The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04
Cedar Creek.

left OF the pike. True, we could do nothing.
The rebel artillery was beyond reach of our
carbines. The I'd Ohio Cav. was directly
opposite the left of the infantry, and we had
moved for the fourth time and were close on
the pike, when we heard cheering over the
arrival of Sheridan. COmrade Stevens is
wrong if he means to say that the infantry
line reached the pike, for the left of the in
fantry was at least 200 yards west Of the
| pike, and it was impossible for MS to learn
the cause Of the cheering until half an hour
after Then our Sergeant of Pioneers came
| up with box Of ammunition for us.
| We would not believe him until he as
sured US that he himself had seen Sheridan.
| Never shall forget the feeling of horror
and despair that came over me when first
| saw how badly our infantry was defeated,
and knew Little Phil was absent. Com
rade Stevens, like all Sixth Corps men, fan
cies Wright could have done what Sheridan
did do. Never. What Sixth Corps man
had the opportunity to see the re-organiza-
ton OF the Nineteenth Corps-so quickly
done as soon as it was known Sheridan was
| present? l saw it with my own eyes, and
| it has ever been one of the most wonderful
things of that wonderful battle.
Very soon after Sheridan's arrival Gus
ter's Cavalry were sent from the extreme
left to the right of the line (where we be-
longed), and in going there we passed be-
tween their skirmish-line and line-of-battle
as they were pressing south to their place
on the right OF the Sixth Corps.
BY the way, have seen the claim that
many Of the Eighth Corps ESQ called) were
in line in the afternoon and took part in the
discontinue of the reDs. Capt. Stevens
dwells upon the fog, as do many others, yet
it has ever been to me one of the mysteries
why never can recall seeing the least sign
of fog. remember lying in our camp on
the extreme right and watching the smoke
from the artillery of the Eighth Corps as it
assembled straight heavenward in the still
air. Not particle of fog was visible to OBJ
scure the sight. Then, at 8 a. m, we reached
point where the battle was clearly seen,
and could see plainly away southeast to
Sheridan's Headquarters nearly two miles
| away. Not the least fog was noticed"
what Did It Meane
w. r. Bunting, Co. ], 30th ILL.,, South
Frankfort, Mich, writes: AT the battle of
Perryville, KY, I, with others, was detailed
to gather up what Government property we
could find, and, among other things, we came
to a long line of small-arms-enougb to
equip brigade-in a position to indicate
that the troops had been ordered to "Open
order" and then "ground arms" There
were many conjectures as to the meaning of
this. The most plausible one was that
Bragg had represented to the Kentuckians
that he was going to hold their State and
make it part of the Confederacy, and when
they found this delusion they abandoned
their arms and returned to their homes.
Who can tell?"
"Grab q Root
w. P. Lawrence, Co. G., 122d Ohio, Carl,
Iowa. says: "The terms Grab root and
Here's your mule originated about the
time that Noah's ark rested on Mt Ararat,
and he had turned his herd out to Craze. In
the evening, when he went to corral them,
there was one mule missing. He sent one
of his boys ont to hunt it up, and presently
heard him hallow, Here's your mule He
went out to look, and the boy commenced
to slide down the mountain towards the
water, and Noah halloed at him to Grab
root
"There has been good deal of comment
about medals. knew one fellow who
thought earned one. On the morning of
April 9, 1865 our corps broke through the
lines below Petersburg. found flag sit
ting against one of the shanties. Iiinfurled
it and carried it about quarter of mile,
and some comrade asked me what was GO
ing to do with it. told him didn't know
as was going to do anything with it, and
he said to give it to him. did so. He got
q medal of honor and 3O-days furlough, and
was promoted. They said it was old Ewell's
Headquarters flag.
II anyone knows any thing Of the circum-
stances, would like to hear from him."
M. H. Ingrim, Winamac, Ind, writes
The term Fly down and grab root
was very common one among the C0nfed
crate soldiers, who used it to jeer at an un
popular officer as he was riding by, or when
they wished to jolly comrade who might
be passing on a mule. But how the phrase
originated / know not. r. III. Bells COM
munication possesses interest to the writer,
as the latter, with his company Battery A,
Mississippi Light Artillery was all through
the Mississippi campaign of 1923, and
may have opposed the gallant 18th Mich.
at Iuka, Corinth, Haines's Bluff, Chickasaw
Bayou, Champion Hills and during the
siege of Vicksburg"
William Harpham. Co. E, 55th Ohio,
Guthrie, Okla, writes: "When was boy,
from six to seven years old, some neighbor-
ing boys and myself went to the brook to
swim. While passing along the border,
where IL WAS TaCucE slippery anu tuo water
pretty deep, one of our number slipped in.
Thinking he was going to drown, and seeing
some small roots projecting into the water
near him, some of our company said to him,
Grab root, which he did. After consider
able manuvering to keep ourselves from
slipping in, we got him out and fastened to
where there was shall0wer water to do our
swimming. This was the first time that
have any recollection of hearing the exDrea-
si0n."
Scattering.
Martha Rowbotham, TOnawanda, N. Y,
wants information regarding John Row
botham, 18th n. Y. battery; the last heard
from him was Jan. IL, 1865, at Baton Rouge,
La.
Mrs. Annie Bradley, No. AZ Lenox Ave,
Oneida, N. Y, writes that Joseph Watson,
who left Verona N. Y, with one Burton II.
Bradley, to enlist, and through the said
Joseph Watson can she be able to obtain
pension. Information is wanted.
Kirt Hinch, Spring City, Tenn, wants the
address of any Of the 18th Pa. Cav. that was
camped at Cedar Grove, in the Sequachee
Valley, in East Tennessee.
Frederick Roth, member of James B.
Sample Post, 10, GAR, Fort Madison,
Iowa. writes that comrades, by RENTING IL
cents. can obtain the Boston and County
Gazette aud Journal of March H. ITO.