Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-20

! ing officers had con
demned a lot Of our
!: :; =:
| and We were soon in as
good shape ever
| probably better, for We
recruits had learned how to take care Of our
selves, and had shown that we would stand fire
We had now six guns, two brass underground
smoothbores OF the sort called Napole ons, and
four three-inch rified Rodman's which threw O
| thirteen-pound she'll In a few days we were
started out to keep the rebel cavalry, under
Forrest. employed. Again we entered Mssis-
sippi and for few days were unmoiested, but
| soon the daily skirmishing, which had accom-
panied our former trip, begun. On August
| / had very close shave. We had become so
accustomed to the firing in front that we
| scarcely gave it thought, and seeing peach
| orchard beyond a swamp not FAR from camp,
myself and another got leave of the captain to
60 for some fruit. We waded through and
found a number Of trees loaded with splendid
| peaches near an abandoned house.
Whenever possible we had replaced our heavy
WOODEN uniforms with lighter garments picked
up wherever we could find them. The only
Z
on the ground and filled with peaches to carry
| to camp, and then started to look around for
a stray chicken or some such thing. The dust
was thick in the road and saw party of cav
airy coming, but l only gave a casual glance
toward them when ! noticed my companion
running. l called to ask him where he was
going, when the officer jumped his horse over
the low fence. and without looking closely at
me rode up to a tree and began to gather
peaches, at the same time calling to me: go
| to your camp at once; the Yankees arc thick
around here"
then saw that he had bars on his collar and
although badly frightened, had presence of
mind to answer, "All right. SIR and he cam
tered of. not having seen my blouse nor my
companion. As soon he tnrned ran for the
swamp. expecting every instant to hear an
order to halt or the whiz of bullet. reached
camp feeling tina. l had got of cheaply with
the loss of my blouse.
ANOTHER CLOSE CALL
The next dag the butternut shirt which had
saved me on this occasion nearly led to my
troubles being ended BY some of our own men.
Food for our horses was very scarce. and halt q
mile or more in front of our camp was a mar
row belt of timber through which ran a creek
just beyond the further edge was our pickets,
who were occasionally exchanging shots with
the ''JOhnnies." One of our lieutenants asked
me to water his horse. and / took path to
avoid the dust in the road. Not far off was n
| stubble field from which the shocks Of grain
had been carried off for horse feed Near the
| woods l saw one bundle which had been over
looked and decided to get it. and there beng
deep gully between me and the field. i tied
the horse and started on foot. l cav a squad
Of cavalrymen in the field going in the same
direction. and. thinking only Of the grain. be-
gan to run. heard the cry "haIt'' and the
galloping Of horses, and looking back to sec
how fast they were gaining SAW one man un-
singing his carbine and l stopped. / was
wearing pair of linen trousers that had once
been white, black hat, through the crown of
which my hair showed in several places, and
they had mistaken me for rebel who had got
inside our lines and was trying to get out and
as had almost reached the woods they we're
going to shoot me to prevent my escape.
The next day we exchanged few shells with
the rebels and on the 18th we approached Ok
ford. Early in the forenoon a much heavier
skirmish than usual began and our entire force
was arranged for action. Our division of three
br1gades was drawn up one line q short dis
lance behind the other. regimental front, two
deep. but remained behind hill out Of sight of
| the enemy. Creeping to the brow OF the hill
we had a good view Of the skirmish. In front
OF us was a level plain, with bushes scattered
over it, and sire ,ched fiat on the ground a few
rods apart and taking advantage of every bush
or hollow which offered shelter were the
cavalrymen. the puffs of smoke and crack Of
carbines showing that there enemy in
front, and a wounded man being helped to the
rear proved that it not one-sided affair
Somewhere behind and overlooking the line was
an officer with bugler whose calls controlled
the movement OF the skirmishers. In response
to an order for a general advance the enemy
fire became heavier and instead of falling back
as usual it was evident that they were
strengthening their front. and our main body Of
infantry was ordered forward
BATTERY OPENS FIRE.
As our first brigade came in sight four-gun
battery opened fire. The forty-ninth Illinois
was the leading regiment. and one Of the shells
made a gap in the line, while another exploded
Just behind them. The colonel was on horse
back in the rear Of his men, and removing a
cigar from his mouth he called. STEADY. Close
up! Guide centeri' Soon another gap was
made, and again the order, calmly AZ though
on parade. STEADY, boys! Close up!' The
men were getting a little nervous and the line
was not 80 straight. but it went steadily for
ward. Very soon we opened fire, and by rare
good luck we exploded one Of their caissons at
the first shot. As our strength developed the
rebels fell back, and our cavalry entered Ok
ford. The infantry halted and We remained BY
our guns. Soon after noon an officer with an
escort Of cavalry mounted on tired horses
pushed to the front in search Of the command
ing general. In ap hour infantry came
back and We at once started toward Memphis.
We learned that Forrest (whom Lee pronounced
the ablest cavalry oficer in their service) had
left his main force, and with 500 of his best
mounted men made a dash on Memphis. Enter
ing the city after dark he had almost captured
the commander, and after remaining an hour
be went out, having paroled many officers and
men whom he had taken prisoner and securing
| number OF horses, and so frightened Gen
Washburne that he sent in hot haste to recall us
the next day. We travelled fast, and having
started out to live on the country and now
going over the road on which we had advanced
few days before. we had to live on green corn
and such stuff, and suffered very much.
OVERCOME BY THE HEAT.
One day was overcome by heat and remem-
bered very little until was sent to an outdoor
hospital in Fort Pickering, Just below Memphis.
Here spent a dismal three weeks, gaining
strength very slowly, and finally the surgeon
| said had better reioin the battery ut St. Louis
and go to hospital there The rebel Gen.
| Price was then threatening Missouri and our
troops were concentrating at st. Louis, ready
| to march in any direction, and late one night /
| reported to the captain, who at once said was
not fit for duty, but should 20 to hospital in
the morning. At midnight some orders came
which changed the face Of affairs, and at day.
light was trudging along some miles away,
| started on trip which led us clear across the
state to the Kansas line. Having had no op-
portunity to draw any new clothing since our
return from the Oxford trip my clothes were
threadbare and my shoes badly worn. and in
my weak condition was not At to march, but
| In the movement Of army the individual