The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-23
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
HOW SCOUTS WORKED.
serg't knight Tells How They Went About
Getting Information.
inued 6oa, March Q

-TTE had not been there over half
Nh minute when two mounted men
W 20 rode out Of the woods on the
Hill opposite us. When we first
Eaw them we thought they were our own men.
They came out on gallon, and when they
reached the brow of the Hill one of them
STONED while the other came on about half
yay down. he was opposite the right flank of
the 22d N V Cav. when he stopped has horse,
raised himself in his stirrurs, and looked TO
the righ, and left for moment. There were
no other troops in sight from where he stood.
After he had apparently satisfied hlmseii, ne
wheeled his horse and dashed up the hill again.
when he reached his comrade he turned, aud
they both dashed into the woods. They were
hardly out of sight before bang! bang! came
the report of two guns, aud Immediately alter
ward two more. and then third round. The
shells passei over US SO feet higher than our
heads and hurst half mile IN our rear
By the time the second round was fired the
ODD N Y. Cav were in motion toward Army
Headquarters, which were about three mics
away About 100 yards TO the left OF where
fhey stood was a broken-down bridge, and our
teamsters had crossed the run to the left as
YOU went south, and a slough some % feet
across had been created, which was hiied up
with floating rails. The 22a \. y. was new reg
iment and every man had his full equipments
on. AT least half of them were actually little
afraid OF their horses 4 green cavalry regiment
is about us useless a set of men as can be got
together. 1t was terrible TO see them go
through that slough. Many of them who had
clung to their saddles until NOW dropped IKE
over-ripe plums and soon the slough was dot
ted here and there with rails and troopers
They went down the road as fast as they
could toward Headquarters. 1t finally struck
Us that they might spread report that might
make them think the rebels were massing on
our right, for we had heard plenty OF that KIND
of talk the night before. We finally concluded
to 90 to Headquarters and let them know the
truth of what had happened. but concluded not
to 90 down the Plank road, which was pretty
well filled BY the fugitive 22d " Y. Cav, so we
rode for the woods south of Us, and Slight
search revealed to us path leading in the right
direction, which we took, aud IN short time
we emerged from the woods in sight OF the Bone
Mill. Almost the first man we saw was our
bald-headed friend who, back by the spring,
thought it such shame they could not get
into it, The road was pretty well filed with
cayalrymen and we had 10 crowd a little TO get
through. Our friend had lost his cap in
the race, and his head was glistening IN the sun.
We edged up close to him, and as we passed,
although it was rather small thing to do.
could not resist the temptation OF saying:
"You don't appear to be as anxious as you
might be TO get into it," a mournful look was
the only answer.
Upon reporting TO Col George II. Sharpe the
condition of things. and why we had not crossed
the river, he took Mac and me to Gems. Grant
and Meade and we told them the story. Grant
said TO Meade: Take their horses away and
give them q better men, if they don't behave
better" ] am happy to add that their horses
were not taken away, and they became good
regiment as soon as they acquired experience.
we Immediately went back, and presently
heard that Gen. Merritt was passing through the
woods in our front, and it came with such de-
tail that we did not believe it, knowing how
such rumors start. So when the story was re-
peated TO US by the cavalry tneither Of Us can
remember The regiment) we told them to let
rs have - men and we would soon find how
much truth there was in the report. The men
were detailed, or volunteered, | think, and we
went into the woods in front OF where the Sixth
Corps had been. We soon found path, and in
about half 4 mile came into a small cleared held
of about three acres in extent. The fence on
both tile north and west sides was nearly hid
den from sight by bre:s and bushes that IN
most places were higher than the fence. When
we came into the field we eagerly scanned the
woods on the opposite side, but could see no
signs OF an enemy. We were riding by two's.
Mac and myself in front, aud when we got
within about 80 yards OF the fence we received
avolley Of about 40 shots that did no damage
either to men or horses, being fred 100 high.
The command to left-about was given, and
every one iurned his horse and We started TO
the rear on a walk. and went out Of the field
into tho woods without being fred at again.
When We returned to the regiment we Informed
them hat Merritt had not got along as far as
their front vet We went again to Head
quarters aud reported that the bulk of the
rebels, in our belief. had moved to the left, and
the results showed we were right.
DEsoLATIoS OF WAR;
During The fighting in the Wilderness, /
dcsr-
Fredericksburg. Some Of our wounded had
been taken prisoners the night before by Mayor
Slaughter and some citizens Slaughter had
got out Of the way, and our errand'was boot
less one. Our poor fellows had to 90 to prison,
where some Of them doubtless persisted. On
returning 10 Headquarters / went around by
Mr. SviyiA's. The "abomination 0! desolation y
best expresses the scene. ] had been there, az
the reader OF these "reminiscences VIII remem-
Der bat a few days before, and never 9
nicer farm and growing crops, with young
apple aud peach orchards. Now il was like
the desert OF Sahara. Orchards, fences, grow.
ing crons. III had disappeared from the face OF
the earth 7 said to Sylvia: Why did you
not tell these people who and what you were?
Sheridans cavalry had settled down on hii
place like a flight of Egyptian iocusts. " did
but no one would believe me: and IL has seemed
70 me that TREY have treated me worse on &C
count 81 what ! told them than they woulC
have done nad 4 Said nothing, SAID ne.
! certainly felt sorry for the man. Confirm
ing he said: T" w hat am / going TO do wheI
these men that are here now, GOT" Sheridan
had started OH his raid toward Richmond, anC
the men Sylvia spoke OF were OF the Subsist
ance and QuaTtcrmaster Department How
can mv family live There Will be nothing
70 buy anywhere in this country. We woulC
starve now. lift were not for the fact that thes
men divide with U.s."
went and saw the officer who had charge
who he WIS ] have forgotten. ] told him VIII
Sylvia was and what he had done for Us. tn
condition he was in aud what be would be il
when our people left and asked him to furnisl
rstions enough 10 keep the family for SOM
time. Ills answer was that he was sorry h
could not do il, but there was no law or regula
ton by which he could. After thinking tn
situation over, asked If he could issue ration
70 me. and be said he could; also, that h
would be pleased to 90 so. I made requisi
ton fer great many more men than ha
with Es. Cor 10 days. and turned the thing
over to Sylvia.
About six years ago McEnesny and mysel
went down 10 Fredericksburg and drove out {
see hisB. lie had forgotten many things, AM
that awsng others. His wife, however, II
membeFea.
Returning TO Headquarters, ] concluded |
go along ia the rear of the line of battle sout
Of the cid turnpike, and was very glad di'
for before ] had gone over half mile m'
q mRn named Wilson, who had one of Ia
1~4m IL. Ill I-s.