Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-01-17
A YANKEE TRICK.
The Queer Ammunition with which n
Battery Was Loaded.

The Queer Ammunition with which n
Battery Was Loaded.
Soon after the battle of Stone River,
in January, 1858, the Second Division
of the old Twentieth Army Corps was
encamped about three miles south of
Murfreesboro, Tenn, on the Franklin
pike, and directly south of us about
four miles were stationed the rebel out
posts, at Guys Gap, on chain known
as the Coffee hills. The country lying
between the two armies being rich and
productive, was made to furnish forage
for our animals, and became the scene
of several brisk slSirmishes, as it re-
quired n brigade of infantry, squad
ron of cavalry and n battery of artillery
to hold the rebels in check while our
wagons were being loaded with forage,
by detail of men furnished for that
purpose.
The inclination of our boys to steal
away from their regiments to forage on
their own account for supplies for the
use of their mess, became so annoying
to the officers in command, that numer-
GUS methods were resorted to in order to
prevent it; but with all their watchful-
ness, the boys would succeed in getting
into camp with their haversacks well
filled with eatables.
One of the precautionary measures
used to break up this sort of struggling
and pillage was to have a detail station
ed at our picket line to examine each
soldier as he passed through on his re-
turn to camp, and confscate such artic-
les of plunder as they might find con-
cealed about his person.
On one occasion, on February Z, 1868,
we were compelled to procure our for
age in close proximity to the rebel
lines, and consequently a brisk skir-
mish ensued. The Twenty-ninth In
diana was placed in position to support
the Twentieth Ohio (German) Battery,
under command of Captain Smithnight
and while they afforded all the neces-
sary protection to this noble battery,
they did not forget to gather in a sup
ply of chickens, ham, sweet potatoes,
etc. After several hours our wagons
were loaded with forage, and started on
their return to camp. AS was custom
ary when our troops took up their line
of march to return to camp, the rebs
would follow up and make a dash at
our rear guards. After we had fallen
back about n mile we came to where
the road passed through n hedge fence.
Here our officers in command decided
to play the "Johnnies" Yankee trick,
and accordingly our infantry was de-
ployed on each side of the pike, and
ambushed behind the hedge fence,
while our cavalry was held back to en-
th.. md J,.nrx tIarn i,,tn
trap.
Some distance to the rear was hill,
behind which our battery was stationed,
ready to be brought forward into action
at the proper time.
We had not waited long until we
heard the clatter of hoofs upon the
pike, and orders were given us to be
ready.
Our cavalry came dashing by, closely
pursued by the Johnnies. The boys
were getting excited, and our officers
were laughing in their sleeves, as they
thought of the slick trick they were put
ting up on the Johnnies. But SC ne how
or other the battery boys we Mt
gett lg into actor, the : I"lml.--r ialled
to beat The ro'' and in the near re the
beat a hastv retr, It.
The boy: were disappointed, the Of
ficers swore, and said there was some
thing about it they did not understand.
But it was all made plain to them when
we passed through the picket line. The
battery halted and unloaded their guns
and limbered chests, which were filled
with chickens, hams, sweet potatoes,
etc, and our drummers took off their
drum-heads and unloaded their con-
tents, all of which were distributed
among the boys, and the column moved
on. The officers in command saw who
played the Yankee trick, and they had
nothing more to say; but they ''evened
up on us before we got to camp. The
29th Indiana and the Goth Ohio Battery
marched into camp with their plunder,
led by n brass band playing that humil-
iating air, The Rogue's March. p.
Harton in American rribune