The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-23
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
" Captured" is Informed who Took Him In
and WHY.

| and WHY.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In my
article in your issue of May "a, replying to
"Captured's" communication rs published
in your May 3 issue, ! promised to make
special effort TO learn the address of Sergt
| William S. Keller, Co. /, 4th Pa. Cav, whom
| had good reason to believe was the soldier
Captured " desired the address Of have
| secured the Sergeants address, and will
quote that portion of his letter referring to
his action in the battle of Stony Creek Sta
tion, Dec. l, 1864:
MARION. KAN.
DEAR CoMRADE: In reply to your favor of re-
cent date. would say did my fighting from 1861 to
1865, and made the best record could at the front,
and have never tried to improve OH it since; but
will give my recollection of the engagement you
refer to-
We crossed the creek ut the ford in ranks OF two
he right of the regiment halted until about two
thirds of the boys in line, when we went at y
lively Gallop to the abatis. We were almost In
regiment front when reached the east side of
the abatis, then left-wheeled by fours and
charged south to the corner of the abatis, then
head of column 10 the right south to the station
remember we rounded the end OF the abatis at
the railroad gun near the Station fired shot,
which sent one set of tours to Kingdom come ;
but that gun was captured so quick 1t could not
hre second shot
As passed along the east and south sides of
the abats we kept up q continuous fire, which made
the Johnnes hold their heads so low that their guns
were elevated to cause little loss to u.s. WAS
close TO the fort on the side nearest the railroad
shooting into the fort with my revolver, when
number of the enemy me held up the butts OF
their guns and said: " Don't shoot; we surreh-
der" Just then Comrade |. b. Gilmore called my
attention 10 n number of the enemy jumping out OF
the fort on the opposite side.
Ny carbne and revolver were entirely empty,
but gave chase at once went directly south until
passed The abats then east near the corner OF the
abHts, then little southeast until caught up with
the fleeing rebs. loaded my carbine as ran. and
" i'm nor firpn AT O
but missed him. then leveled my revolver ut the
squad and demanded their surrender which they
did ut once then ordered them to lay their guns
down, when | loaded my carbine quick. Ihey
knew my carbine was empty, but they could not
know my revolver was in the same eondi'lon. 1
was not afrnid OF them shooting nj me. Tor peiieVe
a good soldiers, they had emptied their guns De-
fore leaving the fort.
When they laid down their guns, one of the
squad Il think it the third man to the lett oil
the Lieutcnantl dropped something beside his gun,
which | had one of the prisoners hand me with
their guns. 1t proved to Toe n small bag contain
ing about one-hnf pound of lead, which may have
been bullets pounded fiat to about one-eighth inch
IN thickness and cut In irregular square pieces,
each containing about much lead as II iarge-size
buckshot. q think the man was trying TO ioad
his gun as he RAM placed The bag with its con-
tents in my debag, intending 10 preserve IT as
a keepsake, but in the dismounted fight at Din
widdie Courthouse, March 81 1865, WAS severely
wounded, and did not again return to the regl-
ment
About this time Comrade Gilmore was coming
back with his squad As we marched toward the
fort reloaded my revolver, and In our CONVERSE
ton, way back, i told them the reason i
took them prisoners because my carbue ana
revolver empty, for in fight i never said
surrender if there chance TO shoot. There
were six. including the Lieutenant, in my squad.
They were fair specimens of the Confederate SOL
der except one who was very young for such hard
service-a mere boy. When arrived at the fort
the prisoners were in line and marching under our
flag that covered with the battles III
which we had participated.
/ do not know if Captured among those
took in not, but do know If my carblnc and
revolver had been loaded there would have been
fewer of them go back to the fort; for believe
means fight, and fight means Kill, aud the soldier
who leaves two dead on the field does more for
his country than he who captures haf-dozen
prisoners.
The old 4th PayCav exhibition at Stony
Creek Station that day. and. taking all things into
consideration, 1T was tie grandest, most fearless,
reckless, head Hong rush ever saw.
If Captured" desires the regiment that
performed such service let him come to Pittsburg
during the National Encampment and he will see
some of the boys who were in that charge.
Now, in conclusion, would say If Captured"
started from the east fort, and ran southeast to-
ward the woods he was in the squad captured
but if he started from the fort on the west side and
was captured after crossing the railroad, then he
was not one of my squad.
Yours truly, WIN. s. KELLER.
We would be pleased to have "Cartured's"
decision in the matter, as Comrade NJ +.
Hasson, Co. /, also captured a squad Of flee
ing COnfederates during this engagement
II will be observed that Serg't Keller states
where his squad started from and the direc-
ton in which they were running when cap
tured. The Sergeant also gives d partial
description of his prisoners. Comrade
Keller was perhaps 40 years of age, and wore
a full beard.
The 4th Pa. Cav. will reune at Pittsburg,
Sept. 10, ! l and IL, Headquarters at No 6,
Sixth street, and would be pleased to have
Captured" as their guest. We promise
more agreeable reception than at Stony
Creek Station.-W. III. CoLLINGwOOD,
Pittsburg, Pa.