The National tribune., 1893-09-21

mock, his movements being thoroughly
masked by the cavalry under Buford and
Bayard covering the retreat and guarding
| the fords.
The 5th n Y being ordered to Kelley's
Ford, were placed in ambush and gave the
rebel cavalry a surprise when they came to
| take possession of the ford on the morning
of the Goth.
During the day their infantry came up
and made an attempt at crossing at point
above and between US and the ford at
Rappahannock Station, and succeeded IN
getting one regiment over under cover of
ARTILLERY FIRING,
| the 5th n. Y being ordered in support OF
our own battery, that took position to assist
in driving the enemy back across the river.
While taking position the rebel artillery
got very good range of Us and threw their
shot and shell uucomfortably close, one shell
passing through two sets of fours and
through horse belonging to Serg't d. B.
Merriman, who was doing duty as file
closer.
And some few of the boys were consider
ably interested in the safety of the Sergeant,
as they had deposited some of their last pay
in his hands to be forwarded to their homes
at the first opportunity, and when that
horse and rider went down many an
anxious head was turned to see where their
money was likely to 60, and a sigh of re-
liaf Gonna whom thew cow fba SarCaaDt pnal1v
unbuckle his saddle, take it on his back,
and start for place less frequented by
shot and shell.
One man and few horses wounded by
fragments of shell were all the casual
ties of this engagement in the regiment,
which resulted in driving the enemy back
across the Rappahannock. We learned later
that attempts to cross had been made at all
accessible points along POpe's front from
Fredericksburg to Waterloo Bridge, with
the same results as at Kelley's Ford and
vicinity These efforts were made continu
ously for SO hours, and were repulsed at
every point.
Later developments showed that in spite of
the information gained by the capture of
Lees autograph letter to Stewart by the
cavalry on the 10th, Gen. Pope had been
too slow to get the full benefit of it, and had
allowed Gen. Stewart to cross the Rappahan-
mock at Waterloo Bridge, in advance Of his
army, on the night of Aug. D. unobserved
capture his train, and destroy his supplies
at Warrenton Junction on the Gath.
The 5th n. Y. was sent to destroy the
bridge at Waterloo by burning. 1t was
found to be heavily guarded by artillery
supported by Anderson's Division of infan-
try, who, under the protection of logs and
trees, swept the bridge from end to end,
making all attempts vain, although several
gallant efforts were made by Christian
Ehman and L. F. Packard
Meanwhile Buford had arrived, as had
also many other Generals, 10 witness the
trial of the jackass battery, new invention
evidently emanatiBg from the fertile brain
of one who was neither familiar with the
working of artillery OF the pranl1s of jack
ass Now, this identical brass howitzer was
about three feet long, was mounted on the
back of a half-breed, vulgarly called a mule,
which, if not so very intelligent, had a very
inquiring mind, and wished TO investigate
as new ideas seemed to be developed.
The mule with his death-dealing inven-
tiou was trotted out into a convenient open
field, on gentle knoll close by the river
The officers began to cluster around to in
spect the devastation promised by the in
ventor, and the JoInnies Oh the opposite side
of the river ceased firing to enjoy the novel
scene. The mule and gun (pointed towards
sighted, and the fuze lighted. The fzzle-
sizzle of the lighted fuze attracted the
attention of the beast, and he commenced
an investigation as 10 the noise, by whirling
round and round, swapping ends so fast that
the inspecting officers were anxious to get
out of range of the gun or mule. OF course,
as soldiers they were not afraid of the gun,
SO it must have been the mule that caused
the quick dispersion of that crowd. The
blanched faces, the dilated eyes and puzzled
expression of countenance as they came in
range at each revolution of the gun with its
lighted fuze, was all chargeable to the mule,
of course.
In a much shorter space of time than it
takes to tell il, the gun was discharged, and
fortunately pointed in the direction of the
enemy, who gave yell and a cheer The
gun recoiled and kicked that mule on his
head and shoulders, with his heels high up
in the air. As soon as those flying heels
came down where their kicks would hit the
solid earth, they sent him out of sight with
the speed of the wind, TO return no more
As before stated, Gen. J. Z. B. Stewart
had crossed the Rappahannock at Waterloo
Bridge on the night Of the 22d of August,
and joined Stonewall Jackson who had also
fanked around by Thoroughfare Gap, and
formed junction with Stewart at Gaines
Vile, Jackson having crossed at Hanson's
Mills the same night. A small portion of
this command
EECoUETERISG sIGEL's CORPS
at Warrenton Sulphur Springs on the 23d,
they fell back, destroying the bridges after
them. Gen. Pope was obliged to let go his
hold on Fredericksburg and line of the
Rappahanuock, as Jackson was in his rear