The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-19


resumed our way mp the river the John Raint
TO which our company belongs, in the lead
About O'clock in the afternoon / was sittin
on the iorecastle with a lot Of the boys, wkol
suddenly there was q general stampede up Ia
stairway. Without stopping TO ascertain tn
cause brought mp the rear
AS PROMPTLY As POSSIBLE.
There would be time 10 make inquiries after
wards Ou reaching the landing at the hea,
OF the stairs. the men were running with the
carbines TO every p0rhole, and a IL pound gun
was discharged just as ] passed H. For a mo
meut I thought brOadside had bceu fired int
MS from the shore. Hastily pattiug on my nc
coutermeuts and snatching up my carbine,
ran up 10 the hurricane deck, just in time L,
see second shell from oar gun explode in the
woods about half a mile away into which
company Of rebel cavalry were scattering a.
fast as their horses could take them. Expana
tIons followed. Seeing the smoke from ON
steamer, they bad mistaken as for a transport
such as they had captured and puudured ne3i
here few weeks ago. But they found out theii
mistake when about half way across the field
aud went back 20 tho woods more rapidly than
they came. After this little episode we pur,
sued our way quietly ON up the river, reaching
Gazoo City about suudoWn. Our company had
orders to saddle up as we approached the town
. ana immediately on landing we rode out
I through the deserted streets on 10 the upper
road, where we passed the night on picket
duty.
Monday, May 9-Rcmaincd on the picket
/ post all day. McAuhur's forces arc somewhere
/ to the right, how far out We do not know. Our
cavalry, four companies, and the two boats, arc
4 lett 10 hold the town. Had good time on the
/ post The weather was pleasant Some cows
camc along and we MIXED them. 1t takes a
I practIcod hand and gentle cow TO milk in a
canteon. But the feat was accomplished, and
/ we rcyeled in the bliss Of coffee with cream in
/ II. Relieved at sundown by Co. c. Slept in
4 our quarters on the boat.
Tuesday, May lO.-ln company with COM
Tade explored the town. Find il a nice place.
But the women and the few old men that are
left are
TERRIBLY BITTER sEcEsH
I'm the evening went on picket duty again.
Stood al night
"Wednesday, May Il--Eemained on duty all
day. dhis post is on a bluiF overlooking the
city. Our reserve is IN q f0rtifcaiion built by
the rebels quarter OF beef abandoned by
them several days aeo is hanging in an old fire.
place where they evidently intended 10 roast
it. From some cause no rat0ns could reach us
to-day, aud were obi god to "sulsist or tie
country" A requisition on the houses near
by yielded some corn bread and butter milk
BOYS snufed the quarter Of beet and decided,
ihal Though not very sayOry IL might not
smell any worse Tor cooking. 80 thew built a
lire under ID, aud, as the outside began TO look
done some one said, Now see these Yankee
buzzards go for a rebel carcass" The figure
was so applicable hat all fell into the role. aud
hopping about on one foot IN imitation Of buz-
yards with thumb aud finger for beak. they
went 20 work on the carcass After eating
awhile lTdley got sick aud went of % one
side and vumltcd, just as a buzzsrd will do
alter g0rgiug himself on a carcass, that he may
return 20 his feast again. Bill Green said Il
we were going that iaT with il, be was going 10
quit
HE WAS WILLING no PLAY BUzzARD
Up to a certain point but II we were going 10
carry out the whole program, We might count
hlm out While On yidet, about o'clock in
the afternoon, 4 saw man nearlya mile away
throwing down rail fence aud makiuga gap.
lreroFgd the matter 10 The officer of The uickct.
who gave j. as bis opinion that way was be.
ing prepared for rebel battery 10 come i'm nc
might and shell the boats We haven't forgot
ten The disaster that beieli Col Coatc's men
here some months ago. and dom propose % be
surprised q We can help 10. Ca being relieved
~ night the matter was reported 90 Mai. Cram
DALI commanding the battalion, who thought
DC ol sufficient Importance 20 look into Ac-
c0TdlnGly, our company, instead Of being
allowed t0rust aitOr "a hours hard picket duty,
was ordered 10 reconnOitcr in the direction of
the gap. The night was very dark. Leaving
our horses behind we marched nOiselessiy 20
TIC back .0i the town, Crept up a rayine tb the
Top OF the blui, and halted in the edge nf a
bluegrass pasture that lay between us aHd the
gap. lt was so dark we could not see the fence.
50 we dismouuiud agaiH-that is, we cot down
on our hands and klogs-aud slealthIy crept
toward d, caIbire Iu band. IL was a great re-
liei on approaching the fence TO find no one
lhtte. 0ulntihluE however, Aau been i'm
tended. The fence was lCt down 10 the ground
aud the position would have been admirable
Iof "a concealed battery ~ iaag the U1ala. After
waiting awhile iu silence, and 40 JoLuuies
showing up "c retFaced Our steps 10 tic boats,
There was no
srAETLING DEN0UEMEST
70 the adventure, as there might have bocn
haa "e found battery at the gap. But ID
serves 10 show how watCAful wc an are and the
sense ot insecurity that peryaaes the command.
There are not more than 200 Of as here. aIl
told. Forrest Dr. known 10 be somewhere m
northern Mississippi with a large force. II
would De au easy matter Tor ham % lauk Nc.
Arthur and come iu and oveIpower before
re.niorcemruts could roach U.s. Hence the ut
m5-i precautions are being exercised % guard
against surprise
Thursday. May I2-hncr breaRas, %. j
aud detachmcuts from Cos. and q were sent
ont 10 roconuo.ter We went three or four m. rps
on The upper river road without meeting any
one. AZ last a woman was d covered some
distance ahead mounted ou plantation mule.
hlau 70 soc some indication that the country
was inhabited, Tie eiIiuar iu command shouted
10 hcr " - mold on,' which she did to the mule
aud
THE EFEE TENOR on HER Way"
= second invitation 10 stop being couiemutu.
ou-F aisreaardrd, pG.Iieuc.s gave Wav before
military uncess ty, and tIe officer roarud iu BIS
a.eiutsL voice, command YOU % haIL" Eut
hsillsF male nor woman paid The least alten-
lYu 10 The lupuGeuU Yankee The mule
J"ggea along aud tHC woman did not cgDde.
sc.Hd 20 turn Aer head. The situation was
gEpAIng cumIrH, aud the hiIar.tv in the raryg
increased as the HgW-lHa airuant officer spurred
his HpIse lnlOH gaI.up and, Ranking The enemy,
suddenly appeared iu their front aud brought
them io stand Bot The capture didu = amount
H. much in tho way OF information. The mule
couldn't talk aud tie woman wouldn't he
might as well have questioned a clam She
afaht know n0tAln'" She Ladn seed no
Confederate soldiers" And " II She had, she
want R"iue 10 tell on 'em 10 no such pack
OF go0a-lOr-notAlug Yankees as you all" She
wanted him 10 gIi outcn ber road . which he
DnaiIy dld, as gracefully rs his disgust would
allow Having gone as far into the woods with
our small force as was prudent, we counter
marched and rode lci8urcly back toward tho
town. We had not gone a quarter Of a mile
ii0a where we had left the woman till rs our
company, which was iH the rear, was crossings
hcAely bridge, most uuearthly yell was heard
lh tue woods behind us. Before shot was fred
7eiE Hack leman said very calmly, Ride np,
b'tsi There's "a rtlel charge" Aud then tie
i"tttc OF mu-A1irN began. Eaugl bang