The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-06-18
THE BATTLE-FIELDS
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue aad the Gray Review incidents
Of tho Late War, and in . Graphic and
Interesting Manner Tell Of Camp, March
and Bsttls-Thrilling Incidents.
A Lee Invasion Story,


be, for he always tells good ones, says
J. A. Watrous, in the Chicago Times
Herald. Those who read that Lin
coin Cavalry Exploit" will enjoy this
Il which the captain told a few even
ings ago:
After Milroy's disastrous affair with
the advance Of Lees army at WincheS-
ter. June 4. 1863, when it was on the
way to Gettysburg, the greater part
of his command. in scattered dctach-
ments, escaped across the Potomac,
some at Harper's Ferry, some at Will
Transport and others at Hancock. The
officers We're obliged t assume reSpoa-
Sibilities and act according to their
own judgment. The enemy followed
closely. Lieutenant Colonel Pierce. Of
the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
commanding the force at Hancock, pro-
posed to go to Cumberland and join
the troops at that place. After march
ing a few miles we found that Cum
berland vas occupied by the enemy.
The only thing to do vas to strike for
Pennsylvania. After hard marching
over rough roads we reached Bedford.
The weather was hot. The people of
Bedford opened their homes and did
their best to supply the wants Of the
soldiers. The tired. dusty, hungry and
thirsty men who partOok Of it can
never forget that generous hospitality.
"QuartermaSter and cOmmisSary de-
sergeant Of the Lincoln Cavalry was
sent out to hunt up supplies for his reg
iment. John Cessna. an eminent law
yer and public-spirited man, gave the
sergeant information as to where he
should go. Free from military re-
s%traint, and after long and often Sc
we're service. the sergeant found this
trip among the hills very enjoyable.
He "a entertained royalty among
those well-to-do and hospitable peo-
pie. He bought forage in abundance
and sent it to camp. He was especial
~ aided by Mr.. Jones, of st. Clairs-
vile, and Mr.. Trout, of Mill Spring.
One day he met a funeral-a long line
Of carriages. The people had been
frightened at the report that the enc
my was coming into Pennsylvania. The
procession stopped and many anxious
questions We're asked of the sergeant as
to how near the rebels We're and if the
procession would be in danger of meet
ing them. Returning toward camp. at
evening, he reached the farm Of Mr..
Stuckey, two or three miles from Bed
ford. Mr.. Stuckey insisted on the
sergeant's staying with him instead Of
going on to his regiment that night.
A nights rest in a comfortable bed was
a luxury not to be declined. He slept
sOundly, but long before dawn he be-
came dimly conscious Of ar unusual
rumbling along the stone pike. But
he continued in his restful, half-awake
condition, all the while aware Of the
rumbling but not thinking or caring
heard a loud voice calling, MIR. Stuckey!
Mr.. Stuckey! Get up and look to your
horses! The rebe1 are in Bedford,
$4,000 strong! In a few seconds the
sergeant was u Of bed, clothed and
in his right mind. In a few seconds
more he was at the barn with his horse
saddled. Vehicles Of every sort, hast
lily loaded with furniture and goods
Of every description, We're being hur-
riedly driven along the pike. People
Of all ages, whole families, We're cling
ing to the tops of the loads, while the
drivers were urging on the teams to
their utmost speed as If some aveng-
ing fury was close upon them. The
sergeant asked one of the drivers the
news. The man barely took time to
answer: The rebels are in Bedford,
10000 Of them!' and hurried along.
The stream of wagons kept coming.
The sergeant thought it hardly the
part of Il well-armed c~avalry-inan TO
Join the fleeing He faced his
h,rse toward Bedford. Riding along,
he occasionally asked of the fleeing cit
liens the new. At first there were
$1,000 of the enemy in Bedford; then
10000; then 5000; then they were not
in Bedford yet, but coming in strong
force. Before sunrise the sergeant rode
into Bedford and found multitudeS in
the streets anXiOusly discussing the
news. Then it was reported that the
advance of the rebels was at Bedford
Springs, W. or three miles from town
Finally it was learned that some Union
scouts had been at the springs and had
been mistaken for rebels.
This is a minor instance of the eX
rirpment caused by Lees invasion
we remember how the streets of Har
riSonburg, Baltimore and other cite:
We're barricaded in the expectancy o.
,hr coming of the Southern army. w,
remember the feeling Of relief wheI
that invasion had been checked at Get