The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-14
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
The Men Who Served the Guns.

teresting story about what they did in some
battle where the big guns had show. He
thinks that Gettysburg artilleryman told
a good one and he hopes the example will
be followed by others of his kind. The
men on horseback have been doing nobly
now let some of the men who served the
guns tell what they know.
| Wants Housekeeper.
B. Hoyer, Berrysburg, Pa. says that he is
in need of housekeeper He would prefer
a soldiers widow or daughter of about 40 or
d. years Of age and one who can sew, bake,
and do all kinds of household work. He
wants one who is kind to children, as he has
two girls, whose ages are six and eight years.
He desires to secure one who has no children,
and he has good home for such as need one.
He lives in a country town. The work is
light, and, if satisfactory, the position is a
life one.
| Greatest Increase I'm Weight.
d. w. Hall, Bangor, Mich, says: "Our
town can knock the spots off any other for
| having a comrade who shows greatest in
! crease in weight. F. Lee, of the 10Th Mich,
weighed 134 pounds when he enlisted and
! now weighs 3S2."
A Case for Settlement.
D. c. II. Roberts, jackson, Mo-, writes {:
We have here the widow of soldier of the
Indian wars. She is nearly sc years old, her
sight is nearly gone, and she is quite feeble.
| She is waiting for pension. Her record
and proof are all right, and the Pension
Office has required over and over again proof,
only to delay the payment her due. lam of
the same political faith as Commissioner
Lochren, but believe pensions should be paid
as freely as salaries of Government officers
at Washington"
A Question Answered.
M. S. b. 18th Me-, writes: Frank Stevens
| says he cannot indorse my position that our
| lives are largely the result of circumstances.
Comrade Stevens must be Yankee. He
answers my questions by asking several
more. l will quote only one of them. Did
circumstances make Grant the greatest Gem
eral this Nation ever had? They certainly
did and if our friend will look up the his
tory of his life l think he will change his
views. | am great admirer of Gen. Grant
aud would not say or do any thing to I'M ure
his fame as a great commander; but if it
hadn't been for the circumstances of the war
Gen. Grant might possibly be living now and
running a tannery in Illinois providing
he got some one to manage the financial part
of it."
Attention, Jack Tarsi
good sea-stories in The NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE for an age. Why do not the jack tars
write like the landsInen do? They certainly
served as well, and he knows there are some
great fights TO tell about. Let US see some
thing from them in the Fighting Them Over
column. 8u
Cedar Creek.
M. w. Lindsleyc Livonia, n. Y, writes:
Much has been written of Cedar Creek,
but the half has not been told, because it is
simply impossible to describe it so that one
not there may realize either the terrible
defeat and disaster of the morning or the
glorious victory of the afternoon.
My regiment early in the morning was
thrown across the pike to try to stop the
disorderly retreat; but it was of no use. /
mention this only to show the conditions at
that time, not as any reflection on any or
ganization. There was ample reason for the
disorder, and later these same men fought
like heroes.
"At one time in the morning squadron
OF my regiment supported section OF artil-
lery on the pike, aud at that time those two
guns and that squadron of cavalry were all
The organized Union soldiers ON the pike.
Later on this squadron was sent away to the
rear to help in the reorganization, and l
the first portion of this army that Gen.
Sheridan met in his memorable ride from
Winchester. He halted and asked several
questions. Why were we there? What was
the situation in front? And after telling
US to hurry up passed ON. It is too well
known what change his presence and
efforts wrought for me to write more re-
garding it.
Later in the day the cavalry of Gen.
Merritt, sitting their horses, on the left of
the pike under a sharp artillery fire, wit
messed the heroic fight of the infantry on
the right of the pike, which resulted in
driving the rebels from their position be-
hind a stone wall and barn standing near.
When this was done the cavalry OF Custer
and Merritt came in for their share, and it
was wild race and glorious finish"
Southern Version.
J. N. McCurdy, 49.h Ohio, Bucyrus, O.,
says he recently came across The Youths
History of the Great Clvil War;" written by
one who was plainly "A sympathiZer with the
Lost Cause" Some astonishing statements
are made. After telling that Jeff Davis and
his family were surrounded in camp near
Irwinsville, Ga, by Col. Pritehard the author
says: Someone started the falsehoOd that
Mr.. Davis tried to escape in his wifes
graphed all over the North, for the especial
delight of the AbOltiOnists. Col. Pritchard's
official report, however, did not confirm the
story, so this Abolition falsehood fell to the
ground" Then follows an absurd story
about Daviss treatment in confinement,
which reached "the sublimity of cruelty"
This book was written just ut the close of
the war.
Homes for Settlers.
J. w. Raymond Co. d. 91st H., Asheville,
n. c., writes: Il think that we have the
best place in which old vets may spend their
declining years that can be found. 1t is not
too hot nor too cold. Our coolest last Win
ter was 150 above. Our Summers are very
pleasant. Property Is reasonably cheap, and
lumber very cheap"
The Last Cannon Fired.
G. E. Dolton, st. Louis, Mo-, writes: In
your issue of March 15, LIS. Falls, 9th Ind.
Cav, claims the last cannon-shOt for Sher-
mans army to have beenlf OH April 13,
1865, at Morrisvile, N. c., by the Goth N. Y.
battery, and asks for later date of actual
last shot for the war.
i am of the opinion that some cannon
were fired at Columbus, Ga, April 16, but
have not the full documents at hand to
refer to. On May the rebel ram Webb had |
a 125-pound ball put through her as she ran
past New Orleans after she pulled down the
Stars and Stripes and hOisted the rebel flag.
That, / think, was tie last actual shotted !
gun fred at the rebels within the limits |