The National tribune., 1892-03-03

No. F3Aiks1.R bA Jas lhuE anu NAANANht
\ ElS@ - service, had dwindled
INN M in numbers. These
AE9SA men were mostly new
n recruits from New Jer-
sew, and had left their
farms aud workshops 10 go 10 the front and aid
those that had so long been fighting for their
country and its flag. A few days after arriving
there the men were divided of and sent to the
different companies. each company then num-
boring 100 men, while the regiment was about
] 200 strong. Horses and equipments were
then furnished the men, and the 2d y. J. Cav.
was again ready for duty, and. as will inform
the readers Of this narrative later they did their
duty well.
The rebel Gen. Forrest and his brave fol-
lowers occupied the country east and southeast
of Memphis, and they annoyed the Yankees
very much, making bold and daring dashes
into our lines, capturing and destroying men
and property, and il was almost impossible to
keep our front picket line established, men and
horses being killed and captured every night.
We had been drilled aud put through the
manual Of arms few days, when the Captains
OF each company inquired II there were any OF
the new recruits who had seen service before (;
aud if so, 10 step 10 tho front. Myself and John
A. Rose, both of Sparta, n. j., were the only two
In our company, and we were at once told 10 re-
port to Headquarters 20 Col. karge, which We
did. lie questioned Us in regard 10 our first
service, aud then told us that Memphis was
surrounded by Gen. Forrest and his baud OF
guerrllas, and none but trusty and reliable SOL
diers would DO allowed 20 do picket duty there,
and that he could put confidence in Us, and we
! could return to our company and report 10 hun
in one hour, mounted and ready for duty.
Wedd so, and with Sergeant aud four prl-
Yates from other companies we proceeded about
| two miles from our camp out in country, 20
road known MS the Coal Mine road, where our
advance cavalry picket was stationed, and my
self and Rose were placed on the post 10 relieve
! the two seniines there.
This picket-post was situated at the foot oi
steep hill near the edge of a wild and dismal
swamp. We remained two hours on post aud
were then relieved by the second relief
! Whilst of duty thought ] would investigate
/ our surroundings, aud going up on the hill
sawa large house not far away, with weil-cul-
4 tiYated fields and large aud handsome trees
and shrdbbeTy surrounding it. / returned TO
my post, and the day passed quietly with as.
At o'clock that evening myself and Rose
again went on the post, and we watched the
swamp diligently, with our carbnes cooked and
ready for any emergency. Darkness soon be-
gan 10 cast its gloom over us, aud all was quiet.
Presently my horses ears went to the front
and his heart moved violently, something un-
usual. He had detected something in the
swamp that had alarmed him, and while
I AaAdulAR lily Iblab movements Il saw dbDuh
one-third Of a mile from rs a squad OF rebels
cautiously advancing toward us. / whispered
10 Rose and asked him ii he saw the rebels
! coming. His reply was yes aud ] then told
him 10 be prepared aud we would give them n
warm reception and then retreat 10 the relief
post il necessary.
We watched their every movement, and they
az last came within balting distance, and
found there was - Of them. Rising up in our
] ragf NviFh lgHh If T.1F af.1rv
aimed al them, called 10 them, Halt, Who
comes thcreY" Their reply was, I" Friends. I"
and at once they flung white flag 10 the front,
a flag Of truce. ] told them 10 stand fast until
We called the Sergeant OF the Guard which we
did, aud lac soon made his appearance with the
others aud demanded their business, and was
/ told by the rebel Captain that he had business
with our General. The Sergeant told him he
could not see the General that night but he
and his men could come forward aud remain
! with Ms until morning when the General would
/ see him. They did so aud camped near Us by
! themselves nothing further occurring to alarm
Us that night They proved themselves gem
/ tlcmen, aud we showed them the same respect,
although We did not sleep much for in num-
4 bers they were - 10 our z, and white men
sometimes are treacherOus, especially in war
times.
When morning dawned we conversed with
! them for time, and presently we saw three
ladies with baskets coming down the hill from
! the house mentioned above, and % where the
/ Johnnies were seated, shaking hands with
them, kissing each other, aud some Of them
! crying with JOY, so unexpected were their
4 meeting. Finally all became quiet, aud the Ia
4 dies spread white tablecloths down on tho grass
+ aud began 10 unload their baskets, which were
wel-iillcd with biscuit, oOrubread, sweet pOta-
toes, roast chicken, etc. They then invited
their friends, the Johnnies, 10 be seated around
4 their Wcll-lllcd tables, and one OF the ladies
I came over 10 where Rose aud / stood and in
yited us 10 partake Of some breakfast with her
aud her friends. We thanked her kindly, tell
/ ing her that We had our rations with US; but
she still insisted, and plead for Us 10 eat with
/ them. We finally accepted her invitation. and
\ went with her; but / can assure the reader oil
/ this narrative that u was quite an undertaking
/ To 20 aud sit down 10 That table so nicely pre.
/ pared, aud so beautifully supplied by those
/ Southern ladies' aud sit and converse with
Il them aud our foes
These ladies were very intelligent, and while
we were all eating one Of them looked up al
me and said:
Mister, here you and my friends are eating
and coHVeTsing together as friends; perhaps
I before another morning daWns you will again
meet as enemies and try 10 kill each other"
replied: Madam, ! am sorry 10 think and
say your words are true. / would not at TIL,
/ present time al4oW any man 10 90 you wrong
or harm any Of these your friends but after
/ they transact their business with our General
and depart from our lines then we porhapl
may meet again IN deadly conflict; for We arr
each one, both Confederate aud Yankee, sworn
| TO do our duty"
After break fast Rose aud bid them all adj len
aud left them, the ladies soon leaving theiI
friends aud going home, with tears streaming
4 down their checks. The JOhnnes were escorted
% the rear, whore they met the General, and
after the rebel Captain conyersed with him
while they returned TO our post, and bidding
us farewell returned the way they came {,
| their command.
do not know whether we over encountered
them again, but We lay al Memphis nearly TIVE
months scouting and doing picket duty, ant
this same party or their friends were very
active, causing as lots OF trouble.-WM. II
RoCHELLE, 90. X, 9th n. J., aud c, % n. J
Cav, Sparta, n. J.
Death OF SErg't SOTlOrc.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: ] notice II