Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-26
CLOAK-ROON STORIES.
Congressman Cummings Over
ksars Some New War 6corios.
Ca ns<es<s ADD ths 5rsss Yankee ss
b~Ak's Fosd-ssspVtas over tAs
Riekes Li2ss-sAd Fate 81
Devoted ssgros
fooF4aIsHr. l8f1

t-oFtAAr2Ns 49oLt
Col Hilary A Herbert. II Alabama.
ard . Sew York member II congress
were seated a . elcak-room OF tbs
house not long ago. smoking fragant
GsyanAs- Col Herbert was in the con
fedsrsts array. and the New York rep
gessusarive was sergeant major Of a
New Jersey regiment. The night at
Tredrrieksourg after the the capture Of
the Heights Ia May, Is6e. was the sub
5ect Of conversation The talk drew out
many q Renaissance Zach congress-
man told where his regiment was To-
lated during the battle. IL was evident
THAI they had been within hailing dis
tanee - each other for several hours.
nearly twenty nine years ago.
Col Herbert vas under Cen Wilcox
near Banks ford when the Heights
were taken The sergeant ma or crossed
the river on pontOons a mills or more
below fredericksburg and was in the
assaalting column on Sunday, May 3
His regiment scaled Marye's heights
near the female seminary. II PASSED
near tho SPOT where three brass cannon
were captured from the Washington
artillery Of New Orleans Congress-
man Coleman, a member Of that very
battery, was addressing tho house
while the colonel and the sergeant ma
1or were eonversing
Herbert went into the fight from Wiz
cox's intr-nchnents at Banks ford on
Sunday morning. and the sergeant ma
tor went out Of the fght thirty-six
hours afterwards from tho same in
trenchnents. The Heiyhts were car
ried By the old Sixth G, -ps. Sedgwick
made an effort 20 effect junction with
Hooker at Charlottesville aud the fght
at Salem church occurred ON the same
evening. Wilcox swung SO far 10 the
right that he fianked Sedgwick's left,
came down the hill and recaptured
fredericksburg. leaving Uncle John"
upon the Heights
On Monday evening the confederates
were reinforced from Lees army and
made q charge upon the union lines
They were rcpulsed- After dark, how
ever, SedgwiclS drew back. He occu-
pied the intrenchments ut Banks ford
vacated by Wilcox. \ pontoon bridge
III UGH GlkOo1 SIC As--R,hh1h-
mock late in the. evening, and the Sixth
corps recro2sed the river before day
light.
For weeks afeerward the pickets
confronted each other with the Kappa
hammock between them. There was
very little firing and the utmost good
feeling existed. The sergeant major
told story OF picket reserve on tho
union side Of the river. A confederate
officer OF the day appeared early in the
morning on the opposite bank. His
rank and duty was indicated by his
sash. The instant the officer in charge
OF the union piclsets saw him he shout
ed. Turn out tho guard, officer of the
day"
The reserve fell In line and presented
arms 70 the confederate officer, who ac-
iknowledged tho compliment with .
grateful salute.
There was so rpoch good fellowship
among the pickets that II excited COM
anent among the division and brigade
officers Orders were finally issued ON
both sides to prevent the Interchange of
commodities Col Herbert's pickets
were stationed as SCOTS dam, half a
mile above Bank ford. One day, after
the orders were issued. the colonel was
riding along his line when he saw q
'stalwart Yanlsee wading across the
river. The Yankee was within thirty
feet Of the confederate shore when the
colonel halted He was about to re-
trace his steps when tho colonel shout
cd: ''Halt; come ashore"
The Yankee held newspaper and
said that he had come across to trade
coffee. sugar and newspapers with the
confederate pickets upon the distinct
understanding that he would be allowed
TO return
$50 thought" the colonel shouted.
"You deserve no consideration. You
know Il is against the orders on both
sides. Come ashore, sir. You are a
prisoner"
The Yankee dernurred. Thcreupon
the colonel drew his revolver. pointed