The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-07

lest the enemy might elnde my grasp in the
darkness, aud capture Woods Division, aud
ready, on the least sign of the approach Of an
enemy, 90 plant myself an impossible barrier
between the "vandal horde" and Nashville.
At the battle OF Nashville played of sick
and got sent 10 the hospital, in order TO be
where duty called in case Hood should defeat
Thomas and attempt 10 capture the hospital.
This proved TO be very judicious movement
on my part; for, while the other boys were
storming the forts and imperiling their lives on
the field Of battle, ], with unforeseen wisdom,
was laying the foundation for an invalid PEN
sion, 10 support me when i became brok en-
down in health and my physical constitution
emaciated by hard service and diseases con-
tracted in the line of duty. The hospital
records made at Nashville aud other places,
while the other boys were at the front imperil-
ing their lives or starving in prison pens, were
OF great value in securing my pension.
lie who fights md runs away
May live To draw pension some other day"
As soon as the battle was over reioined the
regiment and we pursued Hood southwark, the
Twenty-third Corps finally going 90 Clifton,
on the Tennessee River. Soon after /. with
the balance Of the corps was ordered 20 North
Carolina to take Fort Anderson and Whining
ton and unite with Sherman at GoldsborO.
The next day after landing ut Smithville,
opposite Fort Fisher, we marched up the Cape
Fear River toward Fort Anderson aud camPed.
IbeneXt morning we resumed our march, and
in a short time found ourselyes-veTy unex-
pectedly 10 me-under the guns Of Fort Ander-
son, which promptly opened on us. Fearing
this was only demonstration in front while
the main attack was 10 be in the rear, i'm
mediately limbered some distance to the rear
aud posted myself in an impregnablc position
by digging a hole in the sand behind a big
log-in order TO protect our army from an at
tack from that point, thus enabling Gen. Cox
TO detsch the Third Division aud attempt 90
cut of the retreat Of the enemy by gaining the
Eorth end Of the causeway through the swamps
this being their only line of retreat; which,
however, he failed TO DO. The enemy retreated
during the night and we occupied the fort next
morning before breakfast. Col. Sewers of my
regiment. complimented me highly for my
presence Of mind in the hour OF danger, but |
had received similar compliments so often that
j bore my honOrs with becoming mOdesty.
In few days we took Wilmington, and soon
marched TO Goldsboro and united with Sher-
man. The whole army soon marched TO
Raleigh. As soon as Johnston heard that had
again Joined Sherman's army, no surrendered
without rlsking another engagement. Just
previous to my leaving the service, / was
prominently mentioned in Special Orders.
Gen. Sherman presented me, in person, with
large pasteboard medal, engraved in chalk. eK-
pfesslNe OF my military services, and when lett
the service the whole division turned ont 10
see me of. A martial baud and a guard of
honor were detailed as an escort, and ! marched
past the division. formed in two lines, facing
inward. The band played " 10! the Conquer
ing Hero Comes back ward, the boys all cheered
like they had tho cholera mOrbus and hooted
big boot. Some bawled like calves 20 see me
leave. Others gave me encouraging words TO
help me on my way, and ! left the service with
all the honOrs due TO my brilliant military
career. Now, | expect dozen comrades will
hop up and each claim that he is the man who
was thus honOred, but ! can prove by all the
boys Of the Second Brigade, Second Division,
Twenty-third Corps that / was the only man
IN our division who ever received such honoTs.
-THRoMULDo BosKos YAEvADo, The Hero
Of the llSth Ohio, Forest, o.