The National tribune., 1893-08-17
AT COLD HARBOR.
Some Varied Experiences on Picket After
that Battle.

that Battle.
a TRAIN of incidents occurred at
~ Cold Harbor, Va, on the I'd OF
-A-A June, 1864, / should like to give
the readers of THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, if you think they will be of IN
terest, and to show that soldiers life is
made up of n variety of strange experiences,
and not always fighting and matching, or
keeping vigilance, even on picket-line.
The Ninth Corps reached Bethesda Church
after a hard march from the North Anna
River, something after dark on the night of
the 1St. The reb Is had beat us there, and
were ready to give US a warm reception.
At midnight three companies OF my regi-
ments-the 81 Pa. Prov. II. A-were
sent OFT about a mile and half in adj
vance, toward Bethesda Church, on picket
line. We were rosted along the ed.e of a
dense piece OF woods. lmm diately around
us was clearing about a quarter of mile
square, the ground being a little marsby
and rough.
We were delighted to find well-preserved
line of breastw0rks along the edge of the
piece of woods. 1t was near here that the
battle of Gaines's Mill was fought during
McClellan's TetrOgrade movement across the
Peninsula.
We SObH CODCiuucu Ntth We NCAC
near the rebel lines. We could hear their
mules whinneying. artillery moving, ETC.,
just through the words; consequently we
kept quiet until daylight, realizing that we
were only thin pcket-line. We had come
cut here from our lines on an old travelled
road into this open square, the road leading
on through the woods into the rebel lines
and cut toward Gaines'S Mills
When daylight came we had a curiosity
TO learn how far away the rebels were, and
some OF the boys got over the works into the
woods. One member of my company went
a few rods to the right and stepped out into
the road, as if to cross, and in an instant we
heard n crack and down went the Toor fell
low, shot by rebel sharpshooter who COM
manded the road and no doubt was posted
in a tree.
Later in the day Capt. Samuel H. Davis,
of Co. ], being sent cut 10 view the picket
line, 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 understand the word OF warning We gave
him, but stepped into the road and received
his death wound from the same sharp
shoe er. How terrible this sort of warfare
seems!
The ludicrous part of our experience on
the picket-line | now wish to relate. The
enemy made no advance up TO p. 10.
Some OF the boys had become careless Por-
ter c. Burns, of my company, WAS one. He
was practical matchmaker by trade and a
good mechanic. As We had marched along
from the Wilderness battlefield he had con-
structed a small kit of tools suitable for
tinkering watches; getting his material for
aging through old abandoned blacksmith
81 liz hoI do g.
in his uniform, and each contained a COM
rade's 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 the woods rang with clear
bugle call. Lieut.. Gauslne, sprnging to
his feet, says: Boys, now look out; that's
a rebel bugle call 10 advance"
We soon saw them coming, and up and
gave them a volley. and then broke and ran.
1t WAS laughable. amidst all the excitement,
to see Comrade Burns, in nervous state,
trying to get the corners Of the blanket to-
gelher 10 save the watch. AS he ran the
pieces could be heard jinglipg and being
strewn along the ground, the rebels coming
mp shouting Stop, you - Yank !" He
barely escaped. No doubt they captured
the watch, or fragments.
When the Contederates made the advance
they Immediately opened up with mortar
battery throwing shells across the woods
into the oren square. In the stampede /
vas knocked down, shell bursting close by
me, and | was run over by an unmanageable
horse ridden by the Colonel of the Il think
oath n. Y. Cav, who happened to be out in
the open square at the time, receiving
slight wound in the head and hand, and
only escaping being captured by a member of
my company helping me to my feet.
lost my gun, gum blankets and haversack.
l was eventually taken prisoner at Burn
sides mine explosion, in the crater, in front
of Petersburg, Va, July 80, 1854 and not
released until the end of the war-CLAR-
ENCE WILSON, Co. Z, I'd Pa. Prov. II. A,
Scranton, Pa.