The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-22

lOO4, from uSF SlSIcT, Saf1SbA .. FISK, WIG OF
Co. K, 11th VT, infantryman. The house In
which tho letter was written was 30 rods
inside the Notifications Of Fort Stevens, and
the picture the writer possesses has bullet
holes, shot in it during the raid. The letter
states that about six o'clock on the morning of
July IL the family was surprised to see troops
coming in from all parts of the country. They
did not know what to make of it, although
they had heard that the rebels were within
eight miles of the place. They saw President
Lincoln, with several staff officers, near the
house. intently studying map lying before
them. The cavalry was continually being sent
out and returning. probably to report. At last
they came back on dead run, with the loss of
two men killed, and reported that the rebels
were within two miles, and were driving in
the pickets. This created great excitement,
and in short time the rifle pits were swarm
ing with the blue-coats, and the President,
with the officers. rode off. The family stood
in the door. and in q short time the rebs
appeared. They nd vanced to within 80 rods Of
the Notifications and began to fire. Their
shots passed over the men, and good many
struck the house. The family was informed
that they were in imminent danger, and that
they had better move, which they did, going
about quarter of mile away, where they
remained until about four o'clock in the even
ing. The rebels were so close TO the men
that several gunners were killed The fight
commenced on Monday, and on Tuesday night
the President and his wife, with good many
others, were in the fort. The rebels were in
position about mile away, and the bluecoats
male charge to drive them from there. A
shot came just at that time and killed Sur
geon, who stood SO near the President that the
latter caught him in his arms as he fell. The
President was heard to say, Well! You came
very near me then, but you will have to try
again" He would stand there and bend his
I'll IL
Our men drove the rebels back some three
miles that night. The President and his wife
got into their carriage and were driven all
around the whole length of the Union lines.
The fight ended on Thursday and even after
that time our boys often came in bringing
prisoners.
The LIST Iowa Cav. and Gen. Custer.
James M. Russell, Captain, 1st Iowa Cav,
Connellsvile Pa, says that it seems TO him az
though Capt James Stewart of the 9Th Conn.,,
has a very wrong impression as to what
prompted the writing of the article Gen.
Custer which was published in recent issue
of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. 1t was not
through partisanship, but was caused by that
feeling of resentment which to-day rankles in
the breast of every living member of the Ist
Iowa Cav. who served under Custer on account
of the injustice that he did them long years
ago. The LIST Iowa cayalryman does not intend
to cast any reflections on the private character
Of the late Gen. Custer, nor to question his
bravery. 1t is his official acts Of which the
writer desires to make mention. The official
acts of public officer, both good and bad, are
the property of the public, and the history
which does not contain both is not true one.
The writer admires, and even worships, the
gallant deeds of this famous cavalry officer
but at the same time he deprecates and con-
dennis the acts of injustice which were done
txI la Dr. fE..o -
Custer. while in command of the Third Cav
airy Division, Military Division of the Gulf,
in 1S65'66, let alone the distress he caused that
by his ineompetency criminal
negligence did, through his official position,
aided and Allotted by Gen. J. w. Forsyth,
misrepresent, revile, individually and collect
lively, as fine body of men as ever served to-
gether under the flag. And, Furthermore. this
official misrepresentation by Gen. Clusters off,
cial Endorsement was placed on file in tho
archives ofthe War Department. and is to-day
a part of the published War Records Of the Gov
to the eternal, but unmerited. dis
grace to the writer's regiment. 1t is generous
to cast the mantle Of charity over the human
of brave man, but what of the
descendants of these men who composed the
1st Iowa Cav, when they should come to
of the disgrace of their fathers, az
set forth in the War Records of the Govern
ment, established by those untruthful reports
Of Gen. Custer2 The Historical Society of the
LIST Iowa Cav. (of which Capt. Heberling, of
Chicago, is President) received notice year
or two ago from an old soldier of the regiment
who was engaged in compiling the War Rec
ords for publication at Washington, stating
that the reports made by Gen. Custer regard
ing the regiment would be compiled and pub
ished. That society called upon the survivors
Of the regiment to assist in preventing the pub
ication of this act of injustice.
Where Are They?
]. M. Palmer TorringtoD, Conn, writes In
formation regarding James l.. Carson, aged is,
Of Torrington, who left his home Oct 2s, and
was last seen at the Grand Central Depot in
New York at p. IN. above date. He was in
very poor health, and it is supposed that his
mind is affected. He is five feet eight and
half inches in hight; weight, 156 pounds. pallid
bluish-gray eyes, heavy hair full |
beard and mustache. all nearly white; scar ON |
me leg. caused by abscess; wore a dark gray |
Jack suit brown overcoat, soft brown hat, and |
congress CATERS; diamond stud on necktie; |
gold watch and chain Carson was advised by |
len. Sinclair to go to a doctor in New York Ito |
he writer unknOwn) saying that his brother |
lad been cured of the same disease that Mr.. |
Carson had. The writer does not know of the |
residence of this Gen. Sinclair but knows him
20 be man that Mr.. Carson had met when
n New York very often. If we could find |
len. Sinclair of course he could direct US to
his doctor. and from him we might at least
earn of Mr.. Carson's condition the day of his
disappearance. Any information leading to
he finding of Carson will be rewarded
Mrs. Nettie Meeker Moscow, No. says that
he is trying to find her lost brothers and
listers. Her fathers name was Pierce Butler
oennell and her mothers Christian name was |
Nancy. Her brothers and sisters were all born
Il Indiana, aud after the war her parents
moved to Wyandotte City, Kan, where her
mother died. At the time of her death there
we're seven children William, Thomas, Mary, |
iassius Scott and an infant, which died
hortly after its mother. The writer does not
any dates, but is sure that her
Mothers maiden name was Crutchfeld. Her
brother Thomas did not move to Kansas with
he rest of the family. but stayed with an uncle
Iud aunt, who raised him. She has never
leard from any of her brothers since they were
eparated, and the last time she heard from her
lister she was living in Kansas.
The Last Flag Of Truce.
John Reed, alias Michael Flanagan, Co. d.
d q. g. Cav, Orland, Ill.,. wishes to know if
he last flag of truce was not carried to Mosby |
While he was in the Shenandoah Valley in |
s65. If this ia so, then the writer says that
e carried it under his enlisted name of Michael |
flanagan.
Last Gun at Gettysburg.
G. F. Stiles, Sergeant, Co. -, 9th Mass. bat
cry, Pueblo, Colo, writes. In your issue Of
Iov. 10 have read the article First Gun at
gettysburg with the inquiry of who fred the
lst shot. The last shot was fired by tho 5th
Jauo hottary A rahal hattarv mazda o. blnH