Evening star., 1895-09-21
A CITY POINT REs11N1scENcE.
How an Indiana Squad Got Into the
Guard House and Out Again.

How an Indiana Squad Got Into the
Guard House and Out Again.
Soldiers who were encamped around City
Point in the fall Of 1862 will remember the
handsome little white frame cottage with
large grounds surrounded by a picket
fence which was situated near the river
and short distance below the town. Some
person Of distinction evidently had that as
his home, for the orders against foraging
on the premises were rtgidly enforced by
over the neighborhood. The fattest pigs
and the plumpest turkeys and chickens
roamed With perfect freedom and safety,
seemingly aware Of the fact that the Yan-
kee soldiers would not dare to disturb
them. The provost guard would occasion
ally fall to capture midnight providers who
robbed the roosts and pens Of other homes,
but they kept good watch over the frame
cottage, and the pigs and poultry roaming
thereabout got fatter apd fatter.
An Indiana regiment had come from the
west and gone into camp Just back of the
point. and one afternoon a few days later
forty-fourth New York volunteers. return
ing from a special escort, stopped to rest
near the favored cottage. The sight Of 30
many table luxuries cacklng and grunting
just inside the picket fence made :heir
mouths water. but a passing soldier warm
ed them Of the very strict orders against
poaching, and they kept their itching
hands on. However. they were very much
so. after consultation, they filed through
the gate and the sergeant walked up on
the steps and pulled the door bell To the
old colored aunty who answered the bell
the sergeant stated that they had just re-
turned from a long march, were tired and
very hungry. and II they could have a din
ner Of fried chickens with very few ac-
companying documents they would willing
ly pay one dollar each. After some hesita-
ton and a short whispered conversation
with some one Just inside the door, the old
colored female announced that 1t would be
AN right, honey; II you boys will done
The boys were used to "skirmishing'' Of
that kind, and 1t was no time before six
fat spring chickens were caught and de-
capitated. But detail OF the provost
guard in a large row boat on the river had
heard the commotion among the feathered
inhabitants Of the sacred precinct, and
they landed at once to inquire into the
cause of the trouble. Catching the New
would listen to no explanation, but hustled
them as prisoners into the boat and started
with them for the landing at City Point,
where quite number Of idlers from va
rious regiments were gathered on the pier.
AS the boat approached the pier the pris-
oners were jeered at good humoredly for
being caught stealing poultry. and the pro-
vost sergeant in the stern sang out to the
prisoner sergeant sitting In the bow,
don't let her bump" He didn't let her
bump, but as the bow Of the boat came up
to the piling of the pier he crawled out
quickly on a stringer under the flooring
and gave the boat push back, the pris-
oners standing up preventing the guard
from seeing the escape The New Yorker
crawled through to the opposite side Of the
pier, then up over the side and was soon
swallowed up in the crowd. When the
prisoners were landed and counted 1t was
found that one Of the original dozen was
missing. but they didn't lose any more and
eleven very mad and very detected soldiers
were marched to the guard house.
Under the plea that he wanted to explain
to the other non-ccmmissiored officers the
duties Of an officer Of the day. tho New
York sergeant that night borrowed a sword,
belt and sash from his captain. and just
before midnight presented himself at the
provost guard house at the Point. Calling
for the officer Of the guard he said, rather
pompously:
1T understand you have about a dozen of
my men under arrest here for violation Of
orders. I also understand that 1t was a
merely technical violation. and want
them released"
The lieutenant couldn't release them. but
after some conversation volunteered to
take MAI. Jones, sir. Of the -th Indiana" !"
to the colonel commanding and Introduce
him to that officer. The colonel was routed
out Of bed, the "major'' introduced and the
case stated to him. When he was inform
ed Of the true status he issued an order to
the lieutenant to release the eleven prison.
ers and turn them over to MAI. Jones"
who was asked to caution them against
even technical violations Of orders in the
future.