The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-09
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Praise for aThe Soldiers Friend"

Praise for "The Soldiers Friend"
John N. Morton, 1st Mo. Engr's, Hamil-
ton, Mo-, writes: THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
has done good work in rescuing from OBJ
livion many details of the war of the rebel
lion. 1t keeps the old boys in touch. They
know what that meant in those old days.
To lose touch was to expect defeat. The
recounting in its columns Of the many incl
dents of the war by the actual participants
cannot but have wholesome effect on the
generation grown since the wars close.
"Some of the articles are wonderful in
their vivid description Of stirring scenes IN
that bloody drama"
His Battery Was There.
Dennis Kihoal address net giyen) writes:
ain Picket Shots recently / saw the ques-
tions: What battery took position at the
left of the road and near the abandoned
rebel fort at the opening Of the battle OF
Winchester? Also, what battery relieved
it in a few minutes before the advaneeP
II was member Of Battery ID, I'd q. s.
Art, and we took up the position on the
left of the road just before the battle OF
Winchester. We held this position for
about an hour, when the rebels retreated
toward Fishers Hill and we were ordered
forward do not remember that any bat,
terry came to relieve us. / wonder if any of
the boys of Battery d remember the double
charge of powder put in the Pong riaed piece,
and the way that shell went hummiDg
along the valley. l was number three ON
that piece"
Capture of Hanchstt-
W. M. Moore, Lieutenant, Co. L, 18th Ill.
Cav, New Bethlehem, Pa, writes: " In Maj.
II. C. Connelly's story of Hoods advance to
Nashville from the Tennessee, in The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of July IL, 1895, he refers
to the capture of Capt. HanChett, of the 18th
Ill. Cav, then Acting Assistant Adjutant-
General to Col. Capr0D. | think can add
sonnet hing to that occurrence that has never
been written, as / saw Capt. Hanchett capt
ured.
"On the day before we began to fall back
after meeting Gen. Hood near Florence,
was in command of the picksts or skirmish-
line. Towards evening l received orders TO
draw in the pickets, as it was then thought
that we were surrounded, or that Forrest
was in our rear and between US and the main
column under Col. Capron, who was then
marching towards Columbia.
"After had drawn in the pickets Maj. H.
c. Connolly ordered me to take 10 men and
find out if / could open up communication
with Col. Capron's Brigade, which had fallen
back in the earlier part of the day. 1t was
late in the evening when / started back with
the detail Of 10 men, and if remember right
there was only one of my own company U]
along at the time, Joseph j. Murray, who
now lives at Geneseo, III.
1--WE started at brisk lope, and had gone
perhaps one-half mile when there filed into
the main road from our right on cross-road
perhaps 100 yards in front of us column Of
cavalry $50 strong, and going at galiop.
They were in mixed uniform. Things be-
gan to look little suspicious We checked
our speed, and Capt. Hanchett and his Or
derby caught up to us and wanted to pass 70
the front.
II then told him Of the column of cavalry.
He said if would loan him one of onr long
guns he and his Orderly would ride on ahead.
We followed 100 yards in his rear. Pres
emily we saw him ride up to this column of
cavalry and disappear, and when We came
up to them they were in line On the right
hand side of the pike from us and in more
or less confusion.
"On account of Capt Hanchett and his
Orderly riding quietly into their ranks with
no firing we felt still more in doubt, but we
didn't remain so very long. just as we
came opposite the head of the column i said
something to the officer who was on his horse
facing us. He replied with shot from his
revolver at short range. The bullet missed
me and hit a little fellow on my right. We
wasted no time in getting out of that, and
that was the only shot fired. We afterward
found out they were Gen. Forrest and his
and horses and taking them back in the
woods"
Turned the Tables.
W. K. DeBoyd, Co. K, Sd KY, writes:
"On June 10, 1868, the command to which
l belonged broke camp and started for East
Tennessee. Nine days marching, every one
of which was rainy, brought as to Dug Hol-
low, where, on account of high water, the
command camped for the night. was kept
up until late, so, after getting all ready for
the march, / mounted my little brown
pacing mule and started with the advance
guard and rode several miles.
"Then dropped behind and rode of to
one side of the road, where / dismOunted,
tied my mule to my wrist, and stretched
myself on the wet leaves. / was quickly
asleep. had habit of going ahead of the
train this way and stealing maps, always
waking up when everything got still. But
this time / slept until red-headed fellow
commenced poking me in the short ribs
with his bare toes. He wore an old hat
which had once been white, but which now
was more the color of All old cypress log
He was using some very profane Ian
guage and told me that had slept too long,
and that was his prisoner. / tumbled to
the situation in moment
without waiting to look round, I squint-
ed one eye open a little as l lay there on
my left side. / then rolled over on my
back and began scratching down On my
right hip and cursing the bugs Grasping
the handle of my revolver sprang to my
feet and ordered my redheaded friend and
the four men with him 10 drop their guns.
Three of them had sat down on log, with
their guns standing by them. The fifth
and smallest one was taking nay gun of my
saddle, where it was buckled with strap.
1 ordered them to step away q safe dis
lance, no standing on the order. Every
thing moved promptly, and then smashed
their guns over log; after which ! told
them to skedaddle. They went across the
point through the brush for all they were
worth.
"Three weeks afterward / rode up to
Gen. Woods Headquarters, and there was
my redheaded friend. The General wanted
TO know how l came to know him. I told
him he was the man who poked mo with
his toes. He had just been denying the
fact that he was q bushwhacker. The next
day / had the pleasure of his company to
Manchester, where we took train for Nash