The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-07-17
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What0ur Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
SCOUTING EXPERIENCE.
Sheridans Chief Of Scouts is Wounded, bat Escapes
Cantnre.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: An article in
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of April 10, entitled
Z" A Scouting Experience" by Mr.. Judson
Knight, recently came to my notice. The fact
that am mentioned in that article as one Of
the party and that that was my last scouting
experience in Virginia, leads me TO address you
on the subject. At that time / was Chief of
Scouts for Gen. Sheridan. On the Sth day of
May, 1864, Sheridan received orders TO cut
loose from the Army of the Potomac, 10 make q
raid in the rear of Gen. Lees army, TO destroy
his railroads, military supplies and commune
cation with Richmond. 1t was thought the
rebel cavalry would follow, thereby freeing us
from raid they were about TO make in the
rear Of our army.
On MAY we moved 10 the left, passed be-
tween and then TO the rear of Gen. Lees
army, the latter, as expected, in hot pursuit.
fighting our rear-guard continually; but We
kept on going just the same. At Beaver Dam
Station, on the Virginia Central Railroad, we
destroyed about 10 miles of tracks several loco
motives, many cars, and also a large amount of
military supplies that had been sent there for
the Confederate army. We recaptured about
400 of our men that had been taken at the
Wilderness and were on their way to Libby
Prison. Our appearance caused great conster-
nation, and Lee doubtless felt some uneasiness
20 know that a large cavalry force was in his
rear.
On the afternoon of the 10th we had reached
Ground Squirrel Bridge on the South Anna
River, where the command halted for a short
rest and 10 feed our horses. At this time Gen.
Sheridan desired TO send dispatch back TO the
Commander of the Army Of the Potomac. Dis
gnsed Is a Confederate officer, selected Patrick
Myers, one of my scouts, to accompany me, he
also IN Confederate uniform, and 10 appear as
my Orderly. We got through all o. X, and
reached our lines on the evening Of the lIth,
without our horses, having abandoned them in
order 10 get through the rebel picket-lines with
less risk Of detection. We were made prison
ers by our men. / informed them who we
were, aud desired TO be taken to army head
quarters. We were sent under guard to Gen.
Grants headquarters. Col. FORSYTH, Sheti-
dams Chief of staff had told me that shonld /
reach Grant first TO give him the dispatch and
other information that would be able TO get
while passing through Lees army. Gen. Grant
was very glad TO see me. gave him the mes
sage and other information ] had obtained on
the trip, and was compimented by the greatest
soldier the world ever knew. He returned the
dispatch TO me and told one of his staff TO go
with me 20 Gen. Meade's headquarters, only a
few hundred yards distant. Gen Meade ex-
pressed himself very much pleased with
sheridans success, and said: Now we will
give those fellows no rest" We were then
placed in Gen. Sharp's charge, who provided US
with dry clothing, etc. We had reached there
IN very hard rain. Sharp at the time WAS
charge Of the secret service of the army. He
told me to call at his tent next morning. /
called. be asked me If / could return 10 Sheri-
dan. ] asked him where he thought would
be likely 10 find Sheridan. He laughed, said
that j ought 10 know best, as i had seen him
last, and they had no knowledge Of him other
than had given. i told Sharp where / had
left Sheridan, but in what direction he would
20 i did not know, because unaware Of his
orders or plans That was why / asked the
question. told Sharp that / could return.
de told me 10 remain where he could put his
hand on me when wanted, as he would probably
have work for me IN few hours. Three or four
days later ] was again sent for. Sharp then
told me il would not be necessary for me TO
make the return trip, as Gen. Sheridan had
reached Gen. Buffers lines; that IL would be
several DAYS before Sheridan would be again
with the Army Of the Potomac; that could IN
the meantime 20 70 the wagon-train and rest,
or that i could remain with Gen Mcadc's
scouts subject 10 his ishaTpis) orders only. /
told him i would remain. and did il is thus
made clear how came % be with Gen Meade's
scouts on the trip that Judson knight speaks Of
Now, 20 return 10 JudsoB Knights narrative.
remember the trip very we'll and also having
talk with Gen. Sharp before starting in ref
ereBce 10 IL. He said that the Second Corps
would move rapidly 20 or p miles south in the
direction Of Richmond hoping by SO. doing
that Lee would leave his iutrcnchments 10 at
tack It; that the rest Of the army would i'm
mediatelg follow and attack Lee before he had
time % intrencb; that we were 10 20 in the
direction 70 be taken BIZ the Second Corps, only
farther TO the left aud south. He also informed
me that Gen. Sheridan was about 10 start or
had started, 70 return 10 the Army of the PO-
tOmac; that be looked for Sheridan 10 return
IN the direction that VIC were to take: that IL
we did not run across Sheridan before the scouts
decided 10 return, be desired that should con-
s2n "a
when the latter was found to inform him Of
the contemplated movements Of Meade's army.
also remember stopping Al the house Of Dan
Del de Jarnett. having wine which was very
good. j am not 80 sure whether we were in.
FIted 10 partake Of tie wine or not knight
Eays the lady called him back aud said - If
you and your men VIII each accept q bottle Of
old port that has been IN the cellar for wears
you are welcome 10 it." j hope knights
memory Is not at fault IN reference 20 the in
vitatiOn- Some miles farther on we discoy.
cred DOW and then few horscmen in adj
vance Of az. They did not wait to be inter-
viewed. They kept q safe distance ahead We
came 10 the conclusion that IL we continued 10
follow them We would be warmly received later
on, and as the scouts had proceeded farther
south than ordered, We changed our course Ia
the right and back ia the direction 10 be taken
BY the Second Corps, and succeeded IN doing so
by way Of the blind ford that X might sDeaks Of
rest oi the scouts remaining under cover, dis
covered b0rscman on the high ground ia the
distance also several other persons, whom we
took 70 be- infantry pickets but who turned out
10 90, - knight says, planter on horseback
watching ms servants al work q a c2ruUeld
We icit sure that they were soldiers until
within a short distance Of them but whether
Confederate or Union we could not guess. We
thought they might be the Second Corps. who
had established their picket-iineg. At all
events sc had 10 know for a certainty. and
found out az knight relates Knight then
speaks Of our interview with DR. Dew and his
vile j don't know whether Knight lied 10
them more than did or not ] think he did
Tor be was good in that line. II should add
however, that he possessed other aud higher
qualities Of the successful scout beside glib.
ness.
After knight had told Mrs. Dew that we
were Yankees, aud had sIgnaled the rest of
the scouts 70 come up. Knight made arrange.
Inenis for food for men and horses. did not
have the check 10 remain after lying 10 such
nice people, and consequently was not In the
ham aud eggs the Doctor speaks Of ia his letter
70 knight Myers and ] proceeded Oh 10 the
railroad station, about half mile farther on.
70 wait there TIL the scouts were through eat
ing and 70 talk about our trip farther south ina
search q Gen. Sheridan. The scouts Joined ms
ln about an hour. Just as they were leaving ia
the direction Of our army. a few JOhnnies came
IN on road leading southwark aud fired uDon
Us. As Myers and myself were going in that
direction 10 search Of Sheridan and as Meade's
scouts Tad accomplished the object Of the trim