The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-16
PICKET SHOTS.
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Covering n Retreat.

Covering n Retreat.
Charles Hulin, Co. f, Cd Mich, Kalkaska,
Mich, writes Il wish to say few words
concerning the controversy between Sergt
Cook, I'd Mich, and ComrIde Gregg, LIST
Mass. Comrade Gregg forgets that the LIST
Mass. was part of the Michigan Brigade
when under Gen. j. h. Richardson. Our
brigade at that time was 1st Mass, 18th n.
y, ID and Sd Mich, with Battery f, Sd u.
s. Art. It was this brigade that opened the
engagement at Blackburn's Ford, July lS,
1861, and held the position until the follow
ing Sunday, when the engagement became
general our brigade being on reserve nearly
all day.
THE forming of square by regiments that
he n entions took place about 3 o'clock p. m.
on Sunday on both sides of the main road
leading from CenterviIle TO Stone Bridge,
and have no doubt the square of his regi-
ment was unhroken until the retreat took
place But about o'clock p. m. Gen. Rich
ardson took the I'd and Sd Mich and made
adetour to our rear and left, and then fronted
again about one mile to our left and front of
our original position, leaving us on the ex-
treme left and front of our army. This was
done 10 prevent flank movement Of Jack
son.
" In this position we remained until about
2 o'clock q. m. Monday, when we were or
dered to leave the field without making any
noise. The I'd Mich. covered the retreat
until we reached The main road, when the
81 took the rear, and shortly after the list
Mass. dropped to the rear. / think the DIFF
ferent regiments of our brigade alternated In
taking the rear until we reached Fairfax
Courthouse, about or Z a. NJ. Then some
other command covered the retreat to Alex
andria and Washington.
presume Comrade Gregg may be right
in saying the 1st Mass. covered the retreat
from where his regiment began to retreat, as
we were over mile apart and did not come
together until daylight about two miles from
our original position. We began to see the
effects of the retreat-dead horses and mules,
and all kinds of carriages lying bottom up
wards in the bitches on either side of the
road. This was something we knew nothing
of until we reached the main road to Fairfax
Courthouse"
At Lacy's Springs.
r. Hannaford, Co. M, Cd Ohio Cav, Gin
cinuati, writes: i saw n letter from Il COM
rade of the 1st VT. Cav, speaking of the
affair at Lacy's Springs in 1864. / cannot
think that the Vermont comrade was i'll that
affair, or his memory would be more vivid.
Who that was there can ever forget that
horrible morning, with sleet, snow, and rain
pour. ny down, and the wind bowling through
the wood close in our front 1t was at that
darkest hour before dawn that we heard n
strange pounding noise in orr rear. Not
long were we. left in doubt. A shot, then
another, and two lives went out. Then,
mingling with a dozen shots, came the rebel
yell and we knew that it was night attack
from the rear.
The comrade says his regiment was on
the south side of the pike; but the pike
runs here almost north and south The
Second Brigade of Clusters Third Division
lay directly opposite Lacy's Springs on the
west of the pike, while the First Brigade
was camped that night n mile south, on the
east of The pike. Our brigade was to have
the advance returning to camp, and our
bugle had sounded Lead into line some 10
minutes before, when the first shot came.
Thus, though the time was short we were
to some extent ready.
The Second Brigade, however, were all in
bed, and in less than q minute the rebs were
in their camp riding over them. 1t did not
take two minutes 10 scatter them like
flock of sheep How it was in the Second
Brigade | cannot say, but in the First Bril-
eade not a tent was put up the night before.
Even the officers failed to erect tents, for |
remember when, at 10 p. M, turned in,
the moon was shining bright and beautiful,
and no one dreamed of the storm that broke
at ! Il. m.
"The rebs certainly had their work well
laid out beforehand, for after scattering the
Second Brigade they never stopped to take
prisoner, but rode out on the pike and
came straight for our camp. Not sound
did the men make; all that could be heard
was that deadened pounding noise rs they
galloped through sleet and snow.
"Our brigade lay back about one-eighth
of n mile from the pike in level field, but
from the pike it was quite rise. Up this
the rebs came, seemingly determined to serve
us as they had the Second Brigade; but
they found line there, not very straight,
and by no means heavy, but one that gave
them yOlley as they came up the hill.
Il am sure comrades in other regiments
cannot cay that / have Claimed the I'd Ohio
put the rebellion down alone, but will say
that this morning the I'd Ohio was the only
regiment thai bad what may fairly be termed
line; the other regiments hurrying up,
extending on our right, soon convinced the
enemy that their chance of success was past,
and they turned and scattered. We followed,
capturing over so on of the 450. The first dim
show of coming day came as they turned and
fed The most chagrined of all were the
few careful (of themselves) rebs who stayed
back to pick up the Second Brigade prison.
ers, and came riding up to us boasting how
many Yanks each had Of our return to
camp, of our suffering, when by shutdown the
thermometer was below zero, and men and
horses without bite, more anon.
Want to Migrate.
John Knowlton, Adjutant, GAR. Post,
Parkdale Toronto, Canada, writes: ave
have colony Of % families, principally pen
sioners, who wish to migrate to more con-
genial climate. Now, if any of our comrades
in the South will furnish me with pros
pectus of the city, town, or section of the
country in which they reside, l will lay the
information before the colony. The families
desiring to migrate consist of about 100 per-
sons, and would prefer some manufacturing
town or city south of Virginia"
Scattering.
J. H. Powell, Co. X, 10th Tenn, Bertram,
Tex, writes: 81 have positive cure for
cancer that / wish TO give the benefit of to
any old soldier who touched elbows with me
in the rebellion. All / ask is their testi-
mopy after being cured. Send company and
regiment and number of Post, if n member"
Geo. III. Lang, Rye, N. H., wants to corre-
spond with any veterans widow or daugh-