The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
A CASE OF "sCOOPED."
Involuntary Desertion that Was Scratched
of the Books.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Army
of the Potomac had made its flank move
ment from Cold HarbOr, and, crossing the
James River, made its way toward Peters
burg.
1t was late in the day when our Battery
M, 5th .. S. Art, accompanied by lis very
good comrades, the Jersey Brigade, moved
across the pontoon at City Point. The
march was slow, the road dusty and narrow;
it was beautiful weather, but both men and
horses were weary. Long marches, short
fare, little sleep, and occasional hard fight
ing, were telling on a good many of us, who
had not been away from the front since the
war commenced.
The road from City Point to Petersburg
was not a very large highway. 1t mean
dered through woods and fields at its own
sweet pleasure. Occasionally bypath would
run along in the edge of the woods, follow
ing the road and joining it at convenient
points.
NV comrade and ehum, Patterson, and
your humble servant as cannoneer, had TO
foot it. with our haversacks, canteens, re-
volvers and ammunition as personal lncum-
ORANGES. We followed those cutoffs through
the woods, and at times gained considerably
on our battery, whereby we could rest until
we heard the well-known rattle of the
moving guns.
1t must have been toward the wee sma'
hours when, after longer halt than usual,
we heard our bugle Forward !" at some
distance. Patterson and got up and, fol-
lowing the usual method, took to the bridle-
path in the woods for another good squirt.
How long OF how far we two had gone on,
needing nothing but the ruts and stumps in
our path, l don't know; but l am sure we
were more than half asleep.
/ found myself brought to a sudden stand
still by tall Johnny. My arms were bound
behind quickly and skillfully, my revolver
was taken from its scabbard, and voice
commanded me to keep my mouth shut on
pain of instant death. / saw at a glance
that my chum was in the same fix and con-
Guided, under the circumstances, that dis
erection was the best policy.
We marched through the woods and un-
derbrush for nearly two hours, and daylight
was breaking in the east when our captors
finally made halt in a grove by a country
road. But there was no other living being
in sight, nor was there any noise from
moving troops; in fact, we had been travel
ing away south from our line of march, and
having some knowledge Of the clay of the
land" we were surely going in the direction
of the Dismal Swamp.
Our hayersacks were now confscated and
three days rations we had got the evening
before crossing the James was soon appro-
priated.
About midday we must have marched
nearly II miles, and there were signs of the
vicinity of the Dismal Swamp. A halt was
made at a deserted school-house. / now
undertook to open a conversation with my
chum, and spoke to him in Swedish. The
Johnnies at first stared at us, then shook their
heads and told US TO quit talking.
said it was hard usage if a fellow could
not say his pater noster The Johnnes
wanted tOknow if we were Catholics. Now,
a Protestant has no business with the pater
noster, but seeing the necessity for some
mode out of the common to communicate
with my chun, ! had to make lie do serv-
ice, so l told the Johnnies that we were of
the Greek Church. Of course, the captors
had as much knowledge of the Russian
Church and religion as cow has of mathe-
MATES, so one of the Johnnies told US we
might pray. but only like other Christians
in the morning and night.
Wewere given some cornbread and water
Our arms were freed, with the understanding
that If We made move for freedom we were
lost. They told us that we were in country
surrounded by their people, and we could
not escape.
We marched about 10 miles farther that
day, and camped in a house of some pre-
tensions not far from James River. OF
course we were put in an clubhouse and
Johnny set to guard u.s. Iasked the guard
very politely if we might say our prayers
before going to sleep. He told me to go
ahead, pray and be -. I told my chum
that we had good chance to get away if
we worked quick and quietly. Ny plan
was simple, and as soon as my chum under
stood me we were ready for action.
The door Of the Emoke-house was left
open. They never thought it possible that
there was chance for us to get away with
an armed guard in front of our door. /
gave my chun the signal, and our Johnny
found himself pinioned, gagged and bound in
q manner that only two old sailors knew
how TO accomplish. Patterson took his car
bine, his revolver, and between Us he was
marched quickly to the river, put in skiff,
and you may take my word for it that skiff
was never handled more quickly and gently
than upon this occasion.
We dropped down the river, going well
under the shadow of the bank, not wishing
10 expose ourselves out on the open river in
the bright moonlight. After rowing about
an hour we lay on our oars under a heavy
cottonwood tree, and by removing the gag
from our prisoners mouth we got out of him
the plot laid for using us as decoys to sur
prise the cavalry guard on the peninsular
side Of the river. Our prisoner could not
give us all the details, as ne was himself but
partially instructed.
Towards daylight we unmoored our skiff
and began to drift down the river again.
We were going under pressure Of two SOULS
and the current, when on a sudden we struck
snag near shore and found ourselves fight
ing with raging current. 1t was a fight
for life hampered with our clothes on Our
prisoner we never saw again. Patterson and
landed with some difficulty.
We walked couple of miles on what
must have been large sandbar between the
swamp and the river, and seeing soldiers in
blue across the river, hailed them. A boat
came across. No surprise was possible from
where we were. as it was a fiat sandbar, no
bush or tree anywhere near us. So we were
taken on board and brought across the river.
Here we found about so cavalrymen. The
officer in charge examined us rigidIy, and
the same evening stopped a gunboat for
Fortress Monroe and sent as without guard
down 10 that place.
Here we were questioned at once, given
the freedom of the camp and plenty to eat
and drink, and two days after We were sent
to City Point. Later we got back safely to
ouE battery.-CARL HARTMANN, Battery
III, 5th U. S. Art