The National tribune., 1893-11-09
THE EAGLE BRIGADE.
Endorsement by a Johnny Reb of e Com
rade's Graphic Article.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The con.
tribution by S. G. Miles, in the issue of Sept
%, interested me greatly. l was one of the
| johnny Rebs The description of the March
| from Alexandria to Bayou COtile, the Skin
mish at Henderson's Hill, on the evening OF
| March 81, 1864, the surrounding of Vincent's
I'd La Cav. &C.. S. A. that night, resulted in
the capture OF halfthe regiment, my capture
included, is plainly before ME as though il
occurred yesterday.
We uns" had gone to our quarters and
! retired for the night, well knowing that more
fighting was TO take place next morning.
The writer was soon disturbed by Conted-
crate cavalry Captain, who found his men
short of ammunition, and must be sup
piled by or before morning. That meant
that / must leave my bed, saddle my
horse, and ride 10 miles TO the rear to order
up wagon containing cartridges. l had
not ridden 400 yards from our quarters
before an infantry column, four abreast,
stopped me. 1t was then $50 or 10 D. II.
Halt! who comes there"
Friend, with the c0untersignn
Advance, friend, and surrender!n
Gee WhilMkins! thought /. / advanced
and so did a handsome officer on horseback.
What is your name and rank?" asked
he.
First Lieut.. Walsh, was my reply.
capt. Sample, of Gen. Mowers staff"
said he, and, continuing Lieutenant, You
will have to dismount and go to The rear Of
onr column. Capt. Mcintosh, show Lieut..
Walsh where the other prisoners aren
And Capt. Mcintosh did SO, and / found
several hundred of my comrades dumb
founded, half-asleep, laughing at themselves
and their fellows, so complete had been their
surprise.
The thing was managed well Our out
posts had Rugged their campfres too closely,
with their backs to pitchy darkness. They
were picked up, aud that gave the Yanks
lngress. They relied too much on the long
line of camptires the Yankee leader had
kept up ia cur front by men detailed for
that ruse, while he led them around US and
scOoped us in.
had that evening given you and your
people, Comrade Miles, the best | had on
hand from the 12-pounder smooth bore how
itzers, in the shape of canister, fuse cut to
three seconds. Your light battery of small
Parrots returned the compliment: but you
must have courtmartialed your gunners for
shooting off pine-tree tops.
Well, myself and "tea party" were
marched through the rain and mud that
DiSht 10 your camplDE-ground, about four or
SIX miles back toward Alexandria, and next
day into that town, TO the music of ;" Dixie"
and Yankee Doodle" alternately thence
we were taken to New Orleans, and placed
In comfortable quarters, where we were we'll
treated, and actually frolicked for fonr
months; then were exchanged at the mouth
of Red River for as many officers and men
of your army. Some of them in merry
mood had on the Texas wove hat ISSUED to
them in Tyler, Tex. and that hat they had
steamed for the occasion and poked it out to
ridiculous sugar-loaf shape.
Well, stranger, yet friend and fellow-citi-
zen, got enough, and of this perhaps YOU
haye.-R. M. WALSH, First Lieutenant
Artillery, c. S. A. (Boent's Brigade), U. S.
Mint, New Orleans, La