The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
yanuuishinC Vicksburs.

Ohio. l do not wish to criticize COmTade
Boring, but think he is mistaken in several
OF his assertions.
u do not think there was general assault
on the Notifications at Vicksburg May 8, as
l carry scar on my left cheek for trying to
take Fort Hill alone against the orders of
my Captain. / think the first general as
sault was made on May %, as 1 was in that.
We made the charge at 2 p m. The second
assault was about the oath of June, at the time
we blew up Fort Hill, at about O'Clock in
the afternoon. The Goth and 45th Ill charged
into the place, staid there until o'clock,
and were relieved by the seth ILL.,, and told
to get our supper and stop until morning.
In less than an hour we were called into line
to take back the ground that was lost on ac-
count of the ammunition not being of the
right caliber for the guns.
"The gun spoken of, which Comrade Bor-
ing calls Whistling Dick, was not so named,
but was one of the heavy guns on the river
battery up the river from Vicksburg, and
was used on our transports the time they
ran the blockade, and after we left Millikens
Bend we heard nothing more of it.
"But the big gun in our front was called
Whitaker because of the swishing sound
from the shell when it was thrown. 1t was
a gun that had been bnrsted in the muzzle
and had been cut off, and they used it as
mortar, and threw a shell weighing 12e
pounds"
"Best Soldiers Paper"
j. Ell. Coffman, Puyallup, Wash, writes:
I" renew my subscription to THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, the best soldier paper in the
United States to-day. ] have taken it for
the last IL years, and although the last year
is the hardest time l can remem Der since the
SOS, will still spare 81 for this paper, for
/ cannot do without it."
In 81 Battles and skirmishes.
George W. Toms, Orderly Sergeant, Co K,
5th n. Y. Cav, Stamford, Conn.,, writes:
In yonr issue of Oct. 25, in the column of
PERSONAL is statement that Mr.. George
G. Plat, 9th U. s. Cav, was in 90 battles,
and challenges any soldier to beat his record.
Now this is a delicate subject TO me- as /
usually refrain from speaking of my record
for fear people might think it little fshy.'
But as the c0mrade throws out the chal-
lenge, / will say / served nearly four years,
and was in 81 engagements; and the only
scratch I received was on Sept. 10, 1864,
at the battle Of Opequon, or Winchester,
under Gen. Sheridan. i was also bearer of
important dispatches under Sheridan in the
Valley"
For His Adopted Country.
F. D. McGillicuddy, Mansfield, Pa, sends
the following: Here is the record of
young Englshman, who served his adopted
country, that is worthy of being perpetuated
in history. Serg't Philip Petty, of Jackson
Summit, Pa, enlisted Aug. /, 1861, at Har-
risburg, when but 20 years old, in Co. G,
18th Pa. Reserve Corps, or Troy Guard, and
served until March, 1862, when he was dis
charged for physical disability, the result of
siege of typhoid fever.
He re-enlisted, Aug. 8, 1862, in Co. A,
both Pa. At the battle OF Fredericksburg,
Va, De. Is, 1862, several color-bearers of
the 10th were shot, and the flag of the
regiment WAS in danger of capture. Com
rade Petty seized the falling flag carried 1t
rounds. In recognition of this brave act,
the Congress Of The United States awarded
him medai-of-honor."
Relics OF "Old Ironsides.
Clarkson Ogden, Swedesboro. n. j.,
writes sin your issue of the 25th nit. you
mention Old Ironsdes," and say that there
must be souvenirs of the old ship in the
country. While she was being repaired at
Charlestown Navy-yard, the Naval Construc-
tor there gave my uncle, joint. Ogden, then
living in Boston, piece of her original
timbers, out of which he had four canes
made-for his father (my grandfather, for
each of his two brothers, and for himself.
My grandfather gave me his, inherited my
fathers, and l presume the other two are
in existence. Doubtless there are more in
the country. Mine are mounted with the
old-tme round ivory heads, and have eye
let-holes through them in which to insert
o cord and tassel."
Homes for Settlers.
s. F. Kelley, Efdred, N. Y, wants to hear
by mail in regard to the price of land and
quality of water in Maryl land, Virginia, and
North Carolina, and the opportunities for
making home there.
Gladys Titus, Heron Lake, Mimi, would
like some of the comrades to send her little
trees and roots to plant on her fathers new
prairie farm. Would prefer grape, currant
gooseberry, raspberry. and blackberry roots,
and anything else gladly received and paid
for in sheet music or handmade lace.
Wilson'S Creek.
Cyrus Walters, Co. C, LIST Iowa, Edgar,
Neb., writes: In your issue of Oct. IL is
an article by II. Clay Neville in which are
statements i'll reference to Wilson's Creek
not correct. The first is the date of the
battle, which he claims was fought Aug. 90,
when it should be Aug. 10. The second is
in reference to the fight itself, in which he
says the Union forces were so badly beaten
and demoralized that they hardly stopped
in Springfield; so hasty was their retreat
that they left the body of their dead COM
mander, the brave Lyon, on the field to be
buried by the rebels. and that the victorious
rebs occupied Springfield within "a hours
after the hrst gun on that memorable morn
ing
"By referring to Maj. Sturgis's report of
that battle the Union troops were not SO
badly beaten and demOraized as Neville
makes it appear in his article.
1--WE left the field at our leisure after the
rebs were all in full retreat. We marched
back to Springfield that afternoon, camped
in the city at night, and took mp our line of
march for Rolla next morning unmolested.
"Our reasons for falling back on Rolla and
ST. Louis were very obvious. A. least three
regiments of Lyons (now Sigel's) forces
listment had expired, so that they had to go
to st. Louis to be mustered out of service,
which left Lyon without sufficient force to
hold southwest Missouri"
Block Tin.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Will you
inform the many readers of your valuable
paper where our tin manufacturers get the
tin ore they coat the black plate with? Is