The National tribune., 1891-07-09
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
The 81 VI. Battery at Fort GrsgE.

The 30 VI. Battery at Fort GrsgE.
G. A. Story, Sd VT battery, Victory, Vt, says
that in all the accounts he has read about Fort
Gregg. he has seen nothing regarding the part
taken by any Of the batteries. He knows three
batteries aided materially in the capture OF the
fort, his being one. The battery belonged to
the Reserve Artillery Of the Sixth Corps, and
had four brass guns in Fort Fisher. The writer
had been a member Of the old Vermont Brigade
about two years before, and naturally felt
great deal of interest in them, especially his
own old company and regiment, and he knows
they did their full share ia the capture OF
Petersburg. The 81 VT battery had the honor
Of firing the signals for the charge Of the Sixth
Corps, aud the battery was held IN readiness
for anything that might happen. lt moved
out ut the request OF Col. Niche, Of Gen. Glib
bOn's staG, passed the captured picket.lines,
aud took position within 800 yards Of Battery
Owen, rebel fort in front Of Gregg, dislOdged
the enemy's sharpshOOteTs, and then moved
forward TO q position south Of Fort Gregg
opening an effective fire upon that work. An
hours vigorous firing by the battery siienced
the guns in Gregg, disabling two of them,
which were afterwards captured in the fort,
and killing several Of the gunners-
The 9th Ohio Battery.
A. s. 9th Ohio battery, FolsomvIlle Ind,
says that the 9th Ohio battery had no Mill
Spring guns until the close Of the war, and
Eugene PendletOn never saw a Mill Spring
gun, as the battery had six l2-pOund NapOleons
when lac joined it in 1863 or 1864. They
finally got six I0pound Rodman guns at
Bridgeport, Ala, and used them until the close
Of the war They did not 90 TO the sea with
Sherman. Newell circuit was the only battery
man who died at the hands Of the guerrillas
at Elk River. Jim Foley wagon ter got
well. but is crippled and the other two were
detailed men, Jacobs Teamster. from the 18th
Mich and John W. bought from tho I'D Wis.
John Wilson and Dwight Murray disappeared
shortly after the war; and were never heard Of.
| The writer was down around Huntsville 4 few
years ago aud thinks he came across the leader
Of the guerrilla gang. one Col. Lem Meade. lie
also got acquainted with Frank Gurlcy, who
shot Gen. X. L. McCOOk. He went to HOgiaw
| and all around there, and saw old man Red
man, aud enjoyed himself immensely. lie
wishes Ransom l.. Smith had been along.
+. A. Pendlcton, 9th Ohio battery, Water
| bury, Conn, says there is q mistake IN the
history of his battery recently published. The
| battery did not go 10 the sea with Gen. Sher-
man, however much they may have wished TO-,
/ but were transferred 20 the Fourth Division Of
| the Twentieth Corps. Army Of tho Cumber-
/ land, aud left at Bridgeport, Ala, being in
/ trusted with a very important duty Of guard
/ ing the railroad and pOntoOn bridges az that
/ post.
Comments and Corrections.
A. j. Rising, ID y. Y. III. A., Togus, Me-, says
| the " Cannoneer states that he took pains to
ascertain the exact strength Of the heavy ar
/ tilleTy regiments taken from Washington. The
/ writer was a member Of the 2d ". Y. III. A.,
and knows positively that they had from 1000
| to 200 more men than the i" CanHonCer" has
credited to the regiment t7s3l. If the same
error has been made about other regiments the
careless writers that the - CannOneeT" speaks
Hf f-a aFf faa
I'VE have no means Of knowing what data
| Comiade Rising has which 10 base his decla-
| ration. But If he Will consult Vol. XXXiII,
Series I, Official War Records, lie will find On
| page SIS report signed by Gen. III. w. Hal
leck, dated April II, 1854. in which the strength
OF the 81 ny II. A. is stated officially to be
7S3 men effective present" This was a
special return. made expressly to show the
strength Of the heavy artillery regiments in
the defenses Of Washington available for the
field. Ii was prepared By order OF Gen Grant,
and Is the last return on file prior to the de-
parture Of those regiments for the field. IL the
Cannoneer" was wrong it was Gen. Halleck's
fauIt, and Comrade Rising should have the
official records corrected as TO the strength oil
the al y. Y. II. A.-EDITOE NATIONAL TEIB-
UEE.l
J. J. Lowden, President Of the Association OF
the 9th U. S. Cav. Boston, Mass, says that in
his communication in a recent issue about the
fight at Fairfield, Pa, he is made to say and
we, the Glh u. S. Cav, despise one Of the 9Th
Va. Cav. or anyone else who would attempt 10
rob the 9Th u. s. Cav" This should be rob the
9th Va. Cav. lConfederate.) Capt. W. III. Car
ter Troop T. 9Th U. s Cav, Fort Niobrara, is
writing history of the 9th Cav. from its or
ganization to date, which will be published in
the Journal Of the Military Service Institute
To Lend Helping Hand.
R.R. Howell Co. A, 81 Mich, Salineville
o., has been thinking Of the many thousands
of brave but erTing boys in gray who to-day
from age and wounds are undoubtedly in a
suffering condition. While our Government is
liberal to us that wore the blue, II cannot in
any way aid those who were in the rebellion
He thinks tho boys in blue with their own
/ contributions, and with an appeal 70 the people
Of the whole land, could raise a fund thai
would bring joy into hundreds Of homes where
sorrow and desoatiOn is now known. The
Governors Of the different Southern State;
could appoint suitable Relief Committees to dis
tribute such funds among the needy and dis
abled boys III gray.
Scattering.
WV. shannon, Co K, 18th ILL.,, Ellinwood
Kan, says that man named Morgan, of tht
, 18th Ohio, was Wardmaster Of the field hos
pital, Second Division, Fourteenth Corps, anC
. borrowed 80 cents of the writer. Morgan wa
sent back with the wounded while the write
went to the sea- and he never got his so cents
, lie would like To know how much the deb
would be at compound interest az 10 per cent
/ per annum. A man named Henry Futhy, Co
ID, 18TH H., lost his voice. and could only tall
i'm whisper When the regiment charged a
, Jonesboro Futhy came up to the works in from
! of a cannon, jumped on it, and the rebels fire.
il of while he was sitting astride Of it. Tn
result was that he could talk rs loud and as fas
as anyone else thereafter. lie went home an
married one Of the best girls that Illinois eOul
a boast OF.
: GrOWl.
William Mccain, Co III, 10Th Pa. Reserves
3 NewmausyiI!e Pa, says he fulfilled his part q
: the contract with the Government by partici
Q pating in every battle in which the Army q
Q the Potomac was engaged from Drainesvile Va
> in November, lS6l, to Bethesda Church. Ma
80. 1864. with the exception Of ChanCeilOrsyi!lC
The writer gave three years Of the prime of BIZ
life TO preserve the Government, and when b
was discharged this same Government retaine
800 that Justly belonged to him. After hayin
had the use of this money for 26 years, it re
: auires him to prove that he is the identic,
Z. individual that served in the army, and aftG
: he has done this IL takes the Government owe
y three years, and he does not know how muc
J longer. 10 pay the claim. lie would like Z
know il there are many claims behind tina
;, il takes more than three years TO reach then
o lie would like 10 know why this intolerabl
delay in settling Government claims for il
: ever expects To get tho benefit Of the money
must come shortly.