The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04
PICKET. SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
At Front ROYAL.

|
Front Royal, in which the 1st Md. was so
badly handled, our regiment was ordered
from Winchester to prevent Jackson's forces
crossing the river at that point. While there
/ was detailed to 90 down the river and take
two bodies off dam in the river and bury
them. did this. They were drowned while
trying 10 cross the river in small boat in
the night. They were both Sergeants OF
infantry. / had their names and addresses
but 1 lost my book at Charlottesville.
think one name was Kinnie or something
like it. If anyone can give me, by mail
their names and regiments / should be glad
Homes for Settlers.
Laurence w. Mix, Avon Park, Fla, says
his is village of about 500 inhabitants,
mostly Northerners, among them several
GA. r. men. He declares that living ia
cheap and enjoyable there, climate, water
and natural productions all being favorable.
Land can be bought for from SIS to $25 an
acre. The place is six years old and 90
miles from the railroad, but a railroad is ex-
pected there within three months. He will
answer letters until they get too many for
him, when he must stop short. He ia adj
vised to have his information put in type,
which will save him much manual labor.
/. Steely, Yellow Springs, o., writes: " Pen
sioners unable to work, or widows, wishing
to secure home with all the advantages of
a city, cheap, and on their own terms, can
find good ones at Yellow Springs" He will
answer letters until too many reach him.
Don't Disparage the Cavalry.
James r. Clerihan, Co. G, 9th III. Cav,
Beulah, Kan, writes: "Allow me to correct
an error 10y Comrade Peters in Picket Shots,
recently. He states that McMillin's Bril-
gade, of McArthurs Division, in the after
noon of the first days fight at Nashville,
Tenn, Dec. Is, 1864, was the first to charge
the rebel forts, but that the cavalry, being
fresh from their horses, outran them.
| Il, as one of the cavalry boys, and one
who was on the advanced pioket-line that
morning, remember little of that ball.
Gen. Hatch's cavalry was the first troops to
strike the rebel works, and, as my legs will
bear me out, when Hazel, gave orders to
charge the first rebel fort, know we charged
| it in style that taught our infantry COM
| rades that Hatch's cavalry boys knew their
| business. Yes, my comrade, you should not
allow the mist of nearly 20 years to over
| shadow your memory. 1t is proper here to
state that your noble command had the
honor of supporting cavalry command that
was never whipped, by any rebels when on
| equal ground. 1t is truerour command was
| ottentimes overpowered by over Il might
| say 100 to one, and driven, while we led
Hoods dashing arP1y from Florence, Ala, to
Franklin, Tenn; but orr brave commanders
Gems. Hatch and Coon-were always on
the alert to give the rebels warm reception
on many hard-fouglit battlefield. Now,
my dear Comrade Peters drive from your
breast the notion that the cavalry was not
in it.
II will, in conclusion, mention one Incl
dent that / noticed after entering the first
fort. l hurriedly counted AZ rebels killed,
and one of that number, q man about As
years of age, had been shot through the
head, and his brains were oozing out and he
was dying in a spasmodjc manner. That
called my attention. but he bugle sounded
the rally to charge fort number two ON our
left. We (Hatch's cavalry were soon in
possession of this second fort, with several
prisoners. In this fort the scene was such
as to convince any reasonable, thinking
man that The South robbed the cradle to put
in the army. The youngsters that were
killed in this fight was sight long to re-
member"
NJ. L. Price, Co. Fl, 10Th Mo. Cav, PIMA,
Ga, writes: 1T was Hatch's cavalry that
was on the right of McMilln's Brigade the
first day at Nashville We had dsmounted
just after daybreak, and had been stirring
the Johnnies up all day on foot" He was
greatly impressed by the first charge on the
fort spoken of by Comrade Peters, and much
admired the beautiful alignment kept by
the infantry. The cavalry boys On the
skirmish-line never heard any order to
charge. They charged because they saw the
Johnnies in plain sight, and only followed
the custom of Hatch's cavalry under such
circumstances.
Somebody on skirmish yelled that the
infantry would beat us to the fort, and we
broke into run. After the first charge the
next hill, with four guns on it, was but a
short distance Off" The 18th Mo. Cav led
the second charge, supported by the infantry.
He does not claim that all the work was done
by his regiment, but remembers that the
guns were turned over to his organization.
Strange Behavior.
Edgar E. Adams, Brcvct Lieutenant Colo
mel, U. S. Vols, New Orleans, La, writes:
"The disobedience of two of Gen. Hoods
corps commanders at Spring Hill, Tenn, in
November, 1864, referred to in Comrade
Edward E. Chever's very interesting article
in Issue of Dec. Z, has always been con-
sidered one of the most singular incidents Of
the war.
81 knew Gen. Hood here after the war,
and once asked him if the disobedience of
his Generals was as bad a case, from mill
tary point of view, as had been stated. He
replied: 1t was quite as bad rs has been
reported, and l am going to say so in my
book, which will be soon published And
he did say So A friend of mine, who was on
Cheatham's staff at that time, told me that
an Aid rode up TO Cheatham's Headquarters
and said:
"'General, the Yankees are passing right
along the pike over there Cheatham re-
piled: C. d 'em; let 'em pass
After Hoods death lin 1879 Gen. Cheat
ham stated that he was going to publish a
pamphlet indicating his course at Spring
Hill, but he never did, and has himself died
since. This same staff officer of his, before
referred to, lid, in reference to this, that it
wasn't possible for him to clear himself
Why Gen. Stewart in rear of Cheatham,
didn't obey his orders to pass the advance
and throw his corps across the pike has
never been explained. While the conduct
of Cheatham aud Stewart looked very bad,
as soldiers, it was good thing for our boys,
and we haven't got TO be solicitious about
the regulations of our enemies.
Probably Hoods army was already badly
demoralized, as their rout at Nashville soon
afterward showed them to be-"
Where Is Hef
An ex-Con (ederate soldier writes a storv