The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-09-06

lllt ls fnUUt UP
~ ofa variety of
strange expert
enccs, and not always fighting aud
marching or keeping vigilance, even
on n picket line.
The Ninth Corps reached Bethesda
church after hard march from the
North Anna River, something after
dark on the night of the 1st. The
rebels had beat us there, and were
ready to give us warm reception.
At midnight three companies of my
regiment-the I'd Pa, Prov. II. A.
were sent out about mile and half
In advance. toward Bethesda church,
on picket line. We were posted
along the edge of IL dense piece of
woods. Immediately around US was
clearing about n quarter of a mile
square, the ground being u little
marshy and rough.
We were delighted to find we'll.
preserved line of eastworks along
the edge of the piece of woods. II was
neat here that the battle of Gaines's
Mill was fought during McClellan's
retrogradc movement across the PEN
insula.
We soon concluded that we were
mighty near the rebel lines. We could
hear their mules whinneying. artillery
moving, etc, just through the woods;
consequently we kept quiet until day
light, realizing that we were only
thin picket line. We had come out
here from our lines on an old travelled
road into this open square, the road
leading out through the woods into
the rebel lines and out toward Gaines's
Mills.
When daylight came we had cur
iosity to learn how far away the rebels
were, and some of the boys got over
the works into the woods. One mem
her of my company went few rods to
the right and stepped out into the
road, as II to cross, and in an instant
we heard crack and down went the
poor fellow, shot 10y q rebel sharpshoot.
er who commanded the road and no
doubt was posted in tree.
Later in the day Capt. Samuel II.
Davis, of Co. |, being sent out to view
the pickctline, came along the edge of
the woods on the opposite side of the
road from us. We saw he was about
to cross the road. He did not under
stand the word of warning we gave
him, but stepped into the road and re-
ceived his death wound from the same
sharp-shooter. How terrible this sort
of warfare seems
The ludicrous part ofour experience
on the picket-line | now wish to re.
late. The enemy made no advance up
to 3 p. m. Some of the boys became
careless, Porter G. Burns, of my
company was one. He was a practical
matchmaker by trade and good
mechanic. AS we had marched lalong
from the Wilderness battlefield he had
constructed o small kit Of tools suit.
able for tinkering watches, foraging
through old abandoned blacksmith
shops, etc. He had made four extra
pockets In his uniform, and each con.
tanned a comrades watch waiting to be
repaired,
Burns concluded TO repair watch.
He spread rubber blanket on the
ground, took the watch apart, and
commenced operations. All at once
tho woods rang with a clear bugle call.
Lieut.. Gausline, spring ing to his feet,
says: Boys, now look out; that's
rebel buglc call to advance"
We soon saw them coming, and up,
and gave them volley,and they broke
and ran. 1t was laughable, amidst
all the excitement, to see Comrade
BUNS, IN u nervous state. trying to get
n Of Lla L. 30 -
save the watch. AS he ran tae pieces
could be heard jingling and being
strewn along the ground. the rebels
coming up shouting "Stop, you -
fank!' Ho barely escaped. No doubt
they captured the watch, or frag-
mcnts.
When the Confederates made the
advance they immt diatcly opened up
with mortar battery, throwing shells
across the woods into the open so uare.
In the stampede was knocked
down. a shell bursting beside me, and
| was run over by an unman ageable
horse ridden bo the Colonel of the 0
think cath N, Y. Cav, who happened
to be out TO the open square at the
time, receiving a slight wound in the
hoad and hand, and only escaping be-
ing captured by member of my com.
pany helping me to my feet.
lost my gun, gum blanket and
havcrsack. | was eventually taken
prisoner at Burnside's mine explosion,
IN the crater in front of Petersburg,
Va, July 80, 1894, and not released
until the end of the war.-CLARENcE
WILSON. in National Tribune"