The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-18
A Disagreeahle Exnerience.

tells how, when in front of Fredercks-
~ burg with the Sixth Corps, he WAS put
on advance picket with a number of
| others. At night the rebel picket-lines were
always doubled. Very early ono morning the
writer saw number of men in gray advancing
toward him by road near by. He called his
comrades down in the ravine to get ready, as
the Johnnies were coming. He waited mo-
ment, but got no reply, and realized that I'M
| less his comrades came up and stood ready to
| check these rebels, his own stand there would
| be folly, so he turned and ran down the ravine.
| Suddenly he was met by Sergt Nays of Co. -,
| who had charge of the picket there By this
| time the men were all aroused, and the rebels
were on both sides of the ravine, and called
out for the "Yanks" to surrender, saying that
the Union army had withdrawn from the front
of Fredericksburg. glance across the river
showed this to be the fact. There was no help
for it; resistance then would only make it
worse In the future; so the little party of "a
surrendered to the men of the 18th Ga. They
landed In Libby Prison eventually. After
much offering in short time there. they were
paroled, sent to City Point, aud on reaching
their regiments were given furlough, and at
length reached home.
Eleventh Corps "Cowardice."
P. C. Mills. Lieutenant, Co. B, 33d Mass.
Snohomish, WASH. thanks G. w. Mckay for
his protest against the reckless way comrades
have of insnuating cowardice or inefficiency
in others. The writer thinks the slurs cast at
the Eleventh Corps lately have not been merit
ed. Comrade Mills's regiment arrived at Gene
terry Nights about IL q. m. July !, 1864, and
went into line, and did not leave it except to
go on skirmsh line. They lost many men, but
they did their duty. He would like to see
Drawer men than Gen. Howard. Col. o. Smith,
Col. Underwood, or Gen. Barlow. At Chancel-
louisville the last named had command of his
brigade. In the Wilderness on a reconnois-
hap tn fap odd
of the rebel lines before word reached them
that the field was taken, and they had to flank
away through the woods in the darkness TO
escape. When they got to clearing they could
see dark mass Of troops and Gen. Barlow,
standing near where the writer was, was asked
what lie purposed doing if the troops proved
to be rebels. Il will form the brigade in col
umns and charge and some of US will cut
through" Fortunately, however. that was not
necessary. Gen. Barlow was another OF the
Eleventh Corps people.
A Word from the Far West.
A. L. Sherer, Co. ], 18th Wis. Cav, San Fran
cisco, Cal, has seen no mention Of the 4th Wis.
Cav. in the different accounts of the battles
along the Mississippi. They were there, and
their dead lie by the hundreds in the swamps
and along the bayous of that stream. 1.-The
Captain of our company was killed on tho
boat Tyler on the YaZoO (Capt. john Lynn.
Again, in the charge at Black River, under
Gen. Grierson, there was goodly number laid
in those trenches with 4th Wis. Cav. on their
hats. At Port Hudson Corpi Earle won his
straps, and also afterward it led to the COM
mand Of Canby's Specials being given to
him. And in that charge on May 81 my recol-
lection is that less than 100 answered to roll
call the next day. / fully recognize the fact
that it was an impossbility for anyone who
was in the ranks to give true and accurate
account Of what TRANSFERRED along the whole
line. Ny experience was that / had all
could attend to in front of me. Let Us hear
from the old members of 21st Ind, Sd Mich,
I'd III. and 4th Wis. Cav"
Who Stole That whisky?
s. C. Miles, Stetsonville, Wis, says that an
inquiry was lately made if Gen. Q. T. Blank. in
command of division encamped at Clear Creek
in August, 1862, ever found out who stole his
whisky. So far as the writer knows the facts
in the case were Gen. Blank was the owner
of fine barrel of whisky, which he kept against
the outside of his tent right by the beat OF the
guard over the commissary stores. 1t was on a
dark and dismal night that certain member
of the 9Th Wis, whose name shall be unmen-
toned, who was pacing that beat, and wishing
TO occupy his time to more purpose than merely
idly promenading, conceived the idea of bot
thing up the Generals barrel of whisky so as
to have it handy for the Generals use in the
morning So he procured a lot of empty can
teens from guard headquarters, formed a funnel
with the bayOnet. he proceeded very indus
triously to work, quite anxious to accomplish
his self-impOsed task before being relieved from
duty. OF course, after he was relieved he
could not be expected to stay around Head
quarters until morning, and on calling around
then, to enjoy the Generals surprise and thanks
for his thoughtful employment of his time,
imagine his own surprise and disappointment
at finding the canteens all gone, with their
precious contents, and no one able to account for
them or their disappearance. knowing from
sad experience that army officers are generally
very unappreciative of good intentions of the
private soldier, he concluded that he would not
say anything to Gen. Blank about the matter,
and it was probably just as well that he didn't,
as he says that when the General came out TO
look after the watering and trimming of his
whisky plant that morning, and his eagle eye
took in the situation, the look he gave just then
will never be effaced from the tablet of his
memory. The General Immediately aroused
the camp, and tho guards were brought before
him, one at q time. Sergeants and Corporals
were threatened with reduction to the ranks
if they did not tell who stole that whisky.
But no men knew anything whatever about it.
How could they? 1t was a very dark night,
and they were not instructed to sit all night
on the Generals whisky barrel. &c. after
keeping the guard from being relieved until
noon, the General terminated the inquiry in
disgust and permit tied the suspected guards TO
go To their respective regiments. Now the
writer was informed that whisky seemed to be
unlimited in supply all that afternoon, and the
boys of the Second Brigade were big spree.
However, he does not know about that for GER
tain.
DIE Sure You're Right"
w. III. Huffman Sergeant. Co. d, Tooth Pa,
Beaver Falls, Pa, thinks 1t is foolish for COM
rades to be always claiming that their regiment,
or brigade or division, or corps never was
beaten or made to retreat, and to fly up and
rail at other comrades because they occasionally
write disagreeabe truth about certain organ
izations. If there must be discussion, let it be
amiable; we are getting too old to be engaged
in pickering. Before the comrades make
statement, they ought to be sure they are right.
A Fair Man.
w. ID. Collins, NJ. D., Co. A, Cd u. S. Sharp
shooters, Hunters Hot Springs. Mont, writes =.
"Of all the candidates mentioned in connec-
ton with the Pension Commissionership Pres-
dent Cleveland selected the man who, by reason
of loyal service rendered to country during the
late war, irreproachable private and public life,
pre-eminent executive ability and familiarity
with pension matters, places him head and
shoulders above all competitors for the Office"
An Appeal for Help.
G.. A. Eastman. Wallacetown, Ontario
Canada, is in destitute circumstances. and rec
commended by his Post Commander as a worthy
man The comrade has been sick nearly all