The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-07-25
SOLDIERS COLUMN
CUNNING FOR MORGAN.
A Night of Treprcdation for Some ohio
National Guard Boys.

National Guard Boys.
In reading a recent description Of Nor.
gnn's raid became worry much interested as
1t brought back memories OF the days OF my
boyhood's excitement.
At that time was serving an apprentice
ship to n master, at wheeling W. Va, as
sisting him in the service OF my country In
turning the rolls necessary for the production
OF the sheathing OF the sides OF tho gunboats
and also the turret plates for the Mississippi
squadron.
Almost every workman employed was
sworn into the National Guard service for
five years, but none OF them were compelled
to do service away from home, unless on ac-
count Of the many raids Of the bushwhackers
who terrorized that section Of the country, the
principle ones being Kirby Smith, jenkins,
and Morgan.
Many Of the workmen on the sheathing Of
the sunboats belonged TO the Goth battalion
National Guards OF Ohio. belonged to Co.
G. Not long before the close OF the war the
battalion was ordered to Charleston, W. Va,
to take charge Of tho government stores
there. The Regulars being thus relieved were
sent to the front, and It is said that whilst
there Co. so hated the sympathizers there
that they made IL extremely warm for them
and were as glad to sec them leave the town
as were the Richmond people when the war,
closed
In reading the description OF the raid It
brought back to my mind the excitement Of
the days as the news came OF the progress OF
Morgan's recklessness as he Travelled north
ward through Indiana and Ohio. As he drew
near TO our town, Portsmouth, Il was expect
ed he would attempt TO cross on the Scioto
Bar, where there was only about 1s inches
depth of water. Everybody was at a fever
heat but cooled somewhat ON the arrival OF
about a dozen light-draft Ohio River gun
boats. which anchored In front Of the town,
and number oftransports carrying Hanson's
Corps, and then there appeared Judah's cav
airy later In the day. who. after being fed by
the citizens In their saddles. started out
northward, as we supposed, to intercept
Morgan's men.
About suppertime our battalion was order
cd out TO march northward and assist In in
tercepting Morgan's command. After having
tramped in that direction about ~ miles we
we're halted for the night, and having nothing
but blankets TO protect us, took to the thieket
OF bushes which intervensd between the
Columbus pike and a creek which ran paral-
el With II.
Another company was camped across the
creek on an elevation Of about 200 leet above
US, and one other company each were sta
toned as an advance and rear-guard. The
company on the elevation was composed Of
young fellows accustomed to but store work
and fine grub, while we fellows on the level
were iron-workers and used to substantial
food.
We had gone into camp for the night awful
hungry, for In the excitement to fall In many
had not waited for a square meal, and now
would eat anything II II could be found. But
rs our company would be exposed to annihi-
lation from Morgan II surprised, we were put
under the greatest discipline by our officers.
and no one would have known there was
anything but pawpaws In those bushes. The
company on the rise would have been good
target for the bushwhackers, for they had
large fires burning at this time for purposes
we did not know, but for what we found out,
and adopted their ideas later. Well, we were
doing our best TO get a nap when we heard
shots from the outside picket, and soon after
the bugle-call to fall In. At the same time
there came the tramp, tramp, tramp OF horses
hoofs as they changed on the boards OF
bridge which crossed the creek about n
quarter Of n mile below, and excitement was
running high among Co. G, for we
were completely In the power Of the
raiders, who we believed would exterminate
every man Of US II we didn't exterminate
them.
1t was moonlight, but 1t shown with
shadow. on account OF the heavy timber
which was about the surrounding country,
and we could not discern the advancing
column before they were nearly upon us.
But we were ordered to form a line across
the pike from a fence on one side to creek
on the other. which was supposed to be four
deep, and to stay there and stop the enemy
The line was formed: some places II must
have been dozen thick at others only the
one man front. As the column drew nigh
we were ordered to aim, but not to FIRE until
told. The wait was only u minute or so, but
II seemed about an hour
Fortunate for all, we did not fire, for II was
found to be no other than Judah's cavalry,
who had, as said before, took a northern
direction, but had TO change their route on
account OF farmers having cut down large
trees across the path TO prevent Morgan from
coming In their direction.
1t was wonder the grcenies OF Co. G. did
not fire on them In their excitement.
When the members OF Co q turned into the
bushes the fellows on the elevation sent out
several OF their number into farmers chick
en- coop, and II Is said paid for a big lot OF
what they carried away from there. They
were busy In the creek cleaning the fowls
when the pickets gave tho alarm. Those fell
lows got so scared that they dropped their
chickens into the creek and took to their
heels up the steep hill. At the same time
some OF Co. G went for the creek also. and
were not particular, either, OF finding shall
low place In their hurry to get over.
When the alarm was over our fellows slid
down the hill quickly. to be In limo before be-
Ing dismissed again, and in crossing the
creek discovered the chickens. gobbled them
up before the other fellows returned, and
brought them into camp.
Judah's cavalry had not gone out that road
more than half an hour when they returned
and announced they could not get out into
the country where Morgan would pass on ac-
count Of obstruction Of trees. SO knowing
we were In no danger whatever in camping
there, and under representations to the com
manding officers that we were nearly frozen
with the night air, got permission TO build
bonfire in the middle OF the road, where we
cooked the captured chickens on the points
~ our bayonets. s.-JosEPH HALL. In National
Tribune.
Exporting Cattle.
II Is calculated that the cost OF exporting
a steer from Chicago AMI selling IL In Lon.