The National tribune., 1894-03-22
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
GnIaSki to Nashville.

states that Gen. Thomas sent two raw regl-
| ments from Nashville to meet the train there;
that they were put on the west side of the
pike, and that they ran like sheep. The
regiments were old trOops-the I'D Ill. and
the 44th Mo. They did not run. The regi-
ment that fell back was farther on the left,
an Ohio organization, and it was cut to pieces.
The other two regiments staid until ordered
back at dark, and had hand-to-hand fight
with the rebels meantime.
| r. G.. Rice (regiment and address not
given) agrees in general with what COmrade
| Pond stated. But he says the First Brigade,
| Second Division, led the advance of the in
fantry at Spring Hill; the 125th Ohio was in
lead of the brigade, and was the first infantry
to enter this little town. eve came in on
the double-quick, passed through town, and
northward on the Columbia pike, deplOyed
into line-Of- battle, facing eastward. At this
time there was no enemy above us on the
road, but a few cayalrymen confronted US
from the east
AT nightfall we formed picket-line ex-
tending across this pike. My company (B)
had it's Headquarters at the toll-gate house.
Fires were noticed above US on the road early
in the evening, but at midnight, when our
army began marching past, there were no
distractions.
We fell in and formed rear-guard about
daylight, and for a short distance only per-
! formed the manuver as described by COmrade
| Pond. Gen. Opdycke's horse was not killed
as described; was only wounded.
We hauled that cannon up on top that
hill by permission, not by orders; and when
our shots fell so far short of the mark as to
excite shouts of derision from the enemy,
Gen. Opdycke shouted, Take that thing
| down from here!'
After passing over the works at Frank
lin, the 125th rested with its left on the
Columbia pike. When the ball opened Gen.
| Opdycke and staff were seated on their horses
on this pike, and only few feet from where
| stood. His command was clearly and plainly
| given, and by careful comparison of recol-
lections among those who were in the inn
mediate vicinity it is now agreed that his
words were, First Brigade-ForwaId-To
the works."
First Into COrinth.
J. r. Sherwood, Corporal, Co E, 9th Ind,
Pine Bluff Ark, writes: Il see that Com
rade j. Henson, of the 33d Ohio, in recent
article claims that Gen. Nelson's skirmishers
were the first to enter Corinth, Miss, May
30, 1862, and other claims have been adj
vanced. / have very distinct recollection
of what Gen. Pope was doing south of the
Pennington road {; and while he was pound
ing away at the rebs, know that Gen. Mel
son and his boys were not idle.
We were posted on the north side Of the
Pennington road, and were right close up to
the swamp supporting battery of brass
guns from Ohio. We could hear the trains
and the cheering of the Johnnies as they
left Corinth.
About daylight we saw the clouds of
smoke and dust go up when the rebels blew
up their magazine. About that time one of
the rebel company cooks came into our lines
with breakfast for the rebel pickets.
Just then Gen. Nelson came tearing down
the line on his black horse, and ordered us
to fall in, and he escorted us into Corinth. l
remember looking south to the left, and
seeing between US and the railroad some
mounted men moving toward COrinth with
our National cOlors in hand. They were
not much, If any, in advance of our column.
"As for the story of Gen. Nelson being in
a towering passion, we did not see or hear
anything of that"
Information.
G. NJ Slayton, Co. Il, 25th Mich, Grattan,
Mich, says that in Picket Shots of Dec IA he
read an inquiry about soldier that was MUIR
dered near Portland, o. " In looking over
some of my old letters few days ago, found
lDclOStu III OHb Ol Vi u
martial convened at Louisville, KY, June
IA, 1863, before which was arraigned and
tried Peter Long, Co. L. 9Th Ind Cav, on
the charge of murder in the second degree. 1t
was claimed that the said Long, without just
cause or provocation, did, on or about the 18th
day of July, 1863, near Portland, O., discharge
part of the contents of revolving pistol at
the person of Martin Murphey, Co. L, 5th
Ind. Cav, causing instant death. Private
Long was found guilty of the specifications,
except without cause and just provocation :
was adjudged not guilty, and was returned
to duty"
Eli Drew, Lackanack, N. Y, wants his
comrades to know that he has removed from
Bloomfield, N. Y.
Hurt His Feelings.
P. Fitzgerald, Co. B, 57th ILL.,, st. Edward,
Neb., writes: " l always felt proud of belong
ing to Sherman's Bummers until | saw the |
statement made by Henry C.. Kern that he
saw two New Hampshire men scare 1000
bummers by forming into line behind two
muskets. Now, this is not what l expected
from those heroes, as l always thought that
when we wanted anything we usually took
it, without the formality of retrograde
movement so much practiced by the Eastern
boys between Washington and Richmond;
DuU III seems IIldL we never ineJ any men OF |
nerve until we ran across those two New
Hampshire fellows. How the Johnnies ever
held Richmond against those two fellows for
four years is something we cannot see intO.n
Longest First Enlistment.
VIM. A. Chaffee Co. A, Seth n. Y, Crys-
tai Falls, Mich was with his company at |
the muster, Sept. "a, 1861, and served three
years, nine months, and five days.
Terror of the Picket-Line.
Silas S. HOlbrOok, Co. B, 18th Me- address |
not given), tells about panther that was a |
terror to the soldiers out on picket during |
the Winter of 1862 near Pensacola Fla. It |
was regarded with superstition by the boys, |
and his piercing yell kept many man |
awake at night in deadly fear lest he swoOp |
down and carry one of the pickets away.
Songs and Poems.
G. II. Knapp, Phoenix, Ariz, wants the |
music and words of The Volunteers" pub
lished in 1861 or 1862
Peter r. Collum, Co. M, 18th Pa. Cav,
Honesdale, Pa, wants the parody ON March,
ing Through Georgia" that was sung at the |
Washington Encampment.
Miss Jennie Richards, Terhune, Ind,
wants the poem beginning, sob, bury me
not on the lone prairie"
Homes for Settlers.
J. P. Morse, 10th Ohio, Rolla, Mo-, says