The National tribune., 1893-10-05
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
WiIder'a Brigade.


William L. Doyle, Stevensburg, Va,
writes: "In Gen. Minty's article in the
issue of Sept. 7, detailing the pursuit OF
Gen. Wheeler, he says: On reaching the
western brow during the forenoon of Oct.
we found Wheeler in position Mt the foot OF
the mountain, and our movement became
very slow and cautious. 1t was dark before
our advance brigade (Miller's) got into
action. The fight was short and sharp, and
the enemy was quickly driven from his
position by the mounted infantry
again he says: l overlook the division
near Pennington, and reported to Gen.
Crook. He had had gallant fight with
Wheeler, defeating him with heavy loss
at was Wilder's Brigade of Mounted
Infantry who did the fighting on both these
occasions. The first was a night fight with
Crews Brigade, which formed Whecler's rear
guard, and resulted in their being run out
OF Thompson's Cove in confusion, with the
loss of arms, prisoners, the flag of the I'd KY.
Cav. presented to them by the ladies of
Elizabethtown), and over 100 killed and
wounded.
"In the second affair Wilder's Brigade,
following Wheeler closely, found him dis
posed for battle at Pennington with nearly
his whole force, and without waiting for
assistance, or even for the presence of Gen.
Crook (who did not arrive until after the
fight galloped up, dismounted, and went in,
the whole brigade being in action IL minutes
from the time the advance-guard struck the
rebel line.
I'm three-quarters Of an hour Wilder's
Brigade had possession of Pennington with
| three pieces of captured artillery, one stand
of colors, several supply and ordnance
wagons, and 300 prisoners, while 500 killed
and wounded rebels were scattered over the
fields and gardens of the town.
"Thus the center of Wheeler's line was
broken, and Longs Brigade and other troops
coming up he retired with his whole force.
"Gen Mnty alleges that Gen. Crook was
too slow, which was the very fault he found
with Minty, for every officer and man on
that Wheeler raid knows that Crook was
forever pushing and impatient to get up
with the enemy, and irascible at times at
what he considered the slow movement of
his command, fearing that Wheeler might
escape him. Gen. Crook always claimed
that if Minty had been up with his brigade
at Pennington he might have bagged q
great portion of Wheeer's command"
The Affair at Alexandria, La.
A. A. Csntrell, Co. I, 18th Ill. Cav, and
Co. B, 4th Ill. Cav, Cisco, H., writes con-
corning the deserter alleged to have been
shot at Alexandria, La, by order of Gen.
Custer. He Gays the date was the 29th of
July, 1865, not in June, as stated. The man
shot belonged to what was formerly known
as Co. A, Veteran Battalion, 4th Ill. Cav,
but at that time was known as Co. l, 18th
Ill. Cav, the 4th and 18th having been con-
solidated. The man who had mis- sentence
IL -
was not deserter, but had been court-mar-
tailed for mutiny. He belonged to the I'd
Wis. Cav. The story was to the effect that
when the news came of Lincoln's assAssina-
ton, the then Lieutenant-Colonel of the
regiment was heard to remark that it would
have been e fine thing for the
country" if Lincoln's death had taken place
a good while before The boys of the Iegi-
ment did not like this, and got up petition
praying the Lieutenant-Co Colonel to resign.
The fellow who was court-martialed hap
pened to be the unfortunate Orderly-Sergeant
who handed the officer the petition.
j. II. Springer, First Lieutenant Co. I,
1st Iowa Cav, Shickley, Neb., writes /" In
a recent issue Comrade G. NJ. Marsh, Co. H,
1st Iowa Cav, referring to the shooting of
soldier at Alexandria, La, by order of Gen.
Custer, is in part correct. j. j. Lancaster,
of the I'd Wis. Cav, was tried by court-mar-
tal for mutiny, found guilty, and sentenced
to be shot. w. III. Wilson, of the 4th Ill.
Cav, was tried by the same court-martial for
desertion, theft, and disorderly conduct gen.
orally, and he also was sentenced to be shot,
and was shot Lancaster's sentence was
committed. Gov. Washburn took the case
in hand and got him reprieved."
Battle of Olustee.
J. r. Harris, Battery G, Sd r. I. Fl. A,
Providence, r. l., wishes some comrade who
can write graphically would send to THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE an account of the bat
tie of Olustee, Fla, Feb. 20, 1864. The writer
was there himself, but was severely wounded,
taken prisoner and sent to the rebel hospital
at Tallahassee. He has heard the rebel side
of the fight several times, but now would
like to read reliable story by some boy in
blue.
A Fraud.
E. H. Bruce, Butte City, Mont, warns the
comrades Of one Ralph o. Bates, calling him
self Grand Army man, who has swindled
many people, himself included, out of money
Montana. 1t is not known
where he is now.
Where the ScaffoId Stood.
James Johnson, SO cambridge street,
Brooklyn, N. Y, says that in Comrade San
derson's Harper's Ferry article, he states
that "we passed the Jail and yard where
John Brown was confined and afterward
executed. There were still remaining in
the yard some of the timbers of the scaffold
of execution" He is under the impression
that John Brown was executed upon a
scaffold erected in an open field short
distance from Charlestown, and to the left
of the road leading from that town to
Berryville; and he asks, Am 1 correct in
my recollection"