Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-19
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.
Stories of Sharpshooters and Soldiers Told
by a Union Veteran.

Stories Of Sharpshooters and Soldiers Told
bya Union Veteran.
rwRIrTEN FOR THE prsPArcH.1
THE Army Of the Potomac was ANNOYED .
great deal by the enemy's sharpshooters,
who kept so well concealed that it was
almost impossible to catch a glimpse of
| them. A few days after General Grant had
started son to Richmond" these fellows were
doing some very efectual work in killing
or wounding our officers, whom they took
especial delight in shooting. A private
soldier in General Burnside's command
started out one morning on bis own hook in
search OF one OF the sharpshooters. He had
not gone very far until he caught sight of a
very unnatural looking bunch OF something
in the top of a tall pine tree. Being satisfied
that it was the object of his search, he
secreted himself and waited ior results.
Soon he saw a small puff of smoke in the
tree top and heard the report of rifle.
Taking aim at the place with his rifle he
called out to the shooter to come down or he
would shoot. Immediately there was
movement, not caused By the wind, but by
the appearance of a man completely covered
with pine, who, rather than run the risk of
dropping from his high perch with bullet
hole through his body, came down alive.
He was turned over to General Burnside,
who gave the brave captor sum OF money
and 80 days turlough.
~
GENERAL B. F. BUTLER had command
of the Army of the James for while and
so determined was he to secure the coveted
prize, the rebel capital, Richmond, that he
resorted to two very ingenious methods
The first was to cut an island in two and by
means of the channel keep clear of very
formidable tort commanding the James
river for three or tour miles. 1t was known
as the Dutch Gap Canal. He dug and dug,
but as fast he threw the dirt out it rolled
back again. Quicksand caused him to
abandon the project. His next idea was to
smoke the rebels out. He secured all the
old worn out blankets, clothes, boots, shoes
and in fact everything that would burn,
and make smoke and loud smell. After
placing piles OF this stuff in line of battle
the soldiers applied the torch. For a while
the wind was in Buffers iavor and swept
this binding and choking smoke in such
dense clouds upon the enemy that the rebels
were forced to seek more congenial breath
ing spot. Soon, however, the wind changed
and then it came the Union mems time to
suffer. So both attempts OF General Butler
to reach the capital were futile.
~.
AT Charlottesville rebel signal station
was established in the top of large tree
where a commanding view of part of our
army could be had. 1t was about mile
from General Hooker's headquarters where
two batteries were located. This signal
station was soon discovered ana one of our
Parrot guns trained on it and fired. A
better shot could hardly have been made
without hitting the man who was signaling,
as it cut the limbs from the tree but few
feet below where he was standing. In an
instant the signal flag was dropped and the
fellow hurried down the tree like squirrel.
No more signaling was INDUCED in from
that tree.
-"- x*x.
In the midst of this same battle one of |
the Union caissons, which was drawn by SIX |
horses, was left unattended by the drivers. |
The artillery occupied slightly elevated
position and the horses became frightened |
and started down toward the enemy's line
800 or 500 yards in front. They went into
the rebel lines wheeled about and returned
in good shape. Not one OF the horses was
injured in the least. Another marvellous
escape of horse from death or capture was
witnessed at this same battle. A sergeant
Of one OF the batteries had tied his horse to
4 wheel of a caisson. The animal broke
loose, ran down into the rebel lines and re-
turned with only one flesh wound. His
dle-bags, however, were rifled BY the
Johnnies while he tarried inside their lines.
UNION SOLDIER.