The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-12
IN A sCRAPE.
What an Ohio Boy Went Through in Trying
TO Reach His Regiment.


to Reach His Regiment.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: will tell
of an adventure that had early in the war.
/ enlisted as a recruit in the Sd Ohio, then in
West Virginia, in September, 1861. Had
been there but short time when l was taken
sick, and before was able to march the regi-
ment was ordered to Kentucky. So was
left behind, and did not join my company
until some time in February, 1862.
In going to the regiment l left Louisville,
KY, in the morning, and got to Green River
Bridge about p. IN. When / got off the
train it was raining aud very dark. looked
around for some place TO stay over night, but
there was no sign OF q house of any kind. l
still thought house good place to sleep,
but could see camp down the railroad
about one-fourth of mile. / started by way
of the railroad track.
The engine headlight shone down the
track so l could see ut first very well, but
after l got some distance away it bothered
me SO l could not see at all. AS l was
tumbling along in the dark the first thing
knew went through between the ties. My
chin caught in front, my knapsack behind.
had my gun under my arm; that caught
across the ties. There l hung over trestle
about 80 feet high.
Well, climbed out, pretty badly bruised
mp and went on. Just before arrived at the
camp party of soldiers crossed the road. I
fell in with them, and made inquiries about
a place to stay over night. The Sergeant in
charge asked me few questions about where
! belonged. l answered, apparently to his
satisfaction, and he told me l could stay
with him.
went on to camp with him, and he gave
| do h<,Y xINr
and lay down to sleep. About midnight
some one came and woke me up, and told
me that l must get up and 90 to Head
quarters with him. / had been reported as
spy.
Then my friend, the Sergeant, told me that
one Of his messmates had reported me, but
he hoped would be able to prove who was
without trouble. 1eI swas only boy then !;
had had very little experience as soldier.
| So when stepped outOf that tent into the
| night and found Il fIetof soldiers with mus
kets and bayOnetsb fixed, who stepped up
along each side Of me, wanted to be at
| home. slt5i
They took me before the Officer of the Day,
who put lot of questions to me. When he
| asked what CounfyraI lived in, told him
Morrow Co. What was the County-seat
/ told him. "Bo you know the names
of any of the business men in town."
named several. He then told me he had lived
in Morrow County when boy; had clerked
in the store of one ofdthe men that / had
named. He then asked me my own name,
and said he remembered seeing my father in
the store often. Soeverything went well. He
told me that he had gone to Kentucky some
years before to teach school; had married
| there, and when the war broke out he had
enlisted in the oath KY, and had been made
Captain of a company. He told me his
name, but / have forgotten it, but if he is
living and should see this l would like to
hear from him, or the Sergeant that took
me in that night.
went back to the same place and stayed
with my friend, and he gave me my break
fast in the morning.. A. BLAZE, Co. I,
Sd Ohio, Cardington, o.