The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-15
Read Better than Pension " on page 7.
COL. w. c. RAULSTON.
An Account OF His Death By the Regimsnta
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
EpIroR NATIoYAL Tr1BrNE: An article

ENaAaNAHaeAff-NftHtahhs
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: An article in
your paper of Dec. brings wildly 10 my
recollection the matter IN which it relates the
capture of Col. VIM. c. Raulston, Of the 9th
y. \. Cav, regiment organized in December,
1853, which was consolidated with the 10th n.
y. Cav. in June, 1865, and mustered out of
service in July following. and which lost
during Its 10 months Of service III men killed
in battle and 4i2 wounded.
In Com-ade Ashley's article he states the fact
OF COL RaulstOn's death, but tells not how it
occurred. or all the survivors Of the cath |
am the one who last saw Col Raulston alive.
aud know what / may say will be Of interest
10 them.
At the battle OF Poplar Grove Church, or
Pebbles Farm, on Sept. 30 1864, our regiment
was serving as infantry in the Ninth Corps, not
being mounted till the last OF October. We
were ordered TO advance in brigade front and
charge some brcastworks over beyond a little
rayine and clearing in the edge Of the woods.
After passing the rayine and through a field Of
corn, and within - yards OF the works, regi-
meni, or several of them, upon the right broke
or failed TO advance, which subjected us 10 a
severe fire in flank, and We received the order
10 lie down. Col. Raulst0n at that time was
with the skirmishers, some distance ahead, and
was standing beside a large persimmon treo
waving his sword and encouraging the men.
We soon received orders TO fall back rapidly,
as we were being fiankcd and we left many
comrades dead upon the ground behind u.s. 1t
was impossible for our loved Colonel TO retreat
as IL was certain DEATH and he was taken pris-
Oner, with most Of the skiTmishers with sew
eral officers Of the regiment among them Lieut..
Michael hcGraw, of my company. Had we
not fallen back as we did we would all have
been killed or captured, as we had no support
aud were subjected to n deadly erOss-fire. Sew
eral men were killed while We were lying upon
the ground.
Aflor falling back a portion OF the regiment
were ordered down a road upon the left upon
which the enemy were advancing but they
came so thickly that il WAS my misfortune to
he taken IN and marched TO Petersburg. Col.
Raulslon and Lieut.. McCiraW were taken 10 Pc
ter,burg, aud tho next morning 1 conversed
with them both across a street in that city,
they standing upon verandah in the second
story OF a building, and ! within the window
OF building opposite, where they had confined
us. Col. RauistOn was removed 20 Danyille
prison-pen, where he plotted, with other OFF,
GERS, 10 escape and in the attempt which was
made in December, he was shot by the guard
in the stomach and shortly after died in prison
as glorious martyr 10 the cause Of liberty as
our country gave. IL was my fortune 20 be
sent from Petersburg 10 Richmond where /
was confined seven days. then being placed on
the cars and told we were 10 be sent % Nlillen,
va. AT Burbesviile junction, west OF Peters
burg, jumped from the train al night time
aud made my escape, working my way back 10
our lines by the most arduous toll, great dan
ger aud suffering, joining my regiment again,
for which action ] received promotion.
] am glad 10 see something in The NATION
Al TRIBUNE from comrades Of the 9th n. Y.
Cav. Gen. Ncwberry, our last Colonel, has Just
been elected 10 Congress from Chicago Dis
trict, and | know that the memories Of the
Il H.. 81 81 4 Il =.
diers' graves, will nerve him TO action in
working for the destitute aud suffering living
comrades; and mono Of Us will ever forget our
brave Col. VIM. &. RauistOn.-S. BULLOCK, VI.
d., Quarter Master Sergeant Go. l., 2ith n. Y.
Cav, Mobile, Ala.