The National tribune., 1896-07-09
A RIDE WITH THE ENEMY.
Marching Miles under a Flag of Truce Side
by Side

Marching Miles under Flag of Truce Side
by Side.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While the
Cd n. J. Cav was ehcamped at Natchez,
during the Winter Of 1865, recruiting alter
the great raid with Grierson through Ten
nessee and Mississippi. Co. G, with Lieut..
Apologize III command was detailed to cross
the Mississippi TO a little village called vi
Dial a, La, TO do scouting and picket duty
along with an infantry regiment from New
Hampshire
On the afternoon of Feb. 10. Gen. Bren-
nan, commander of the post received word
that q squad Of rebel ca valry was at the out
post with flag of truce. He immediately
sent APPRECIATE with 30 men, the writer one
OF the number, to meet them.
On our arrival, their mission, they said,
was to pass lady from Texas through our
lines TO her folks down East. Although the
writer of this was there, he never saw any
lady, and / don't think Lieut.. Applegate
did either | always thought they came
under tnat guise to see our lines of defense !;
also TO lind our strength about an expedi-
ton then lifting out To 20 to Mobile.
Anyway, Lieut. Apologize sent an Orderly
10 Headquarters ana informed Gen. Brennan
OF the visit and he made his appearance
We were waiting for him some time, we on
one side Of the road and the rebs on the
other.
Soon as the Lieutenant saw the General
approach, he gave US the order to mount
and present sabefs. Just as the General got
10 our front, it was done Just ike clock
! work. IL was amusing to see the rebs
watch cur movements. Their commander
remarked that if we could fight as well as
we could drill we could hold our own.
After the General heard from the rebel
Lieutenant, lie gave Applegate orders not
TO allow them to remain, but take 90 men
that night and 20 10 miles with them, and
stay all night.
The Lieutenant called for 90 volunteers,
with carbine, saber, and revolver, TO be
ready at p. m. TO go with them. We
started after dark, one Union soldier and Il
! reb by two's, side by side, singing al kinds
of songs First we would sing Hang JEFF
Davis" and John Brown; then they would
give us 'The Bonny Blue Flag" and so on.
The writer had the privilege of riding with
a very intelligent young man from New
Orleans Il think the detail was from the
18th La. Tigers), and we had long talk
about the war. He told me we would never
whip the Confederates and l said thought
AhVy "tiV P''fAy "h'piN' III
Eehrnary, 1865, we knew We had not much
more TO do.
We marched until 1 o'clock a. M, then
went in little church to camp until morn
| ing, tying our horses in the graveyard be-
longing to the church. They all went to
sleep, but our Lieutenant kept one man on
picket all night, not feeling altogether safe
in all enemy's country
In the morning the rebel commander sent
out two men, and IN about an hour they re-
turned bearing two large pans of fried meat,
| some cornDread and coffee. We all sat IN
| the church and ate Dur breakfast, talking
about the war, and kidding" each other
about victories aud defeats.
| The rebel Lieutenant made the remark
| that, although wewere well drilled aud we'll
| armed, he did not think we could get away
with his 20 men; but our plucky Apologize
| Informed him, though outside of our own
lines and 10 miles from camp, he could give
| him a tussle if he so desired. But he had
| no more 10 say on that subject, and at Z
| q. III. we started and went five miles farther
| with them, untili-w we came TO a stream.
| They swan their animals across, and after
| getting over they bidius good-by, and told
| us If we had the misfortune to meet again
| in battle we must shoot high, and they
| would do tire came Rolling up their little
white flag, they disappeared IN the woods,
while We turned bick, aud by i p. m.
arrived safe IN camp. As we reached our
lines the gunboats on the Mississippi were
| firing salute in honor of the surrender of
Charleston. II any OF the Confederates on
that trip should see this l would be pleased
10 hear from them by letter.-CHARLEs II.
| WALKER, Corporal, Co. c, Cd n J. Cav,
| 632 North Fourth street, Camden, n. j.