The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-15
now THEY MET AT PHILIrpr.

on the subject of how man feels when first
getting under fire in action. and while there
was general similarity in the several confes-
sions, the individual stories of experience were
extremely funny.
The comrade of whom write told this: i
was private in Gen. Jim Steedman's regiment
in 1861 in West Virginia, and after we had
cleared cut the wrecked tunnels and rebuilt the
burned bridges along the road from Parkersburg
| to Grafton, we set out one dark and rainy even
| ing to march over the mountain roads to Phil
! ippi, where Gen. Robert s. Garnett, n brother
of that DIR. Garnet (Gen. Lees old Medical Di-
| rector, who died here several years ago, com
manded a camp of about 9, 600 rebel troops.
The main column was composed of the 18th
and 9th Ind. (Cols. Dumont and Milroy), 14th
Ohio (Steedmanl, part of the 18th Ohio, and
six brass 12.pOunders under Col. Barnett, that
was called the lst Ohio l.. A.; and the whole
was commanded by Gen. Morris of Indiana.
| Another column, under Col. b. i. Kelly, OF
! Wheeling afterwards a Brigader- General and
now resident of Washington, included the
LIST Va, but j don't recollect if other troops
were with him-went up the Valley road from
| Grafton.
Just about daylight of June the six guns
(hatteries) went into position on the high bluff
| overlooking the covered bridge below and tho
rebel camp across the Tygart's Valley River,
and down the winding road we dashed, bound
TO shed blood. j was certain that / would be
one Of the first victims in the coming battle,
and would have backed out and run in holy
minute if could have done so without anyone
/ else ever knowing about IL, but | was too
! blamed proud to do it as long as my comrades
! wosld know of il, aud so kept on while held
my breath in mortal terror.
Just as the head of the column rounded The
| turn next the entrance of the bridge, the guns
| on the bluff above opened and almost tainted
! but kept on. About n dozen rebels were at the
I IF Ia, a,
onca after firing a single volley, and the lead
! ing files of the column fired at them through
the bridge. That is about all Of the affair that
can remember, except of seeing some of the
| Johnuies going up the road In full retreat
many OF them in mighty scsnty clothing, and
much 70 my surprise l found tho whole thing
was over and we were all heroes; because we
had routed the enemy in charge aud had
their camp and equipage. But my greatest
surprise was to find that through all this dread
full risk was still in the land of the living.
When thought 10 over a little begun to feel
that ! was devil OF a fellow, and that Gen.
Jim was bona fdo one Of the great military
heroes that had read Of in history, and when
Steedman rode down the line and said impress
sivcly, in that deeptoned voice of his, " God
| bless you my gallant men; you behaved
herocally," blamed if / didn't half believe !
had performed most of the work myself, and
thought was eight feet tall.
There was only one casualty In this terrible
battle; rebel QuaTtermaster took pistol shot
al Col. Kelly for sassy remark in ordering
him TO surrender. But it was n great victory
after all. for all tho papers in the North East as
we'll as West admitted it and Gen, Mcclellan
was at once promoted in the REGULAR Army
although he was not within so miles of us.
=" The Johnnies were not looking for us, for
they had sent Us no formal invitation 10 call,
aud the hour so early that hut few were
majority were still rolled up in sleep aud their
blankets.
when they lit out over the hills so sud
denly, they did not stop 10 pack up any bag
gage. and we fell heirs apparent to a mis-eila-
neous collection Of horse pistols, bowie knives
forged from old files, and home letters, rs well
as most Of the clothing the absentees owned
Z" j didn't think battle was such Il danger
Gus thing after all, mt that time. hut II days
later changed my mind somewhat at Carrick's
Ford, where Gcs. Garrett was killed for that
was about as hot and gallant "A fight for about
% minutes as any saw later in the war.
"Anent the letters captured / remember one
that was found unfinished and sent home To
Dir. Arnold, then editor Of the Toledo blade
tbat now a resident Of Washinglon) who pub
lishcd it. cannot pretend 20 remember tho
exact text OF that letter, but part OF it is i'm
pressed upon my memory. Tho writer had
evidently not received an academic education,
and the part that remember ran about as fol-
lows, ia orthOgraPhy and oihoepy:
80 Deer Chimney: This var solgerin aint wat
its krakt up 10 be, by Eol dern site fer its
harder than lumbcrin or farmin on sido hill.
Ef g0ddiemity lets git outeu this amt
goin 10 solgcr no more. Yis;iddy We he'd
reyu, wieh is part Of solgerin work, and we
WIS strung out in long lines clear across two
ten aker feels Gen. Bob. Garnet dun the the
reyuiu, aud he was banded all over with solid
frrNe A-aa it. n 4
on boss IN my life"
RECEPTION TO oEE. SHERMAN.
Tho handsome residence of Senator John
Sherman on K street in Washington was filed
with guests On Friday evening. who were as
sembled % meet his brother Gen. William r.
Sherman, and bis daughter, Miss Rachel who
are on visit 20 the Capital City. The house
was tastefuily decorated with plants and flowers
Senator and birs. Sherman stood inside the
drawingroom door To receive the visitors
while the General took more central position
and stood under the chandelier in the center
Of the room. Hesecmed 10 be In perfect health
and was in wonderful spirits, and greeted each
new conner with great heartinesz The com
pany included all the prominent Senatorial
families number of families Of Representa-
tives the Supreme Court and Diplomatic circles
being fully represented, while goodly nnm-
Der Of the Generals old army comrades were
present and traded stories with the old hero
ORDERS OF THE BALTIMORE
The orders Of the cruiser Baltimore were
issued April 20 by Acting Secretary Ramsay
She will coal at Norfolk and be in Baltimore
not later than May 10 aud leave there May II
for Haytisn waters, where she will report to
Rear Admiral Ghcrardi, commanding the North
Atlantic Squadron, as his flagship. Tho Board
OF Inspection, Of which Admiral Kimberly is
President, has reported that thc vessel behaved
admirably On her recent sea cruise, making 10
knots under natural draft aud eight knots
with one boiler aud one propeller aud the other
propeller dragging.
HEw APPoIETEEs.
The following nominations were sent by the
President 10 the Senate last week:
Collectors Of Customs-J. Il. J0lley district
Of Ieche, La John Sherry, jr., Sag Harbor,
NY
Surveyor Of Custorns-T. II. saxton, Port
Jefferson, N. Y; !. A. Farris. Wheeling VIVA.
}. w. CAST, Virginia Supervising Inspector Of
steam vessels for the Third district.
A. :. Badger, Appraiser of Merchandise III
New Orleanz
Jacob shaen, Assistant Appraiser of Merchan.
disc. San Francisco.
For the Territory Of Oklahona-George w.
Steele, Of Indiana, Governor; Robert Martin,
Of Oklahoma, Secretary; Edward b. Green, Of
Illinois, Chief Justice Supreme Court; A. j.
Seay, Of Missouri, and j. r. Clark, of Wiscon-
sin, Associate Justices; w. S. Lurty, Of Vir.
gina, United States Marshal; Horace Speed
Of Oklahoma, United States Attorney.
Il. IL. Jones, Of Colorado 10 be United States
Marshal for the District of Colorado