The National tribune., 1891-07-23
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
In q Bad scrape.


mile away. About half way between the train
and the regiments camp was al old well, which
had caved in and was at least 10 feet across In
returning to the train, about 10 o'clock at night,
they heard somebody hallOoing. and 1t immc-
diately occurred TO them that some person had
fallen into the well, which proved to be the
case. An officer had been riding along the
road. and seeing the campfres of his regiment,
had started toward them and ridden into the
well. The horse had made n tremendous effort
to leap the ehaSm, but had failed and fallen
sOmC Is feet upon some rails that had been
placed in the well. The officer had to cut its
throat to keep the animal. in its struggles from
killing him. The writer and his comrade pro-
cured pole. to which the officer fastened the
horses bride. which he removed for the pur-
pose. and dragged the officer 10 the surface.
lie had bought the horse for big price but
few days before. If the officer is living he
would be pleased to hear from him.
Gainrs's Mills.
Geo. 6. Daughenbaugh, Co. b. LIST battalion,
18th u. S. says that ComTade Cunning, Co. ID,
9Th Me-. Second Brigade, First Division, Sixth
Corps, Is away off in his account Of the part
they took at Gaines's SIiIlsin 1862. The writer
says that battle was fought by Porter's Corps,
supported by French and Meagher Of Richard
sons Division. but the latter were not engaged
At later period two brigades of Peck's Divis-
ion were ordered up, but did not cross the
river When he says that the nth u. 5. broke
he is of again. The writer at that time be-
longed to Co. G, 2d battalion, 14th U. g., which
was the only company of that battalion which
was with the lst battalion in that campaign.
Franklins Division was not ordered to the left
Of the river to Porter The writer's regiment
fought in the Peach Orchard until they used
80 rounds of cartridges, when they drew out.
The 10Th y. Y in this battle were next to the
timber, right behind rail fence. The writer's
company was the last TO cross the bridge on the
morning Of the 25th, when it was set on fire
aud u large pine tree felled across the road.
The 9th u. :. Cav. at Fairfield.
John J. Thorp, Co. Ii, 9Th U. S. Cav. Holly,
Mich, having seen an article asking Congress
to appropriate $4,000 for monument to the
9th Cav on the battlefield Of Fairfield. Pa.
says it is the first time he has seen or heard
from one Of that regiment since 1864, when he
was discharged. lie wrote to COmrads LOWden,
and received his photograph, the address Of the
Colonel and several members OF the regiment.
Congress should do something for a regiment
that lost as many men in defense of their flag.
as only Is out Of 400 answered the rolI-eall
after the battle Of Fairfield. IL ia frequently
said that tho Regulars never did anything;
were always at Headquarters and never at tho
front, but they could serve on a Generals staff
one day. be at the front or on picket the next,
being drilled 20 perform any duty except steal
ing officers whisky. The Regulars did their
share Of the hard fighting. Should any men,
bers Of the old 9th u. S. Cav. see this ne would
be glad to hear from them. He hopes to meet
many Of them at the National Eneampment at
Detroit.
Cool Family Record.
W. W. Church. Co. K, seth Ill, Creston, H.,
thinks that from first to last his family has
contributed its share to the country's cause.
His grandfather, benjamin Hoyt, was seven
years in the Revolution; and his brother viii
liam was killed at the battle Of Hubbardtcu, W.,
fighting Burgoyne. His grandfather's oldest
son, Nicholas was in the war Of 1912, and
wounded five times; also. in the Seminole
war, and afterward he went TO Texas and be-
came n Ranger. In 1916 he went TO Mexico,
and was never heard from afteTward. The
writer's grandfather Church and six sons were
in the battle Of Plattsburg, Sept. IL, 1914; his
oldest son EbeneZer commanding the company.
He went West at an early day, and was engaged
in fighting Indians for years in the war with old
Black Hawk. TheOther sons in the war Of 1912
were Amos, Enoch, Jacob Ira, and Joseph. Ira's
oldest boy, Alvin b. Church, was in the ODD III.
during the late war, and killed at AlatOOna,
Ga. The writer's brother, Henry H., was
Sergeant in Gen. Berdan's 81 SharpshoOters,
and was wounded at ChanCellOTsVille The
writer's eldest son, Edward A., went into the
9TH Ill. when but - years old, Te-enlisted rs a
veteran, served four years, and was only 10
when discharged. The writer's other uncles
had a number Of sons in the Union army during
the war.
Ohio Boys Mt Fort Gregg.
Il. T.. McLain, Co. G., Il6.h Ohio, North Yer
non. Ind, says that some Of the comrades who
claim 10 be writing history are truly amusing
and i'm some cases almost exasperating. He re-
fers particularly to the account Of the taking Of
Fort Gregg April ?, l-65, near Petersburg. He
writes to inform erring comrades that there
were nine companies Of the ll6th Ohio in that
little brush. They were in Gen. Turner's Di-
vision, Col. POtteTs Brigade, and lost Is killed
and 80 wounded in about 90 minutes after
reaching the ditch. The writer does not pre-
tend TO say what other troops took part, but
thinks Gen. Fosters and Glen. Turner's reports
probably give the truth Of it. The writer
knows that Joseph Van Mater, Of his company,
| received medal Of honor and a 30 days fur
Tough for special bravery at Fort Gregg.
Write Before II Is Too Late.
II. B. Carothers, Sergeant, Co. !, 2d Mo. s. NJ.
| Cav, Spring Water, Ore, would like 10 hear
| from some OF the comrades Of his regiment,
/ especially in regard to their scouts from south
eastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas.
| He would like to have some member of the
| regiment give an account Of their raid on Gum
/ Slough while they were after JEFF Thompson
and old Col. Kitchen; also Of the battle of
/ Chalk Bluh aud Cape GiraTdeau, and the fun
/ they used to have around Charleston, Bloom
| field, aud New Madrid in 1863, Oh Every man
ought to bring a rail TO the campfire and be
socable, for it will not be long before taps will
como to the last of US.
One OF the Finest.
J. r. Bagley, Co. T., 18th H., Roberts, H.,
| never sees anything from his old regiment, and
/ wonders why this is so; for, although they did
| not put down the rebellion, they did their share
/ towards it. They never were ordered To do
| anything but what they tried their level best,
unless it was 10 let yellOw-leg chickens alone.
| The regiment was mustered in at Dixon. May
| "a, 1861; went TO Caseyville, where they drilled
until July ). Then they sent TO Rolla,
Mo-, where they commenced chasing the rebs.
| They were not liked by the rebels, and were
dubbed "Wyman's Horse-thieves as, being
/ Oh the scout most Of the time, and as the boys
| would prefer riding TO walking, u large number
of horses aud mules always came to camp with
| them.
| Good Location for Comrades
o. F. Hamilton, Co. ii, 10th Ohio Cav, Miller,
! Eeb., wishes to inform comrades that Buffalo
| County Neb.. is most desirable locality 20
/ settle in, and for comrades who wish 20 engage
| in farming better place or opportunity could
not DO found between the two oceans. The
/ writer has been living there for % wears and