The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-12
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Infarmatlon A,ked nna 49,.

/ lived near GTIS5mS Ferry, in EOckCastlo
County, KY, within a mile OF where the
| battle Of Wild Cat was fought, Joined the
Union forces and fought in that action.
For this reason he had TO leave his home,
I farm and slaves, taking nothing but q wagon
load of goods, with his family, and rem0g-
ing to indianapolis, Ind. Sometime in 1862
her father enlisted in the army and was sent
to the front, but returned sometime in the lat
ter part Of 1862, either on leave or discharged.
After remaining home about year his wife
died, and his children were placed in tho Or
/ phans Home at Indianapolis aud he returned
\ to the army, since which time nothing has been
heard of him. The writer believes her father
dead and thinks he enlisted under an assumed
name TO hide his identity from the rebels who
were his neighbOrs. IL anyone can furnish her
information it will be thankfully received.
w. C. Jacob, Sth Iowa, Knoxville Iowa.
/ would like TO obtain the addresses Of some of
the Orderlies who remember him while on
/ duty at Gen. Mowers headquarters The
writer was detailed at the headquarters. and
accompanied Maj. OCOnnor, Mowers picket
l officer, oil the boat near Fort DeItussy. Some
of the Sth Wis. will perhaps remember when
they marched out and tried to come in on the
rear of some rebels. Mai. OCOnuor did not
/ seem willing to wait for the infantry TO come
/ mp, and he and the writer ran into the rebels.
/ The Major was shot through the arm and fell
\ from his horse, while ball struck the writer's
{
Harrison Stewart Co. X, 37th Ind, Chill
howee, Mo, while going 10 the rear at Stone
/ River, having been shot through the shoulder,
/ saw short distance from him two comrades,
one helping the other off the field. He also
saw spent she'll coming in the direction Of he
comrades mentioned, and he called to them to
/ look out" They stepped TO the right Just in
time to let the ball drop in front Of them If
either Of the comrades are alive he would like
/ to hear from him, as he believes he saved
their lives.
Hugh Young, Co. F, sth Mass, three months
aud nine months, u. S. S. Ethan Allen and
/ Guard, and Co. Il, 18th Mass, Sailors Home
4 Quincy, Mass, wishes to inform COmrade John
\ COgan that the papers and documents Of the
/ Sanitary Commission are stored in the Aston
/ Library Building, New York. In them is con-
i Meeting evidence in thousands of comrades
/ claims for pensions, but il is next 10 impossible
to obtain access to them. He thinks that the
| Government should get possession of those
/ papers and assist old soldiers in obtaining this
evidence for their pension claims, as it was
never intended by that grand organization
/ which rendered such good service TO our troops
during the war, that p years after they would
be denied the benefit OF the records.
In Front Of Petersburg.
! John Banks, Sergeant, Co G., s7th Pa, Third
/ Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps, having
seen something regarding the Sixth Corps not
/ being in action April 2, 1865, at Petersburg
says that on the night Of April l his division
/ broke tent and marched under the FIRE Of the
/ fort and lay down until dawn, when they
charged the rebel works and drove them back,
/ the writer being the first man in his regiment
/ on the rebel works that morning. A member
Of Co. helped him to get on the top, where
/ he lay down on the parapet, giving the man
/ his hand and helping him up in turn. The Co.
/ b man was struck and fell back into the ditch.
I 4 -. I'll "a l. -
/ hag followed by the regiment, and then the
4 fighting grew hotter STILL
/ Il. II. Percy. Co. G, 18th VT, Jay, VT, having
/ read the article OF Lieut James Campbell, 9th
Mich, says the comrade is away Cf The YER
| mont Brigade belonged to the Sixth Corps and
were in that fight sure. They fell in line and
marched to the left Of Fort Fisher, where they
| lay until dawn, when they charged. The writer
saw Capt. Gould inside of the rebel works and
saw him do some good hand-to-hand fighting,
/ as he was bayoneted in the side Of the face and
| in the thigh. The writer parted with the end
OF the middle finger Of his right hand during
i this action.
! ID. b. Friedline, 6lst Pa, Evansville. Pa,
/ says that the Vermont Brigade is entitled to
all the honors and glories it claims, for there
\ was none better to do the work in a business
| like way, especially in the charge in front Of
| Petersburg April 2, 1865 The Sixth Corps
broke camp about ~ o'clock at night, and
marched between the lines until opposite Fort
\ Fisher and the Big Lookout where a line Of
battle was formed in front Of the rebel picket
line. They lay down until about o'clock,
/ when the order was given to charge. The
| morning being dark the troops became con-
\ fused considerably and every man had his own
/ way Of getting 10 the breastw0rks. After they
! had driven the rebels from their works and it
became light enough to see, the writer found
he was among the Vermont boys, and that they
were jolly set Of fellows in a charge.
X. NJ. Thompson, Co. ID, 61st Pa, Third Bril-
| gade, Second Division, Sixth Corps, HoughstOn-
Il vile, Pa, having seen the controversy re-
/ garding the Sixth Corps in action at Peters
/ burg, April 2, 1865, says that il was there and
that he was with it. He was a Sergeant and
on the picket-line, and would have been re-
/ lieved that morning, but that an attack was
| made and the picket-line advanced as Skin
mishers. They had il pretty hot as they were
/ considerably in advance Of their supports. The
| writer was wounded there and went no farther.
| l.. S. Stephenson. Co. G.. 1st Mass. II. A.,
| Brockton, Mass, says that although his regiment
/ was not in the Second Corps he remembers that
the Sixth Corps had the post OF honor in the as
sault on the works at Petersburg, April 2, 1865,
| aud was active and effective in It's movements
| Headley's History says of Gen. Wright. COM
| mander of the Sixth Corps: He showed him
| self IN all the subsequent marches and battles a
worthy successor Of a most gallant commander
/
dicipline and bravery. In the last terrible
battle in front Of the Petersburg works he
handled his troops with skill and power that
enlisted the warmest appreciation. The
| right stOrmed Fort Malone and captured it.
The impetuous Hill restorms the fort and sue
| ceeds; our brave troops are about TO yield,
when the Sixth Corps ON its grand wheel is
seen approaching on the flank loud shout
goes up, Hill falls, the rebels flee, and the fort
| is ours"
The Wilderness Campaign.
Charles Smith, Co. ID, 30 Ind. Cav, lie Loup,
Kan, says that if he did not open the battle he
has been laborng under wrong impression
ever since May .. Gen. Wilson's Division of
Cavalry crossed the river at Elys Ford and
marched to the Wilderness Tavern, where the
command halted. Gems Wilson and Chapman
| got out their maps and Gen. Chapman called
one of his Aids aud ordered him to take au
Orderly, go out the road and locate the rebel
line. The writer was an Orderly for Gen.
Chapman at the time and followed the Aid for
about mile when they came upon the vdets
of the enemy. The writer asked the Aid to
allow him TO use his gun upon one of the
videts, and he dismOunted, placed his carbine
across his saddle and fired, which stirred them
up TO such an extent that he wished the shot
| was back in the gun. The Aid remarked " You