davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
WE MADE Dirt FLY.

We ran out Of ratious on The march. We
got Oh the Fredericksburg and Spotsylva-
MIA Courthouse road at early dawn, hungry
and weary. and after marching and fighting
for eight days and nights. This was the
morning OF thc 18Th. We now drew rations.
About O'Clock the bugle sounded Boots
and saddles" and we had orders 10 hitch up.
Then a wagon drove up aud left US some
picks ana ehoveis, and ali the canDOneers
were ordered to take one each. The cais-
eons were ordered TO stand fast, and the cam
noneers had orders TO mount and hang on
the best we could
We now went 10 the front, and on arriv-
ing at The top Of the hiil we came into line
10 a clearing bout 500 yards to our right
front waE an AGATE any e about 90 yards in
front OF the general line OF the rebel works.
We could count 30 pieces Of artillery within
their works. While the battery was advanc-
ing they Gid not Ere a shot at us, and when
they saw coming they crowded on top of
their works, and seemed 10 think we were
crazy. Those works were occupied by
Heath's rebel Division, and the angle by
Archer's Brigade OF Tennesseeans.
We now got the order TO dig and throw
up breastworks, and how we made the dirt
6gi When the Johnuies saw we meant
business they opened ire Oh u.s. and soon we
had orders TO drop pick and shovel .nd
commence firing Also Then their infantry
opened on Us Also Think of IL, boys !;
40 pieces of artillery opening on siX-gun
battery. The report got around that the
battery was captured lad all the cannoneers
and drivers killed. 1t was a wonder we
were not.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27

in an acute angle Immediately in our front.
For about SO yards was an open space ard
then pine woods. / was musing in half
reverie upon those solemn pines when we
were aroused by heavy firing on our left.
This was about gray dawn.
"All were aroused and turned anxious
eyes in the direction of the left. An omipous
sight was presented, for on The left in the dl-
reci0n of the firing from the woods issued
flocks oil small birds and owls. The density
of the pines afforded sufficient dai kness 10
those wanderers of the night, but as they
reached the open space their flight became
more rapid, ard hardly had we time TO re-
fleet upon the retreat Of the birds, when
heavy sliirmish-frng began in our front, and
about lhe same time the Federal artillery
opened on us.
This skirmish and artillery firing was
kept up until about a. M, when the Fed
eral skiImIshers were reinforced and our
men driven in. Eiated by the sight of our
retreat before them to gan the shelter OF
our works, they marched steadily and
boldly out of the pines into the open space
in front They advanced in the hight of mill
tary discipline and received volley after vol
lev. but at length our well-direced fire told
on their ranks; but though repulsed with
heavy loss they rallied in the pine woods,
and again advanced to the attack. No time
was lost, every man seemed nerved to do his
whole duty.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
FROM THE RANKS.
Here's Comrade Who Won't whftewash
Col. Blakely.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Blakely
cannot be exonerated. As to the resolutions
passed at The meeting Of the i3th Pa. Cav.
Association at the National Encampment in
Pittsburg, 1 have this TO say. / did not see
either Capt. Rifles article in The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, or the Grant ShOop article in Tie
Union Free Press; but / dare say they did
not have, nor would they need, the sugar
coating that those resolutions are done up in
And about the offer TO surrender ! don't
presume to contradict any thing so thin and
meaningless as that is Would not the rebel
commander accept his offer, or what was
wrong with BlaBely at that time and place?
Too late now, gentlemen, TO make a mill
tary record.
As 10 the allegation that he absolutely
and positively refused TO surrender, j say
that his action at that time will not bear
any set Of men out in such statements, for
he ordered all the colors and guidons 10 be
rolled up; and l believe that if il had not
been for the herosrn and bravery of the
officers under him, he would have surren-
dered.
Now as TO the fourth claim, that il was
through the personal bravery and military
skill of Col. Blakely that the command was
saved, say it is an injustice to Capt. Kerr,
Of Go. G, and Capt. Wakefield, Of Co. ID, of
said regiment. The said Captains are both
living, and are amply able to defend their
own military character. i think those reso-
buttons must not have come under their
observation, or they would certainly have
something TO say. / don't speak with any
disTespect for the many brave officers there
at that time, bat know those two did their
full duty, and should have the credit for il.
Private soldiers, i know, were not sup
posed 10 know much. / was one Of them
that was there, and could see enough to
know that had we been under competent
commander that day, and particularly in
the evening OF the day before, we should
not have been in any danger of either sacri-
fee OF surrendcr-M. G. j., Co. c, 14lh Pa.
Cav,
The National tribune., 1894-12-27

as unconcerned as if nothing had happened;
so went on hunting up my company, as we
were scattered all over the woods. So every
tine think of that fight think of that SOL
der, rs of our beloved Colonel. Co. l. bad
two killed that night, both young men.
Too Young to Belong.
G.. B. Cannon, Mascoutah, ILL.,, is in re-
ceipt of the following from EmpOria, Kan:
COMRADE: Did you ever belong to the
9th Hip / doubt it very much; or may be
Prohibition does not prohibit" In ILLINOIS
as much rs it does in Kansas. The reason |
am led to doubt you being member of the
grand old 9th is your letter in The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE OF Nov. 90, in which you
say the regiment was commanded by Coils.
Eleazer A. Paine, Samuel T. Hughes, and
Jesse j. Phillips" You never mention Col.
August Me1sey, who, with his Billy" and
Foxy" was Colonel of the 9th Ill. longer than
all three of the others All of our brigade
remember old Col Mersey aud his Leedle
MIN " from Shiloh to Atlanta, where Mersey
left us. We also remember the dashing Col.
j. j. Phillips, who commanded the gallant
9th so long and so well. | have always be-
lieved that the 9th Ill. did more and
harder duty than any regiment in our
Army of the Tennessee, and often wished
that Col. J. J. Phillips had been promoted,
as his services entitled him to be. l knew
no hing of Coils. Paine and Hughes, but well
remember, and will Us long NJ | live, old
August Mersey and J. J. Phillips. Ii you
belonged to the 9th, grab u root" and
don't forget old August Mersey the next
time you write. Yours in f., c. and L.
HIGH PRIVATE, Co. ], 8lst Ohio
In reply he says: "The High Private is
quite right in surmisiug that never be-
longed to the 9th Ill. As a matter Of
plain fact, never belonged to that or any
other regiment in the civil war. 1t is true
that was down South during the last two
months of the war, but the suppression of
the rebellion was not my work. | was born
down there few months before the war
closed, and owing to my youthiulness / was
not pressed into the service. In writing the
article referred to by my correspondent, 1T
was my purpose to furnish contribution
that would be of interest to the readers of
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE. Itappear5 that
my abbreviation of Correspondent written
Cor was understood TO mean 'C0mrade,'
and hence the mistake. Inadvertently, the
name of Col. August Mersey was omitted
from the list OF officers named in my letter.
The Surviy ors of the famous 9th speak OF
Col Mersey as gallant officer who vas be-
loved by one and all of the men who served
in the famous Illinois regiment. | trust
that This explanation will prove satisfactory
to my Kansas friend Us well a5 Others"
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
whole duty.

1.-THE enemy advanced 10 the open space,
but did not emerge entirely from the woods.
He was checked by the fire of our works,
assisted by our skirmishers and sharpshoOt-
ers. This ended the attack upon the angle
held by the Tennessee Brigade.
In conclusion, desire to call the atten-
ton of those who participated in the battle
Of SpOttsyiYanla. TO what appeared to me TO
be the most daring and desperate act of the
war by Federal battery on the morning Of
the 1911. While / was within our works /
saw 10 our right, and distant about 800 yards,
and about the same distance from ard in front
of oar artillery, u Federal battery advance at
full speed and halt out IN The open field.
The artiilerymen at once took out their
horses and sent them TO the rear, As much as to
say We have come 10 stay THIS was IN
fun view and within reach OF our 40 pieces.
AS quick as their horses were started
back every man of that battery WAS seen
digging; yet. j could hardly think they were
ia earnest, fur was satisfied that flour artil-
lery once opened on them, not a man could
escape.
" Presently our artillery did open, and as
the smoke cleared away could see that dig
ging with desperate energy was still kept
up by the survivors. Death and destrnc. ion
j thought would be the fate Of the battery
and its brave defenders, for it appeared at
times rs + their guns were literally covered
with bursting shell. Yet, strange 10 say, a
few gallant fellows survived the attack, and
amid showers % shot aud shell succeeded in
throwing up tOlerably secure works. They
came TO stay, and they did stay. This was,
in my opinion, the bravest act OF the war;
and IN tho hope that j may yet learn who
those gallant fellows were, / mention the
Incident"
Now we have both sides, and all agree
that the most daring and desperate act OF the
war by any battery was that Of ID, 9Th u.
S Art. Lent Rittenhouse commanding, at
the battle OF Spottsylvania, May 13, 1864.
Well, boys, what do you think? Were we
entitled 10 a medal of honor?
The boys will remember that in my
article on Little Round Top" / made men
iion OF seeing soldier come from the front
to our battery with his eye shot out, holding
the ball of the eye in his hand. He saw
my article in that great soldier paper Til K
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and wrote me, send
ing me his photograph. ] have been think
ing of him for nearly 81 years. ard at last
have found him. His name is George W.
Lucas, Of The 11th Mas, and is at present
an inmate of the National Soldiers Home
a. Togus, Me.
VIII the Cannoneer" please send me his
address?-THoNAs SCOTT, Battery ID, 9Th
u. S. Art, 20 Myrtle avenue, Auburn, n. y.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
New York's Slaves.
IHarper's Maaakine.l

The climax of slave-impOrtatiOn into New
York must have been reached between the
years 1880 and 1875. According to a report
made by Gov. Hunter June %, 1712) the
population of the colony In the year 1903
consisted of "Christians, 1861; slaves,
1901 %; and in 1912 of Christians, 1851 !;
slaves, 1,775" Collector Kennedy's figures
0726) show importation only, and not until
we come to the census of 1871 do we find a
total of the slave population, then amount
ing to 1902. This figure covers, of course,
both importation and natural increase; as,
likewise, does the return in the census of
1897 of SOFIA gain of near 1000 in only
six years. From this time onward the ur-
gent need for importation ceased--as the
natural increase OF the blacks, together with
the very considerable increase OF the white
laboring class, provided more and more
abundantly for the cOlony's needs. Indeed,
there must have been sale for expectation,
inasmuch as the slave population given in
the census of 1746 only 9, 107, is not suf1i-
Gent to account for natural increase.
And so, gradually and pleasantly-not
because anybody in the least objected to it,
but because it had served it's purpose and
no longer could be continued protitabIy-the
slave trade out of this port came naturally
TO an emu. 30 lar as pubIic opinion went, III
might have been continued for good half
century longer without encoun ering any
very emphatic objections on moral grounds.
So far as the law went, it might have been
continued until the trade formally was abol-
ished by the United States GoverDment-26
years in the wake of Austria, IA years in the
wake of France, and year i'll the wake of
England-by the act which became effective
Jan. /, 1903. But long before either of these
obstacles was encountered, the New York
slave trade stopped for the reason (over in
this city final reason) that it did not pay.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE
Is HAPPY, Fruitful kaaRIseE.U

Every Man Who Would Know the Grand
Truths thc Plain Facts; the New Dis
coveries of Medical Science as Applied
To Married Life, Who WOu!d Atone foe
Past Errors and Avoid Euture Pitfalls
Should Secure the Wonderful Little
Book Called Complete Maahood. ana
How to Attain It."
"Here ut last is information from q high
medical source that must Jc0F1 scoflderS with
this generation OF men,"
The book ful v describes uethod by which
to attain fun vfgOr and manly power.
method by which to end all unnatural
drains on the system.
To cure nervousness. lack of self-control,
dependency, etc.
To exchange n jaded and worn nature for
one of brightness, buoyancy and power.
Togtve fu!f strength, developn.cnt and tona
to every portion and organ of the body.
Age no barrier. Failure impossible. 2,oOo
referGJee5.
The book is purely nrsftcog 0t,d Scientific,
useless to curiosity seekers, invaluable 10 men
oRLy rho need a.
Adespairing man, who had applied 10 U.s.
soon after wrote:
"Weu, / tell you that first dgv is Que III
never forget. Just bubbled with JOY. Iwa0t.
ed 10 hug everybody and tell them my OLD
gelf had died yesterday and my new self wac
first wrote that would find 10 This way?''
And another wrote thus:
elf you dumped CARLOAD Of gold at my
feet IL would not bring such gladn ess into my
life AZ your method has done"
Write to the ERIE MEDICAL COMPANY, Buff.
faIo \. Y, and ask for the little book called
COMPLETE MANHOOD" In answering,
mention this paper, and the company pront'
Ses to send the book in sealed CnTeiope with
out any marks, and entirely free, until IL is
we'll introduced.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
A GREAT SCHEM E.
But Why Didn't the Boys In Blue Think OF
1t in War Times?

1t in War Times?
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While you
were publishing tie letteIsof Capt. Dan Ellis
| read them with great deal of interest.
II was more interesting because of Some OF
my own experiences-nOt as guide, for /
never yentured into that kind of work, but
as one who was guided.
AS l read of his standing around the fires
of Midwinter and freezing, the story recalled
some of the experiences through which all
who saw service passed, TO a greater or less
degree. When l recall these things, and
then little circumstance that took place
near my door few years ago, get mad
Just think of our lying down Oh the frozen
ground, sleeping on the icy cold beneath us,
shivering under single blanket and getting
up in the morning TO sit around the smoky
FIRE and try to thaw the frost out of our
Joints, when we could have found "a warm
sleeping place so easily, it is enough to make
one mad.
A few years age Dr. J. G. Kerr, medical
missionary in Canton, China, took his yaca-
ton at our town, living next door 10 the
writer One very cold and frosty morning
he stepped ont of MS door quite early, and
was surprised 10 find man lying on the
ground on the side of the street. lie was
perfectly still, and was clad in very coarse
and thin clothing, which was worn almost
threadbare. The Doctor took the man to be
dead, and went out to examine him. He
was not dead but sound asleep, and without
cover The Doctor woke him. but he was
not inclined to get up, and wanted TO lie
there and yawn, just as q person does who
has been awakened from sweet sleep and
is lying in a comfortable bed. The Doctor
II, l. a
sleep there in the cold
"Why, no, I'm not cold, he replied.
"How could you keep warm, in this freez-
ing, cold weather." the Doctor asked.
Easy enough" was The reply. L made
big fire of logs and sticks, and let them burn
down here, then l swept the Goals and ashes
over to one side, and made up another fire,
lying down in the place where the first one
was built, which gave me warm place I'M
til the second fire was burned down, when |
again swept the Goals and ashes over into
the place where had been lying, and found
a new bed warmer than ever in the place
where the second fire was built; and SO, |
had q good, warm fire all night"
Dr. Kerr had travelled thousands upon
thousands of miles, in this country, in China,
as well as i'll other lands, and yet he learned
a new lesson from this tramp.
/ was n loyal East Tennesseean and made
my way through pickets and patrols to the
Union army, then served three years en-
during cold and rough marching aud hard
service, devising means and inventing plans,
as well as adapting the plans of others to
meet emergencies and keep comfortable as
possible, but had learned a lesson, and it
was so simple that am mad yet, when 1
think of it, that did not think of the sim
pie way of keeping warm and gettinga good
nights sleep on many an occasion that /
suffered instead of sleeping.-WILL A. Nc
TIER, Sd Tenn. Cav.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
NOT IN THE RACE"
Comradc Webster Replies To Some OF His
Critics.

Comradc Webster Replies To Some OF His
Critics.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have
had no time TO answer all the squibs fred
by the Army of West Virginia and the
Nineteenth Corps comrades. i do not fully
agree with the CannOneer in his version of
the Cedar Creek battle. The rebs did not
go through Cowan's battery, and they did
not get any of our pieces. j believe we
were the only battery in the corps that saved
all il guns. One Of our pieces was slung
mp under the limbers and brought off the
field.
Our loss was 90 killed and wounded, IA
horses killed. No one disputes the fact that
the Sixth Corps fell back, but they were not
driven an inch. The Cannoneer says the
Vermont Brigade was the Old Guard of the
Potomac Army. We held that honor for
the entire Sixth Corps. In the words of
John Sedgwick at Gettysburg, have not
a coward in my command" What's the
matter with the 9th and 18th Me-, Jersey
Brigade, 12Ist, 122d n. Y? 1t would take
up the side of your paper to name them.
think the percentage of men who en-
listed 10 fight against slavery was very
small. j enlisted 10 preserve the Union,
not to free slaves. As a rule those chaps
who were hot against slavery kept out Of
the army. No, it was patriotism-love of
Countrywide flag and the Union of States.
1t was this feeling that nerved the old YER
mont Brigade as well as the entire volunteer
army. Comrade Wright wants to know
how | came to meet Sheridan, and if | was
in the race. Comrade, i got touched four
times-on the nose, lett wrist, left elbow,
and left thigh. | belonged to the Sixth
Corps, consequently was not in the race.
This will answer COmrade Merrifield, who
says he belonged to the Eighth Corps. Com
rade, yOu mean the Army of West Virginia.
Now, boys, keep on your shirts and don't
get sweaty, if you did run. Maybe we
would have done the same thing had we
been in your place, bnt we don't think So
w. L. WEBSTER, LIST n. Y. battery, Auburn,
n. Y.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
DARING AND DESPERATE.
The Action of Battery ID, 9th u. S. Art, at
Spottsylyania.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On the 5th
dav of Nav, 1864, the battle of the Wilder
ness was brought on by Griffin advancing
two brigades-Ayres's and Bartletj's, Second
and Third, First Division, Fifth Corps-snd
those two brigades first grappied with
Heath's rebel Dvison. Gen. Meade sup
posed this to be the attack of q simple rear
guard. and before Sedgwick could come up
on Warren's right ENell had inflicted loss
on the Fifth Corps of 1900 men. Battery
ID, 9th u. s. Art, fired their first gun here,
about 800 yards in rear of the Plank Road
House. The battery was at this time COM
manded by Riitenhouse.
Lee. seeing that Grant was moving off
somewhere, bat not knowing whether TO
SpotIsylvania or Fredericksburg, instructed
Anderson, who had temporary command OF
Longstreel's Corps, to draw out his corps
and have it in readiness 10 march TO Spott-
sylvanja.
The direct route to the Courthouse was by
the Brock road via Todd's Tavern. On this
road the Fifth Corr s was to take the advance,
and by rapid march seize Spottsylvania
Courthouse. The Second Corps WAS 10 fol-
low on this line, while the Sixth and Ninth
Corps were TO move by an exterior line by
way of Charlottesville.
The vital interest OF his movement centered
in the march of Warren to seize the Court
house. At 8 a. NJ. of the 6th the column
emerged from the woods into clearing, the
infantry advancing aud forming lines at
doube-quIcll and drove the ConfeGerates
back into their works.
On the i1ih and 18th we had hard fight
ing at Laurel Hill, and large number of
prisoners ard general officers were taken.
Al 10 p N. the 18th we again got the order
TO move towards the lef.-dank, and had the
worst road we ever marched oveI-mud
knee deep-snd it took our battery SIX
hours to go six mics.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
We have split The solid

never got il again. We have split the solid
South, and split her for good, too.
Now, we have a fine country here. Good
people, good land, good water, and the mo0s
healthy place in America for weak lungs.
They always get well if they come in tinfe-
We can raise everything here except the
tropical fruits, and we I&Sc some OF them.
Our Winters are but few days. Come
down, old comrades, from the frozen and
burnt-up Northwest, and uelp us enjoy this
delightful country. / came here from Cons
nersyille, Ind, 20 years ago, and know l sIs
right. Hurrah for Mckinley and II. @.
Evans in '9G-FRANK w. MCCLURE, Mur
freesbOro Tenn.
The National tribune., 1894-12-27

Gems. Griffin and Warren came riding up
In rear Of our battery with their horses
covered with foam; and. mind you, we had
been holding our position until this time
entirely unaided. Bun now we could hear the
First Division coming up in our rear, with
theiryell sounding above tie din fbattle. On
came The brave Regulars with guns across
the breast at arms a-pGrt,' with their heads
bent forward, and skirmishers 200 wards in
advance. The Second Division was on our
lefl front, about three-q quarters OF mile dis
iant On orr right the Third Division was
coming out Of the pine woods and CALAMITY
charging to the front.
The infantry threw up good works and
held the position. Here some of the brayest
Of our battery boys went down never to rise
again, and as fast as one fell a driver took
his place.
Inow wish to give the Confederate account
OF this action as written by Col. J. II. Moore,
9Th Tenn, and commanding the angle on
that day. He says:
The works occupied by The Tennessee Bri-
gade extended about 80 yards in front of the
general direction Of our lines, and terminated
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
Had a Hard Time.

man accused of arson admitted HE
guilt to one Of the jurors, an Irishmsn-ths
ether II being, fortunately for him, Dts
friends-and promised HIM $4,000 to secure
a verdict IN the second degree.
"Wen,0 he said to the Irishman. when
the jury had come in with the verdict in
the second degree. "did Won have hard
time bringing them arOundY"
"Indade Oh did" Pat replied, with Q
weary shake of his head as an earnest Oh
the labor he had. Iviry wan OF thin
other fellers wanted to vote for acquttab"
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
Down in Tennessee.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / take q
great many papers, but when they come the
old soldiers friend is always picked out first,
for / know / shall see something interesting
to the old soldiers that fought so hard to
save the Nation.
Now, just think what we have done in
TennesSee-elected Comrade III. @. Evans
Governor, and got the infamous Enloe out,
and such good man in his place. Every
soldier should throw up his old hat, ii ne
The National tribune., 1894-12-27
Soldiers Relief.

Nearly 100 years Use ls00to 1880 is n tremendous
test Of merit. such is the record of Fosgates Ano
dyne Cordial FOR curing Diafrhoei, Dysentery,
Cholera MOrbns. Cole and Cramps. For Chronic
Df0rrhG0, take one teRspoonfui Of the Anodyne
Cordial and 10 10 drops Of muriated tinclnre of
ifon mixed la little water with each meal. Fos-
gate's Anodyne Cordial j. for sale by druggists or
sent by mail on receipt of price IS cents. Write TO
FosSatcs Medical Laboratory, Auburn, n. Y.