troops falling back. The whole line
became engaged and the pckets retreated back
to the main body. The struggle in front Of the
Nineteenth Corps was hot for time. and dur
ing all this time the firing along the front of
the Sixth Corps was very light.
John g. Clipson, Co. ID, l25th Ill., Clarinda,
Iowa, says the account of the battle of Kene-
saw Mountain by Comrade Moore, SD Ohio,
Is an accurate one. The writer was close to
the comrado in that awful mornings work
All knew the night before what had to be done
the next day, and spent an anxious night, real
lZing that many were TO DO offered OH the altar
OF our country. But no one faltered. The
writer's brigade was formed, and then lay
down waiting for the signal gun TO start the
charging column. The rebel sharpshooters
were busy upon the men all the time. While |
they were lying there, Col. Dan McCook APP
preached Col Harmon and asked him why no
had left his baggage behind. Are you afraid
of the outcome?" Harmon replied, mo;
am not afraid; am prepared; :" but further
said that ho had dream OF disaster the pre-
vi0us night, of which he could not shake off
the effects. The two Colonies were mortally
wounded in the charge that followed.
Harry J. Purneli, Commssary Sergeant. Co |
+, Seth n. Y, Tarrytown, ~ Y, says the state
ment in recent issue that Col. Charles II. Van |
Wyok, late Senator from Nebraska was Colonel |
of the l50th N. Y, was mistake. He knows !
nothing of the l50th ~ Y, but he does know /
that he went out in 1851 with the Seth ~ Y, |
better known in the field ms the Tenth Legion, !
and that c. Ii. Van Wyck was its Colonel. He |
raised the regiment aud commanded il when |
the writer was discharged, in March, 1863.
Nashville.
George w. Kosier, Corporal, Battery b, Ind'p't |
Pa. Ia A, West Unity, o. says that +. c. Julian, |
Battery !, I'd Mo- l.. A., claims that his battery !
was the one referred to by A. w. Clyde, that |
broke from Woods line. Comrade Julian in |
to get for his battery and long |
whiskered Captain honor and fame. had better |
try 10 iii some other way. The battery that |
Clyde referred to was Battery b, lnd'p't Pa. |
L. A. The men of this battery claim nothing /
but what they are entitled to, and that they |
will stand up for until the last bugle-call.
ID. T.. Tucker, Cogswel's Independent Illi- |
nois battery, Ottawa, ILL.,. says John w. Lacock, |
93d Ind is correct iii giving the composition of |
the First Brigade, First Division Sixteenth
Corps. The whole brigade made the charge on .
Shy's Hill. Iowa and Indiana regiments did |
charge directly in front of Cogswell's battery,
the latter throwing shells over their heads to
keep tho Johnnies down The comrades will |
the battery that took the place of |
tho Waterhonse battery, whose members their
time having expired, were little nervous 'at
first. but soon recovered. The writer will never
forget the support given his battery by tho in
fantFy.
All We're In IL.
VIM. II. Cook Co. +, 10th Mimi, Bazaar,
Kan, answering ID. NJ. Price, 18th Mo. Cav, as
to what troops captured four guns during the
first days fight at Nashville, just before sun
down, says they were not dismounted cavalry,
ls he was in the charpe and helnal turu thA |