The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-22

organization, which greatly assisted us in
safely reaching orr lines at Fayetteville, w.
Va, after nigbt-trsmp OF 800 miles over all
the mountains Of the Virginias covering
period of % days"
Last PIekst-Line at Cold Harbor
Daniel B. Freeman, Co G, 10th Vt, writes:
" At Cold Hsrbor details for picket duty were
made daily, and the reliefs changed every
evening. under cover Of darkness. The night
of The evacuation, June 10, 1864, il was my
fortune to be detailed for picket. The squad
detailed from my regiment-the 10th Vt,
First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps
was stationed along a corduroy road crossing
an ISOLATED swamp or marsh, close MP 20 the
enemy, in dense thieket of cedar and other
underbrush. This road had been cut through
this jungle and laid so we could stand upon
it and not be mired and it fell to
my lot TO be posted the last man but one
down this path, where we were posted about
two rods apart, with no relief, 10 keep watch
and answer all voleys from the opposing
picket-line, and let them know we were
alert and ready for any demonstration on
their part. To our left across the swamp
our line joined on to the pickets of the old
Vermont Brigade, who were directly in front
of a rebel battery posted on hill.
Some time after midnight the enemy be-
gan throwing mortar shell over the picket
lines into our camp, now nearly deserted,
but they did not yet know 1t, nor did We on
the pieket-iine. Shortly after 2 o'clock in
the morning the Sergeant of our line stole
along to tell each man to be on the alert, tie
his canteen and traps so as to make no noise,
watch for the next man on his right to move
and when we heard him steal away, to soon
follow as quietly as possible for a little dis
lance beyond the corduroy road, turn to the
right, and make haste.
How eagerly / listened, and how the
moments seemed hours, until I was on my
way out just as the first streaks of gray
morning were being visible. / followed the
trail back through the old camp, now de-
serted until saw others going before, when
/ hastened on at adouble-guiek pace passing
the cavalry.
Just at night we came up with our di-
vision, and | found my regiment near the
James River. then learned that the picket
line was not to be relieved, but sacrificed in
order to get the army away. But for the
| heroic courage and iaithfulnsss of the Ser
/ geant who, have been told, returned TO camp
alone to find it deserted, and returned to
steal along the line and give his Independents
order for Us to withdraw, none of Us along
| this part of the pieket-line would have es-
| capped capture on this occasion; and soma
were captured as it was"
| Scattering.
| VIM. X. Barclay Co. j, 4th Mo. s. NJ. Cav,
now residing al Alsea, Ore, has lost his dis
charge papers, and any information regard
| ing them viii be thankfully received by the
conrsde.
Comrade NJ G. Condor. 9th Ohio Ind'p's
| Company, residing at Clinton, Mo-, would
| like some eomrade to send him plan for a
| eold-storage fruit-house with capacity Of
| 1900 bushels.
| Comrade Jas. ". Eldridge, 2 State street,
| Hartford, Conn.,, writes I have two full
sets of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE weekly,
/ one set elegantly bound-the best history
of the war OF the rebellion extant. | very
much desire the following numbers of the
monthly issue of 1878, viz, June to Decem-
| Der, inclusive. Am willing to pay so cents
each for any of them, or 81 each for the full
lot of seven numbers"
James Shepherd, Sd and 7th KY, Alta
mont, KY, says the veterans should write
more interesting stories instead of grum-
| bling at each other and criticising so hsrshly
| the accounts written. He advocates liberal
pensions and wants the sOldisr-haters shown
| up irrespective of party.
| Rev. T. C.. Fisher, Laporte. Mich, wonders
| why the members of Co. G, 10Th Ohio, do
not write to The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.