The National tribune., 1890-07-10
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Comments and Corrections.

commanding West Virginia Brigade, Turner's
Division, Twenty fourth Corps at Appomattox,
that his statement is correct about Capt. Kirk
patrick commanding the sharpshooters, but
thinks that no entire company was engaged in
the taking of the Confederate battery. Some
time previous to the opening of the Spring cam
paign of 1865 a special detail from the 10th,
llth and 18th w. Va, was made for the purpose
of forming battalion of sharpshOoters. At
least four men from Co X, of tho 10TH were
detailed for this duty-Asa and Sam Jenkins,
Henry M. Stanley and another. These men if
living are now probably residents of Richie
Co., w. Va. lie presumes that the whole com
mand was made up of details from other Tegi-
ments.
Will L. WEIGH, Odd Mass, Boston, Mass, says:
In tho issue of juno 26. find on the edi-
torial page this account of 18th Mass: AT the
battle of Kinston it made gallant charge
across a swamp, under severe crossfire and
drove the rebels from their position Now
that is just what they didn't do. They were
in line with two regiments from the Peninsula
that had lately como into the department, and
they could not go ahead Gen. Foster got tired
OF waiting and sent back for one of his old reg
iments, and Gen. Stevenson sent up the 10th
Conn, because it was the handiest, his own old
regiment, the oath Mass, being in the rear of
the column and unable to get to the front as
soon as desired. The 10th Conn. went ahead,
charged through aud over the 45th Mass, and
drove the rebels. Some of the 45th claim
that tho 10th Conn. did not charge over the
whole line of the 45th only over one wing,
which is undoubtedly true because tho 10th
Conn. did not have half as many men in line
rs the 10Th, and of course couldn't cover the
whole of that regiment; but so far as they ex-
tended, they charged through and over the
men in front, losing some 80 men in very few
minutes. The 10th Conn. did all that has been
claimed for them lately in The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE. They had chance, and they inn
proved it. Any one of Gen. Fosters old regi-
ments would have done as well probably in
their place. Nine months men couldn't do so
well as men that had been under Foster nearly
year longer than they, for experience will
count"
j. A. Smith, Co. A, 10th U. s., Toronto, Kan,
says his regiment was on skirmish at Jonesboro
and in the advance line. When they reached
the railroad near a large frame house they were
formed into a line of battle, charged through
the woods, up through an open field, drove the
rebs out Of their main line of rifle pits and
were then ordered to lie down, being out of
ammunition. They were soon relieved by an
Ohio regiment and fell back to the foot of the
hill. During this charge the 18th U. S. fell
back and the 18th N. Y. took theirsplace, and
as they started on the charge their Colonel was
shot. AS Capt. Smith, of the 18th U. S., could
not rally his men, he took command Of the 18th
N. Y. and led them through tho charge with
heavy loss
Adam J. Cratsenberry, Co. I, 35th N. Y, and
Co. NJ, nth n. Y. IL. A., Cape Vincent, n. Y,
corroborates the statement of Horace S. Hunt,
and of the late J. G. Otis, that the 35th ". Y.
was in the cornfeld at Antietam. He dis
tiuctly remembers the capture of the rebel
flag at that time and place also of finding
rebel sword.
Il. II. Martin, Co. ], doth Ind, Delphos, o.,
answering Comrade K. S. Parr, Co. ], 18th Ind,
says that he did not receive the letter from
Gen. Benton in regard to Fort Gibson. The
letter was written by the General to friends at
home n few days after the battle. and was pub
in tho indianapolis Journal and in tho Gin
cnnati Commercial of May % 1863.
Sewall Pettingill, Co. +, 18th Me-, Wayne,
Me-, says he was at Fort Gregg with tho Third
Brigade First Division, Twenty fourth Corps,
when it engaged In the assault on April 9.
Lieut.. Thomas Payne, 18th Me, commanding
tho brigade skirmishers, led the charge 1t
was not Joe Hill who commanded the l1th Ne.
at that time but Jonathan A. HILL
George J. Grotton, Captain, Co. !, 1st Ind'p't
Va. Cav, q. 5. A., Belfast, Me-, takes The Ma
TIoHAL TRIBUNE, and is glad that tho Union
soldiers have such "A true friend The papers
say that all OK Confederate soldiers are against
the giving of pensions TO their former foes.
lie for ono thinks that each and every Union
soldier ought TO have pension. He himself
their claims and shall continue TO aid the men
who fought for their country, so long as no is
able. He married Maine woman who is true
TO the Union, her husband and her children.
lie was young man when he fought against
the Government, but now recognizes his mis-
take.
Nashville.
II. w. Phelps, Lieutenant, Co. II, o5th Ohio,
Westervile o., in regard To the charge on Shy's
Hill, says that the First Brigade First Division,
of the left wing OF tho Sixteenth Corps, known
as the =" Detachment Army of the Tennessee"
made the charge ut about $3.50 p. M, on Dec.
is, formed in two lines containing the I'D and
05th Ohio, ODD Ind 1lith Ill. and 10th Mimi
II was impossible TO keep in two lines and
before the rebel works were reached the two
had merged into one The brigade was COM
manded by Col. VIM. l.. Mcmillan, 95th Ohio
the division by Gen. John Macarthur of ILL
nois the corps by Gen. A. j. Smith. The losses
were great, for the rebels fought desperately,
throwing shovels, picks and axes at our men as
they approached the works Tho battery
which COmrade L. Wetherell speaks of was
borrowed by Gen. Mcmillan from Gen. Couch,
Of the First Division, Twenty third Corps.
This battery assisted the artillery of the
writer's corps to silence the rebel batteries
placed 10 the right of tho hill and opposite our
loft. 1t was the 18th Ind. battery, commanded
by Capt. Fred w. Fout, Of st. Louis.
Why Don't They Writer
jesse Bird, Co. A, 10Th KY, aud Co. b, 9TH
KY, wants to sec something from the members
of the Fourth Division, Thirteenth Corps con-
corning Sabine Crossroads. He is the only man
living in his County who was there.
w. III. Dix, May Day, Kan, would like to
read something from Co. X, 6th Iowa Cav, and
also to hear from them by letter.
Archie Atkinson, 907 Twentieth Ave. North,
Minneapolis, Mimi, watches these columns for
"A word from Co. |, 10th Wis, aud wonders
where the boys are.
q. w. Miller. Co. ], 3lst Ohio, Burns, Mo-,
calls on his regiment 60 come TO the front and
tell what they know about Chickamauga
Miles w. Buck, Co. Q, 3lst u. s., Tyrone Pa.
is anxious to see something from his old rogi-
ment particularly those who were at Fort Blu
ford, OAK, in the Winter of 1866, '67 He
hopes Capt. and Mrs. w. S. Rankin will write
TO him.
GrowIs.
Complaints have been received from Wells.
vile, Mo-, Indian Springs, Mo-, and Orange
flights, Fla, that civilians were employed as
census enumerat0rs in preference to old SOL
diers who had applied for tho positions, In
each case tho comrades were we'll known, of
| good reputation, and acknowledged ability
W. Y. M. Wilkerson, Chaplain, Lawrence
| Post Lake City, Ark, says that u little while
| ago the position of Postmaster at Jonesboro in
| his County, was made vacant by the death of
| the occupant and he applied for tho position
He was backed by a petition of more than $50
names, by every Postmaster in the County,
of his Representative and Senator as To his
4 In NIT nnfh Al,