The National tribune., 1893-03-02
The MAGNOLIA Affair,

The Magnolia Affair.
T7yELYN KELSEY, band, 9th Conn,
II. Clinton, Conn., writes :" saw an ar
~ tice relating to the capture of the
Confederate steamer Magnolia As
we are all liable to be misinformed, especially
in the exciting times of war, l will state for
the credit Of those who ought to receive the
honor Of the capture of said steamer, by refer
ring to my diary, written by myself while in the
army at Ship Island Miss, find the following
account, dated Feb. 90, 1862: The South Caro-
lima arrived off the Island, bringing in the
large rebel steamer Magnolia prize.
The Brook Ign drove her into Mobile Bay and
left her, when the South Carolina put chase,
firing ball through her machinery, disabling
her; the engineer in trying to blow her up, by
bursting her boiler lost his own life. .
Feb 2l-The rebel engineer was buried to-day.
- Feb. 27.-Nine of the band boys gone
aboard the South Carolina. March l.
The South Carolina and Magnolia trsbeD left
for Mobile"
Unjust Discrimination.
keystone" writes: "In your issue of Jan. &c
is printed, over the signature "A Soldier Not
Pensioner,' list Of the number of retired
officers of the Army; and the amount of money
they receive per snnum for being on said list.
1t is proper to add to this list the number Of
tired officers of the Navy under large yearly
expense to the Governments. They number
something like 400, and by inspecting the Navy
Register it may be discovered that half the
number have been educated at the expense OF
the Government or have really been appointed
to the naval service since the war of the
rebellion. Many of those on this Retired List,
as it is we'll known. were put there not on &C
count Of any injury received while on Govern
ment duty, but because of inability to pass ex-
animation for promotion or on account of ILL
health caused by bad habits. Still, the Govern
ment holds this large class on the rolls at big
pay and growls at the small pittance per man
as paid to the veteran of the army and navy OF
the civil war, thus making the remnant of the
grandest fighting force the world ever saw APP
pear before the nations of the earth as band
of paupers instead Of an honored and respected
corps of American veterans. The writer of this
can truthfully say, after having travelled ex-
tensively throughout Europe. that these bicker-
ings and fault-fnding resolutions on the part of
| our leaders in Washington concerning financial
honors towards our American veterans are really
illuminating and tend to lower the respect ex-
pected from foreign residents towards our flag.
While other nations honor the fighters and
worn ont heroes Of land and sea as long as they
shall live. let not America show her narrow
mindedness in the question of crowding the
boys in blue who are so proud of their coun-
try aud their flag"
Scenes of a March.
D. B. Loyejoy, Lieutenant, Co. d. 18th Wis,
Ironton. Wis, writes My eyes mosten when
contemplating some of the incidents and scenes
connected with the movement of Gen. r. s.
Grangers Brigade from Decatur. Ala. to Ste.
venson, Ala, at the time Gen. Hood. with his
army. crossed the Tennessee River at Florence,
on bis way to attack Nashville. During our
march small force of Hoods cavalry made
dashes on our rear The formation of the coun-
stry being such at the point of attack as to pre-
went larger force from getting at US, the
~
refugees, who were in the rear, by scattering
them, and separating mothers from their chill
dren. The lost little ones were placed by the
Union soldiers in empty wagons, in which they
were shaken and packed by jolting till they
appeared like SO much blackberry jam, with
whites Of eyes and teeth thrown in. Those
who could not get in the wagons gathered by
the sides of the marching column of soldiers for
protection. and tramped along the outside of the
road. sometimes through the brush, with their
little, bleeding bare feet, and the tears from
pain flowing down their cheeks. | recall one
chubby little boy trudging by my side. with
tears and dust mingled till ridge had formed
from each eyes to the chin. and similar ridge
from the nostriis downward. The Chaplain's
wife picked up one lost child placed it with
herself on the back of mule. rode to camp,
where she restored it to the arms of its anxious
mother colored woman on mule fastened
her child TO the saddle by piece of rope, and
in her fight from the rebel cavalry the child
slipped and hung by the neck until dead.
Some were injured by the artillery when swing
ing into position"
The Hunter Raid.
Albert Loop, 2Sth Ohio Asherville, Kan,
says that James X. Pilkington in recent issue
speaks of rebel scout coming into the Union
ranks and wanting some teams to take in some
other direction from which they going.
The writer says his regiment had q similar ex
perience. A fellow came out Of the woods on
the day of the New Market fight, May Ii, 1864,
and wanted some wagons to take with him for
some purpose or other. The boys of his COM
pany thought he was a rebel and reported him
to the Captain, but the man disappeared because
they did not apprehend him at once.
The Saber Brigade.
J. F. Humiston Heron Lake, Mimi, will al
ways remember the Saber Brigade mentioned
Jan. 26. :" happened to belong to the Second
Brigade Reynolds's Division. that Gen. Nor
gan wanted the Goth day of March, 1863, at
Milton, 10 or 12 miles from Murfreesboro. l
shall never forget the cheers we gave those
men (the Saber Brigade) as they rode through
our lines over the hill that we had held from
morning until afternoon, repulsing all of Gen.
Morgan's attempts to take u.s. When this Saber
Brigade arrived and stopped the fun far as
we were concerned, it did look as if Morgan
would take US in; at the same time, onr Colonel
letting go that hill as long as there was shot
left in the cartrdge-box.
Speaks for His Regiment.
VIM. ii. Giderseeve, Co. f. 7th Wis, Hay
den Road, Mass. writes THE 7th Wis. left the
State for the front on Sept 81, 1861. with 1,0l6
officers and enlisted men. During their service
of four years the aggregate loss in casualties
was just the same. In a recent issue you gave
a list of 40 regiments that sustained a loss of
over 200 in killed and died of wounds received
in action. In that list the 1st Me. Fl. A. has
the greatest loss. 423; next 9Th N. Y. Ii. A.,
with 361; SD Pa, with 2S2 9TH Wis. Inf, with
2Si claim that the 7th Wis. stands second
among the infantry. Why don't some one
among the competent members OF the reg ment
write up history of it?"
The Magazine at bridgeport.
A Keller, Sergeant, Co. c, 55th Ohio Haskins
O.. says that we are mistaken about the
date of the blowing up of the magazine at
Bridgeport, Ala. He was an eyewitness and
saw the fire run down the hill, through the
hospitals, while the sick and wounded man
aged to escape the best way they could. 1t
happened on Jan. 8 or TO- 1864. while the
writer's regiment was waiting for Transports
ton at the Bridgeport station, to take them
home on furlough.
McDowelPs Hat.
George F. Hundredmark, Co. A. 105th n. Y,
aud Co. II, oath N. Y, Oakfeld, (S.ate not
given) read the account of Serg't Mesler, and