The National tribune., 1891-04-23
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Comments and Corrections.

Fayetteville n. Y, was glad that his article az
towho spiked the guns at Island No. 10 brought
forth so many replies. The article Of Dec %
last IS probably good history, except the writer
spoke oil the Tennessee shore when il should
have been the Kentucky shore. His own
article was not written from the standpoint OF
q participant but one of the crew Of a vessel
that furnished contingent 20 the spiking
party. If Comrade Park had not been so
modest he might have given longer and more
specific account Of tho affair.
A NOsburg, Co. X, 10th Ill.,, JudsOn Kilpat-
rick Post, New York City, read with pleasure
the story Of the Red River Campaign by Con-
Landram, and believes il true, for the story
was circulated among the troops that tho
/ Thirteenth Corps had been sent to be saugh-
tered by brigades. while the Nineteenth Corps
was IN camp six miles in the rear Gen Smiths
troops were several miles in the rear Of the
Nineteenth Corps. marching as fast as circum-
stances would permit. and trying hard to get
| to the front TO render ASST lance.
Robert Nunnemaker, Goth Mich, Lake Ar
| thur. La, says that Comrade McIeer's account
! OF the regiments coming TO the relief Of the
besieged forces at Decatur Ala. is incorrect, as
1t was the 81 and 29th Mich, and not the 9th
| Mich, as the cOmrade stated. The rest Of the
/ comrades account he thinks is correct as no
remembers it. 1t was the first time that the
writer's regiment smelt powder, and it was
/ strongly impressed on their nO5trils at the
/ time.
J. T. Barber, Co. b, 9TH Iowa Cav. Parsons,
Kan, sees that Comrade Fuller, Of Sulley's
/ brigade, thinks his command has been over
/ looked, and that they whipped more Indians
than double their number Of troops have done
before or since. The writer knows they did
well, but would like TO know who had the fight
at the NiObrara, Neb, the Big Blue the Repub-
llean River, Julesburg and Mud Springs, be-
sides the fight at Horse Creek; who il was
that captured and hung the three Chiefs at
fort Laramie, and what command protected
the North and South Platt River and the
/ Smoky Hill route from 1868 to 1866? If the
writer IS not very much mistaken his regiment
with which he was all the time, had part in
each Of those affairs.
r. Z. Walker, Co. c. Hist Pa, Falls Church.
Va, thinks that every American citizen who
possibly can should 20 to Chicago during the
worlds Fair, and each should contribute his
mite toward making the Fair one Ofthe grandest
exhibitions ever witnessed. The lost cause, or
any emblem Of 10, would be entirely out Of
place at the exhibition, as it is one of
the products OF this century Of which Amer
leans cannot consistently feel proud and there
fore ali efforts to exhibit should be suppressed
lie hopes that it will not be necessary to have
any considerable body Of uniformed citizens
present
Chasing narmadake.
TTueman Proper, Co. F, 37th ILL.,, Walton,
formation regarding the chasing Of Marmaduke, |
and as number of the cavalry boys have re- /
piled and none Of the Infantry thought that |
he would take q hand. In the first place he /
wishes TO thank the cavalry for making the /
mud thin enough for the infantry to swim
through 10, for IL was too deep to wade. There Il
were plenty OF snakes there, big fellows, too,
with long strings Of rattIes. The command
started from St. Louis by boat aud went TO
cape GiTardeau, returning by the same route;
the trip occupying nine days and the distance
marched, waded and swan was 200 miles. If
there IS any other regiment Of infantry that has
record OF keeping up with the cavalry for 200 i
miles he would like to hear from them. The
boys OF the ID Iowa Cav. will bear witness to
the truth OF his statement. The writer's regi-
ment in the fight at Chalk Bluff May 2. 1863,
lost six killed, including the First Lieutenant
OF 90. III, who was killed by piece Of shell
tired from our own artillery.
HaneOek's Veteran Volunteers.
Lewis BIundin, First Sergeant, Co. C, 81 U.
$. Vet. Vols HulmevilIe, Pa, desires to correct
Serg't Walker, Of the 2d u S. Vet Vols, when
he says that two and three years men formed
that command, and that they were enlisted for
one year. The men enlisted for the First |
Army Corps were required to show service in
some previous enlistment Of one year. They
were allowed to enlist for one two or three
years, and received bounty in proportion 10
regiments were ordered to Winchester as fast
as they reached Camp Stoneman. There were
but two regiments sent TO the Valley of Vir-
gnia, the lst and the 2d. Walker also saws
there were 10000, but as there were but nine
regiments, and few of them had their full
number. the writer cannot see where the 10000
came from. The first Colonel Of the 81 Regi-
ment was John Morgan, of Indiana, who was
promoted to Brigadier-G General, and its second
Colonel was Dudley Wickersham, ex- Governor
OF Illinois. This regiment was armed with |
Henry magazine repeating rifles, and was the
only regiment in the corps having them.
Complaints.
g. w. Huddleston, Kellerville H., complains
that the Pension Bureau is entirely too willing
TO hear reports adverse to the soldier, and not
give sufficient consideration to those in his 5
favor.
Soldier" Mount Air, Ind, says that the SOL
diers in Newton County, Ind, are badly used.
There are ii pOstotIices in the COuaty, only '
three OF which are filled by soldiers. The Office
&C Mount Air had been held by two brothers. I
in-law for 10 years. One is a Democrat and /
the other a Republican. When Harrison was
elected two old soldiers applied for the place, /
both competent, but they were kicked aside Q
and the Office ven TO a man who did not caro- 2
enough for his country TO place himself where I
there was any danger Of rebel bullets perforat-
ing his hide, although OF suitable age and able j
SVbaINs uS way tlIb Llllll - Iul QUE LnCEG ~ [
appears that old soldiers are Of no consequence. a
Few requests. :
John Conor, Banksville, Neb, would like 10
eco an account of tho charge at South River q
Bridge. 5. G., by squad of bummers of the
First Division, Seventeenth Corps, which, he
believes, was led by Sergeant of the 10th III.
named Miller. The writer once heard Gen n
describe the charge in part but has Il
forgotten the details Of the affair a
q. w. Conner, Flat Rock, Ind, would like /
some cOmrade 20 give him description Of San g
Diego CAL telling what kind of q place it is T.
10 live its climate, business prospects, and any
Thing that would be interesting 10 person /
who desired to settle there. a
Not the Place for Him. =
Henry VI. Fuller Co @, Goth Ohio Box SD, T
Cadillac, Mich, says that the Michigan Sol n
liers' Home is a splendid place for old vets q
who have no families, although it is no home 4
or him. lie can live twice as we'll there as he -
AN upon the little pension he receives and the "
little he can earn besides. He has been in ..
Ormcd that the Government pays SO a year N
or every soldier supported Mt the Home who 81
lid not enlist in the State of Michigan. That "
:. they pay the Home 1925 n month for the >,
writer's support while he is in the Home, and =
ne drew his s. a month pension while there
lie does not see why he cannot be allowed to
raw the S625 along with the g which he al S,
eady draws, and be permitted to say ut home W
With his family, for he does not think that s.
would be too much compensation for what he I'll