The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-10-17
uI-STARRED FATE.
How the cd Mass L. A. Shared the Disaster
at Sabine Crossroads.

taken in the campaign leading mp to and
ending in that ill-starred battle OF Saplne
Crossroads Inv the ID Mass L. A. Perhaps
il won d be well to go back to the middle OF
The Winter when we moved from New
Iberia TO Franklin, La, to better our con-
dtion for Winter quarters.
We moved out on Jan. 8, 1864. Our
horses were in very poor condition, having
had no hay or CATS for many days, and only
q limited amount Of corn. The roads Were
very muddy, and a crust frozen on top made
il almost impossible TO make any Roadway.
We were three day. making the trip, al
though ii was only % miles, and we lost I'VE
horses by ex' ,aust,on. Franklin is IN a
large and rich sugar district on the Bayou
Teche. We parked the battery on sugar
plantation, the men taking possession OF the
shaniies formerly occupied by the slaves
WHO had long since gone 10 the contra
bandn camp ri New Orleans. The horses
were stabbed in the sucarhouse.
IN a Gay or two the old routine of camp
duties was resumed, and we got Northern
hay for the poor horses Then we were
kept busy with cleaning up camp" dress
parades. inspection of quarters horses, mar
ness. sabers, and other property, saoer drill,
painting guu-carriages, etc.
Then the expected happened-a grand re-
view by Gen. Emery portion oil the ola
battlefield OF Irish Bend. Then II was driii
up 10 the 18th of February, when 90 recruits
arrived. about of our best men having re-
nils ed and gone home on 80 days. he-
cruit drill became the daily order, but 1t was
not waste of time. for they were soon TO
experience the benefit of it. The soldier OF
average intelligence could observe omlnous
signs of an army movement. Toward the
last of February new harness for the bat
terry was received and carriages were re-
painted, clothing was issued, and troops were
arriving day after day. We had 2r nd Ie-
view of eight batteries by Gen. franklin.
On the 18th of March, 1864, we were ordered
to pack up, and at 10 p. ID. moved out.
We marched all night, hating at a. m.
to feed and water our horses and have our
coffee At we remounted and marched
unil 3 p. M, when we halted beyond
New Iberia, on the ST. Martinsville road,
having made 80 miles.
Along that road we saw, as evidence of a
sllrnish the 81 Mass. Cav. had with the
enemy, three or four dead rebels Our bat
terry was equipped as horse artillery, the
only one in the Gulf Department and the
only one from Massachusetts, SO equipped.
We could get over the country as fast and
ga through as difficult places as the cavalry,
and so were assigned 10 the Cavalry Brigade
III he advance, Gen. A. =. Lee commanding
1T was get up and dust now; % mi es one
day 30 the next. We made 80 miles to
Alexandria in u hours March Is. Gen.
Lee did not mean TO let the rebs burn
bridges, or otherwise obstruct the passage OF
the main army. But the horses were again
suffering The oats were all gone three
days before. We were obliged to stop and
ferage but could only find corn and little
corn iodGer-leaves and stalks.
We were soon aware, however, that the
rebels had left some live poultry and some
eggs.
After two DAYS we advanced few miles,
and camped near the Bayou Rapids, where
we remained FIVE days, during which time
horses were procured for the battery, capt
ured from the rebels by the Sd Mass Cav.
The Nineteenth and Thirteenth Corps ar
rived. Having rested so long the horses
were in comparatively good condition when,
at a. m. on the 2Sth, reveille was sounded
by The unrlvaled army bugier, Joe OGrady;
had our coffee, and then moved out into
column and stood to horse until o'clock.
And how it did rain. If there is anything
SOLDIER more than that we never found IT,
and Henry Hurd, of the battery. declared.
a. he always did, that there wasn't rebel
within 30 miles of u.s."
We made but % miles that day. The
next morning the three hours wait was
repeated We got away at 6 aud made only
Is miles. We were then getting up into the
pine woods country, and had to be cautious
and 20 slow. The Johnnies got the best OF
US at Cane River by burning the bridge, so
we had to wait on the 30Lh for the pOntOon
train to come up aud it was p. N. when
we crossed the river. Then we marched
until midnight, advancing Is miles. On
the 3lst we got away al a. m, after two
hours wait, and at p. N. were at Natchi-
toches, "a miles, where we remained four
days.
The writer owned and carried a carbine.
and on being informed that large steer was
within the lines and that Sergeant of the
guard s. S. Lincoln said that he was unable
TO give satisfactory account of himself, and
must be made an example OF, he soon was.
Also large, fat hog, of which Frank Brown,
who was on guard at that post, said: " j
tried TO halt him, but his only reply was a
grunt of defiance"
1t will be seen that the company Jared
well just at this time. ON. Serg't Nor
cross WAS good one, and ne procured bar
rels OF 1Our 81 Alexandria, our base of sup
plies at this time. Billy" Bates, the little
was by profession pastry
cook when he was hat 'ome" With us he
war hustler, good companion, a good ar
Lillery soldier, and an excellent Ne man on
he gun. With lard from the big hog, and
Lhe -four aforementioned, together with
he other necessary fixings, he made half
bushel Of as nice doughnuts as anyone could
wish.
The next day-April 2-the first section,
Lieut.. Snow commanding, was ordered out
% help quell disturbance at the front
Think of it!-going to the front with nice,
resh doughnuts in our haversacks. We re-
oined the battery on the evening Of the 3d.
On the morning of the 9Th reveille was heard
II $50, aud we moved out at =. m, having
oeen hitched up all night The Johnnies
were making stubborn resistance, and we
advanced but % miles, being followed by a
brigade of infantry, Col. w. j. Landrum
On the morning of the TIN
we moved out at o'clock; heavy skirmish-
ng few shells, and the rebs would move on
and so we arrived at Pleasant Hill at noon.
Then we galloped two miles Oh to liue-of-
battle, and went into camp at 9p m. On
he Sth we moved out at 6 a. m, in battery
)fien, the enemy being in stronger force.
bout 100 D. m We shelled and drove them
across an open field, when they disappeared |
through piece OF woods. We advanced TO |
Inc top of ridge in line-oEbattle, sup |
ported 10y a brigade OF the Thirteenth Corps, |
Cal Iand,ppn