The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-09-03
RESCUED BY THE nth IND.
How Sick and Wounded Soldiers we're Removed
from an Ire.hnnnd shin.

from Ire-bOHad Ship.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUSE: Some time in
February. 1855. the steamer Martha Washing
ton had on board about 20 sick and wounded
soldiers, bringing them 90 Baltimore, Nd, and
when some seven or eight miles below the city
the steamer was frozen fast in the ice. The
weather was not cold enough 10 freeze the ice
thick enough to walk upon. In this condition
the steamer remained several days, unable 10
communicate with the land or get provisions
for those on board, and even after their condi-
ton was known il was hazardous 20 attempt 10
60 90 them.
Surg. Hc1ry Palmer Medical Director OF
the Eighth Corps informed the 18th Ind, then
stationed at Baltimore, of the situation, and
the following members OF that regiment vol
untcCrcd TO 20 10 the rescue OF the steamer aud
if possible bring away the disabled soldiers:
Capt. Nicholas X. RuCkle, Co. T.; Serg'ts John
Riukle, Go. A; Do Wit c. Anderson, Go. +;
Thomas Alexander Co. | John Wilson, Co. l.
John Warbrittcn, Go. G. Charles McCutchcon,
60. X; John Wood. Co. / CurpOrals Apollo
lngling, Co. Il; Irwin = Emory, Go. G; John
II. Hill, Co. G. George W. Monroe, Go. II; Pc
ter Bolingcr Go. a Henry Shatler, Go. Il; \.
:. Fielding. Go. +; Thomas i. StaPp, Go. II
Joseph X. Little, Co. H. and Privates Peter
BolanEcr, Go. 4 Francis Simpson, Co. G;
Henry Mingersou, Co. ID; Chas M.Welch, Go. l.;
E.kana llarshbarscr. Co. G.; George Fleming,
Co. X; George ". Hisse, Co G.; SebOrn Cor
nell, Co. ID; john 4. Sterling, Co ID: Christie
phcr Ennis. Go. +; George Mcclure. Go. Jas.
w. Perry. Go. X; and James II. Kinds Go. h.
The unsafe condition Of the ice compelled us
TO take small boats and construct runners uu-
der them of boards and by fastening long
rope 10 each boat and the men taking hold OF
the rope several rods apart, aud one sure footed
man at the boat To steer II clear Of the holes IN
tho ice, we reached the steamer. and by means
of the ships tackle the sick and wounded were
lowered into our boats covered up by blankets
aud pulled 10 the nearest shore, about two miles
away. We brought with us several army am
balances, which took the disabled soldiers 70
the General Hospital in Baltimore.
The day WAS exceedingly cold. especially on
the ice, aud Mrs. Gen. Lew Wallace and sew
eral Of the wives Of officers Of our army, whose
names did not learn, came down to where We
landed our precious loads built fires. made cot
fee aud gave il 10 the disabled soldiers as they
were brought 10 shore, aud strengthened Us by
hot coffee and such other things as they had.
1t was after dark before we brought the last
Of the comrades away, and past midnight be-
fore We reached our quarters. / think IL must
have been several days before we got over the
Stiffness caused by walking on tho ice and the
strain on our nerves. Not an accident occurred
although the ice was open in places and very
thin in Others.
Brighten. Norris. then i'm command OF the
Eighth Corps az Baltimore, being informed Of
the circumstances. issued General Order No
%, complimenting Capt. Ruckle aud the mem
beers Of the llth Ind. who had volunteered 10
perform SO hazardous a task and mentioned
each man by name ! have often wanted "a
hear from some Of those sick and wounded sol.
diers. who showed Us 50 much gratitude at the
time.
II any Of the readers Of THE NATIoSAI
-gfg IL L..
have a list Of those who helped them out Of 2
bad place. aud If they care to know. think
can tell them where most all of them now alive
rCside.-C. VI. WEIGH, Topeka, Kan.