The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-24

t3}E1Lf Soant
y10eF ~ .1<7 Feb. z, 1862, the bat
- All - terry WAS sent 20 Cairo
III NJ Ill., and assigned to Gen.
w. - Buford's Division, and
took part la the siege of Island No. 40 aud on
the 18th day Of March lost one man Ruled by q
Fhell from the rebel guns GA the Island. Alter
the surrender OF the Island, April 5, Capt
Keith resigned, and Lieut. b;nh1ss-ussumed
command 81 the battery part Of the prison
ere taken on the Island were put upon the
same boat that conveyed the battery 10 Caro-
aud Lieut.. Barnett was placed lh charge oil
them aud lee turned them over 10 the proper
officers nc Cairo.
Here the battery was assigned TO Gen. Popes
command. and ordered 10 Hamburg Landing
Tenn. Lieut. Barnett received his commission
ss Captain, aud when the advance on Gorinth
was made the battery took paIt in several en-
RRgements amongst which WAS Harrington
aud Blacklaud. aud had two men wounded
After the evacuation of Curuth, the battery
was ordered 10 Rienzi, Miss, and assigned to
Gen. Asb0ths command. While eBeamped
here the men suffered very much from the
heat and many were without shoes, and the
hot sand blistered our feet. AZ one time there
was not well men enough 10 do guard duty.
The writer Of this was very sick with Jaundioe
and barefooted at the same time, ana has ieet
very sore. when an old cOlored woman gave
him pair OF shoes the only pair she had }, and
would accept 40 pay. All she wished was a
promise that II ever he found some poor coll
ored person who needed help give IL 10 him.
The promise was made and fulfilled.
One more incident is called to mind. The
battery was ordered out for inspection with
clean clothes and blackened shoes Ike Jones
(since dead had no shoes, but wished to show
of to the best advantage. SO BACKED has feet 10
she ankles. Tie Inspector came along the line,
halted, looked az his feet, then nc the man, aud
said well done; where did you get your
blaclzing2" From the bottom OF my camp
kettle sir" was Ike's reply.
About Sept. g, 1862, the battery was ordered
90 Corinth from there 10 Cincinnati, arriving
about Sept. 18th. From Cincinnati we went 20
Louisville, Ky, and were assigned 10 Gen
Eheridaus Division, and with Bneii's army
started after Bragg Oct i, l562, and on Oct. 1th
we came UP with Bragg al Chaplin His. The
battery was ordered into position on a hill. but
was afterwards ordered 70 change position
farther 20 the rear. But the next morning nt
daylight Oct. 6th, the battery was moved mp 20
the 'front.' and ordered into position by SheIi-
dan at the loot OF the hill instead OF on top and
then aud there Battery lOpeHed the hHrd-iOuglIt
battle OF Rerryville KY aud was under IRE
from daylight until dark. having changed posi-
ton Eve times during the day. The battery
was ON the hill when the charge was MADE upon
Ill, and sd Ohio. Battery ] fired the first aud
last shot that day, aud 10 Battery belongs the
honor OF saving the center OF BuelFs army
fr0m defeat at peTryville. Had four men
wounded. aud the writer's horse had a hole
shot through bis right ear
The battery went into camp near Crab Orch
ard, and after q few days rest and inspection,
marched with the command 70 Nashville, aud
Oh Dec. 10, '62, was assigned 10 Col. Dan. Nc
Cooks Brigade, aud ordered into campi n Nash
vile f0r garrison duty, Capt. Barnett being
appointed Chief OF Artillery OF the city. While
here the battery was sent out on several recon-
n0iterinR expeditions with the cavalry.
About July 4 CO, the battery ordered TO
MurireesB0TOs remaining about @ month, and
were then ordered back 10 Nashville. On Aug.
30, 49, left camp and marched with the brigade
fOr Chattanooga by way OF Columbia, Tenn
and Athens and Huntsville, Ala.
There being no cavalry with the brigade a
detail was made composed Uf Infantry and
bRtterymen, 90 act as scouts while 0n the march.
III space permitted the writer could relate many
interesting incidents that took place upon this
march, but will only give Ono on E80. Lieut..
ghRa- Mcdonald and the writer while on the
adEaHce-Fuar5, and when within a fourth OF a
mile Of Athens, Ala, the writer's horse became
UnmRnaEcaDle. aud finally taking the bride
bits la has teeth faHAwny with bis rider into the
city followed. by the Lieutenant az a break
neck ga iOp, there being las we afterwards
learncd Hhout l5 rebel eapArymen la town,
their horses hitched around the square. When
they saw the two wild Yankees coming into
town among them, they broke Tor their horses,
and Without stopping 10 unite them cut them
loose. mounted, and got 0utOi town as quickly 81
possible yelling FeVeFy else 10 get oct TOO
as The KAuks were coming. they undoubtedly
thinking that the whole Northern army Was
up0u them.
We captured one prisoner pointed out TO us
by Union woman, who said that his name
was Col. Higginson, c0useript officer, and whC
was there Tor the purpose Of hunting up Onion
men 30 force them into the rebel army. Ht
denied tue charge, however, and we turned hin
over 10 the Provost Marshal, and we never saw
him afterwards.
While near Huntsville, Ala, the writer, with
o. squRo OF scouts, saw two horsemen ride out
Of the brush into the road, in front Of us wher
we immediately gave chase and gained upon
then 30 rapidly that one Of them surrendered
but the other, having better horse, made hi,
escape. Our prisoner was q man about six fee
-four inches. aud after looking ms over for
minute on Two ] shall never forget the look o
contempt upon his c0untenanco) he remarked
Well. lAl DO -- III j haven't been cap
tured ~ a lot Of --- arttllcrymen." Ill,
said that our oavairymen had been after hin
for two years and could not capture him; the.
would deploy and that gave him chance q
get away. ic wanted 10 know II we did no
thiuk that lac Was leading us iHto ambush. W.
Gold BAN no; that when We got after n man W.
generally took him In aud that we had cap
turad quite number since leaving Nashville
lie claimed 20 be " Texan Ranger" aud
commissioned scout lie took of his silver
mounted Mexican spurs ans gave thum 10 I'd
writer for present We turned him over
the prOv0st-gnard. lie WAS afterwards parOlel
nn1 that was the last that we heard Of him.
After arriving at Chattanooga we weF
ordered 10 ROgsYille, Ga. sept IL aud al
signed % Gen Gordon Changers Reserve Corn
We reached ChlckHmRuEA Sept. 20 and M 2 4
y. m. went into action a little s0uthwe OF tt
Cloud House, inimed lately la front Of two rob
batteries, one blE-Fun, the other four con
mAnded BY Fowler and SNctts. and supp0rte
by GOVan6 aud MRltham's rebel brigRdes W
hEed three shots minute from each piet
until dark, with q light intern lssi0n about g
O'Clock aud after firing q parting salute fe
back with Dan McCOOks brigade at
O'Clock D. M. 10 kossvile aud was the last la
tcry 20 leave che field Of ChicknmAucA
On the morning Of the 2lst the battery WI
ordered 10 Tie front line on Mission Ridge; Oh
section remained Ia the gap one on the rigl
OF the road, aud the other on the left. ia
writer Nas with thD left section on the rid
70 The left Of the gap. battalion Of the I6l
II, y, Regulars were 6eut support 10 a
section, bnt when the robe slzirmis line Az
Sanced 10 within 200 yards Of the line d
Regulars broke and leit as to ourselves. "
fired two rounds Of case-shot aud then gE-
them one round Of d0ube-sh0tted cam,
goods" commonly called canister and whs
bhE smoke cleared away SO had Lhp Johu1ie