The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-07-31
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Information Asked and Given.

a. =. Nanard, Conklin, N. d., oilers TO give
information to comrades who are seeking cheap
and good homes, if they will inclose stamps.
He will undoubtedly have a host of communi
cations sent him and may not be able to au-
swer them all, but will do the best he can
g. Q. Bacon, Harveys Hollow, Vt, writes
that the address of Comrade d. Il. Sanborn is
not Harveys Hollow, as was given in q recent
issue, and he would like to know where he
really is.
G. d. Ewing 4th KY Cav, C. s. A., Pattons-
burg, Mo-, says that late in the Fall of 1863 his
command. consisting of the brigades of Gen.
w. h. Jones and Col. III. Giltner, captured near
Rogersville, Tenn, about /, 100 prisoners and
four pieces of artillery from an Ohio regiment
and the 9TH Tenn. Gen. Jones started back with
his prisoners and booty, making hard and
steady march to avert recapture. The next day
as tho writer was riding as one of the guards he
was addressed by thin, pale lOoking youth of
tho Ohio regiment who declared that he had
better shoot him, as he could 20 no farther, and
would rather die than endure the torture. The
writer took pity on him and let him ride on
lis horse. Ho became quite we'll acquainted
with the boy during the march, but has forgot
ten his name and the place where he lived. He
would be very glad to know his whereabouts.
X. E. Arthur, Sd Mich, MatchwOod, Mich,
desires to communicate with a number of veto
rams with view of forming n colony to locate
homesteads in some part Of tho South. He
has collected information in regard to several
desirable localities, and he thinks it is good
time now for comrades who have no homes to
secure them.
Comments and Corrections.
Col. John Scott who commanded the 32d
Iowa, denies that the 32d Iowa surrendered Mt
Pleasant Hill, which statement /. A. Packard,
OF Go. A, seemed to make. The Colonel says
that after having been repeatedly assaulted in
front aud on the TANKS. it was left in the posi-.
ton 1t was ordered TO hold at all hazards and
1T marched into the lines Of our reserves follow
ing the regimental colors. This, so far as the
Colonel knows, is tho only instance in the
whole war in which regiment held its ground
under such circumstances. It's supports on the
right and left were driven Off and followed by
the enemy, who passed its TANKS in large num-
bers and it was isolated nearly mile in adj
vance of the point at which the enemy was
turned and driven by the reserves, and yet it
escaped capture. Tho loss of the ed Iowa
alone In this battle was greater than that of all
the rest of the army outside of the brigade of
which 1t was part In the published reports
OF the campaign the 32d Iowa was not mem
toned, Lieut.-Col Mix, of tho regiment, was
mentioned as being from New York, and
In tho report of the Joint Committee of the
Houses of Congress on tho Conduct of the War,
made in 1865, $50 pages are given to the Red
River expedition, but in that investigation no
Iowa man was called TO testify. The 32d Iowa
did moro than its part at Pleasant Hill that
day and it Is n shame that it should DO now
accused of running.
Daniel |. Newman, Co. K, 1920 Pa, Scranton,
Pa, thinks tho letters of Tracy Tremmel" are
of interest to all old soldiers, for they bring to
mind the different kinds of material of which
all companies were composed, especially during
the first days Of service
Charles ii. Barnes, Sturges Rifles, later Co.
ii, 10th Ill. Cav, Batavia, ILL.,, thinks it Is a
part OF human nature to brag about achieve
ments. He and his relatives who participated
in the late war wero simply good soldiers; but
he does brng that ho is native of tho State
that furnished Lincoln, Grant, aud Logan to
the country in its hour of need. His company
was one of the first sworn into the three years
service May 6, 1861.
BraVelY They Charged and Well.
Rufus IL. Trumbull, Co. /, l4th Ohio, Holland,
o., gives copy of q circular issued by Gen.
Baird TO the men of the Third Division, Four
teenth Corps, dated September, 1864, at Jones'
b0ro, in which he praises the / 100 men Of the
74th Ind, 10th KY, l4th and 18th Ohio. who
assaulted and carried at the point of the bayo-
net works extremely difficult of approach and
defended by the best fighting men of the rebel
army, under murdcrous fire of canister and
musketry, aud in so doing gave tho finishing
stroke TO the Atlanta campaign.
William l.. Hatfield, Co. II, 18th N Y, 36I
Swan ST., Buffalo, n Y, insists that the Regular
Brigade was the Third Brigade Of the Second
Division, commanded by Gen. J. G. Morgan,
and he knows it was repulsed that day. When
tho 18th n. Y. was ordered forward they were
lying in a swale in front of the famous angle.
As they advanced they were obliged TO break
ranks and crawl through the alders and cat
briers that grew thickly along the stream.
Hatfield was right general guide of the regi-
ment and one of the first to gain the open field,
with Dick Ruth, drummer boy who carried
the right guidon. The regiment took position
about so feet in front of the swae, all this time
being under fire. As they passed up the hill
the writer saw several of the Regulars lying
behind stumps When the edge of the woods
was reached Col. w. O. Grower Of the 18th. fell,
mortally wounded, which caused moments
confusion, but Capt. Marshall (the writer
thinks) took command, and on they went over
the works just to the left of the angle, where
they found tho rebs ready to surrender. The
regiment lost heavily, and the next morning
they were drawn up in line and complimented.
Crossing In PontOon Boats.
Charles Graham, Co. !, s9th N. Y, Toledo.
Iowa. In regard to tho crossing at Fredericks-
burg Dec. IL, 1862 says that the S9th N Y
took position the night before on narrow
tableand but very short distance from the
water, below Fredericksburg. The ground was
covered with snow. There they Stald all night,
the artillery being on higher ground back. In
the morning volunteers were called for TO cross
in boats, aud though the whole regiment volun-
tcered all could not go at once so the left of the
regiment was chosen and went over first in the
boats. On tho other side some rebel sharp-
shooters were captured and these were taken
back, when the boats returned for the rest of
the regiment. After this the boats were used
to complete the bridge. The s9th N. Y. had
been supporting the Engineers ut the lower end
of the city, but did not belong to Franklin's
Corps He simply claims that the seth was the
first TO cross ia boats below tho town. In spite
of Comrade Church's assertion, there was a nom
toon bridge built ut the lower as woll us at the
upper end.
+. "A. SCHOOL,, $50 Fifth avenue, Leavenworth,
Kan, says that he, with Co. Il, Goth Mass,
crossed the river in pontoon boats Dec. IL, in
the afternoon, and an hour later he was wound
cd in the streets Of Fredericksburg.
Personal.
George B. Gilbert, 18th Ohio, Martins Ferry.
o. was taken prisoner soon after Stone River,
and sojourned in Dixie for about three months.
lie had taste of Castle Thunder, Libby and
other palaces but notwithstanding hailed with
delight the order for exchange, and marched
down to the James River with about 800 other
poor wretches. He rejoined his regiment in
time for the Atlanta campaign, and was with
the boys at Resaca, Buzzards Roost, Dalton,
New Hope Church. and Big Shanty, where no
was wounded. lie would like TO hear from
some of those who remember him at the hos
pital at Nashville, Tenn.
John Irwin, Perryville, o., says that Gen.
- 10 x.fffh