The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20

from Herkimer County, N Y, in which fel
| great interest. Ii was Col. Upton's old regi
ment, the l2lst n. Y. mist set in, which a
last became drizzling rain, and those boy
| stood up to their work like brave and gallant
fellows as they were. ] don't mean to say thai
the other regiments which were in that igh
on the outside of tho works that were taker
from the rebels early IN the morning did no
do their full duty, but | felt more interested il
those farmer boys than anyone else on the field
When they came out they could scarcely have
been distinguished from negroes, their face:
and hands had become so black By biting car.
tridges and getting the powder smeared on their
wet faces and hands.
When we left Spottsylvania Courthouse
don't remember anything of the roads oil
appearance of the country until we came to the
Pamunkey River near old HanovertowD, where
we crossed. and Headquarters were established
on a farm called Gold Hill, from which place
Jas. Hatton and myself started TO carry dis
patches to Yorktown an account of which was
Published ia THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE but q
few weeks ago.
After coming back from that trip l found
Headquarters at Cold Harbor l shall not
attempt TO give any description of the fgh timg
at this point, bot will cuHfn6 myself to the
operations of the scouts. The reader of these
"reminiscences must not SUI pose that what is
told in these sketches is tenth part of what
was done by the scouts
/ can remember that Cline and Phelps had
made q periIous trip to Washington with dis
patches. Gus Carney and enc other had tried,
by another route, TO get through a duplicate set
then they tried TO 90 from the Wilderness by
land, and failed. Cline and Phelps made their
way to the Potomac River, constructed n raft,
and got across to the Maryland side, where the
river WAS several miles in width; got aboard Z,
schooner where they had smallpox. They mad
a hal
before they could make the crew get under
way.
On another OCCASION when a few miles far
ther down than the Wilderness, large party
OF tho hoys went into the Northern Neck, F" AS
a stretch of country lying between the Poto-
mac and Bappahannaek Rivers is called, and
captured signal station. A Lieutenant who
had charge Of the station was ptt in charge of
one Of the new hands, called Honesty, who
had been au Orderly for the Provost. Marshal
General. The Lieutenant had not been Their
dughly searched. He had small revolver
concealed, and at favorable opportunity shot
Honesty in the back and made his escape.
Honesty died in few hours.
Sometimes the boys would go ont single,
some in pairs, and often eight CT 10 together.
At times they were away for days. and some
times only for few hours: so that no one
man can begin to tell all of the adventures
that befel them.
At Cold Hsrb0r l met citizen who was.sent
to Cur quarters with orders for us to take care
of him. He was with Us. should think, three
days, when he came over from Gen. Grants
and Gen. Meade's Headquarters aud said to
me: Good by / am going to leave you"
well, sir, good-by. Where are you going2"
80 To Philadelphia"
He fhen told me that Grant and Meade had
not made him take the oath of allegiance; aud
when ! asked the reason, he said it was not
exacted from him, so that the Confederatcs
should have 10 excuse, If they beard of it.
for coufscating his property. Before ! got
through talking with him, learned he was
from Richmond /; that his name WAS john y.
Van Lew; that his family were from PhiIadel-
phia. originally that his flther had been
hardware merchant in Richmond
for many years previous to the war; also, that
he was VA the same business; that his mother
and sister were both living on Church Hill
that the family were known as Union people;
also, that the rebel Provost Marshal General
Ninder was boarding at their house. and that
they gave him his board as an equivalent for
the protection he afforded the family. As soon
as he told me he WIS from Richmaad began
imp0rtuning hiw TO iein cur party. aud be
inquired what we were. As sOoh as / told him
he declined, saying the life would not suit
sim. went with him tive or three miles
toward the White House. using ali the argu-
ments l could thiak Of in Ovder to try and
induce him to stay. hut faiied.-JUDso
KNIGHT, Postnffiee Department, Washington,
D. c.
ITO be eoEliaued)