Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-10-07

ony" in camp life, and gave 2est to
their movements.
Our division had just reached New
Hope Church after a tedious march in
our retreat before Sherman's advance
along the Allatoona & Atlanta railroad,
and being wearied out, we were soon
sound asleep. 1t was one of those
hot, sultry nights during the latter
part of May, the pitchy blackness of
which was broken only by the light of
innumerable fre-hies springing from
the earth. The whole camp was buried
in slumber, when suddenly, about mid
night, there broke out on the still air n
most terrific firing of artillery and in
fantry, which reused us into line of
battle. We waited in expectation of an
attack from the enemy every moment,
when the firing ceased as suddenly as
it had begun. The next morning the
mystery was explained. 1t seems that
one of our picliets, seeing the light of a
FREELY in the direction of the enemy's
lines, took it for the flash of gun
from one, of their picllets, and, not
waiting to hear the report of the gun,
fred away at the supposed enemy. OF
course, this started the entire line
of picllets, and called out the Dig
guns, which were banging away at the
army Of fire-lles. Pat Cleburne, whose
division was near us, and who was
fond of joke, rallied at our boys
somewhat for shooting Mt tire-tlies in
stead of yankees" 1t was only a
night or two after, however, when a
picket in Pats division did the same
thing, and brought out tremendous
firing in the dead of night Gen.
French now turned the laugh upen
Pat and the boys on both sides joked
each other at the event. which was re-
membered afterwards as the FREELY
battle.
1t was the next year that the troop
was stationed at Occoquon, on the
Potomac, with orders to watch the
enemy if they should cross over; so it
kept the company constantly on the
move up and down the river, and it
would frequently be in sight of Alex
andria and hear the roll of the federal
drums. There was located about eight
miles from Alexandria n little hamlet
called Accotink, n settlement chiefly of
union men and negroes, who were con-
stantly giving information to head
quarters at Washington as to the
'reber' movements; so the troop de-
termined to teach these fellows a
lesson. 1t was ascertained by the boys
that these 'loyalists" were going to
have big pow-wow and barbecue on
the coming Fourth of July, when there
would be grand flag-raising, speeches
and general jolliflcation by some OF
the big men in Washington, to help
keep these Virginians true to the old
union. "Old Tibbs," our captain,
smiled, and his eyes twinkled with
pleasure, as he heard this news, and,
turning to Lieut. C., said:
eve will be there to celebrate, too
boys"
The night before the Fourth, all
hands were in glec for the movement
which was sure to produce much fun,
as well rs profit. Being about twelve
miles from the camp, the troop started
good while before daylight, and
reached the scene of exploit just as the
sun was rising. There they saw from
adist ant hill the little village, with the
union flag proudly waving from tall
pole; busy preparations for the barbe'
cue were in progress; long tables were
spread and the savory viands were
brought forth, the smell of which made
the boys more eager for the charge 4
large crowd of both white and blacl
was gathering, all unconscious of i'm
pending danger. Tho speaking was tC
be at twelve, but the impatience of the
men could be restrained no longer 81