The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-04
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Deeds of Audacity Unnoticed.


O. A. Bussard, Battery NJ, LIST Mo. L. A.,
Marion, O., writes: Does it not seem
little queer that in the presentation by Con-
gross Of Medals of Honor the recipients are
most invariably Eastern men for distin-
quished services in Eastern battles?
don't want to be considered kicker because
/ served in the Western army, yet l love
fairness.
"a private of the 18th Ohio battery, at
Iuka, when the battery was surrounded and
half the men and horses were killed, was
commanded by rebel Colonel to dismount
from the lead horse at the Timber. be
sprang from the saddle and struck the Colo
mel with his fist, knocking him down.
"At Corinth batteryman, becoming i'm
patient where his battery was waiting the
approach of the enemy, advanced with
carbine he had found and Joined body OF
advanced skirmishers, and fought with
them until pressed back to the battery,
where he resumed his position.
"At the driving Of Pap Price out of Mis-
souri,, in 1864, Gen. McNeal's Division
charged with saber the combined rebel
army, said to number %, 600 men, drawn up
in splendid line. McNeal's Division num-
bered 5000 men. The enemy was over
whelmed with the audacity of our move
ment, and fled. This occurred on the open
prairie. where every man and movement
was plainly visible.
when volunteers were called for by
Grant to man the boats that were to run
Vicksburg's batteries, double the number Of
mon wanted were promptly on the ground
begging the privilege. I have witnessed
scenes of daring and bravery that would
have made the Old Guard look green with
h,,{ II rs Eor
from me to detract one iota from the valor-
Gus deeds Of our Eastern brethren, but lot
Us have fair divide"
Information.
Samuel Anderson, Co. d, 10th Pa. r. c.,
Stanton, Kan, writes: / want to inquire of
any of Battery B, 5th U. s. Art, boys what
was the result of the injury received by a
Sergeant Of the battery by the wind Of
shell at Spottsylvania. The shot cut off one
wheel of piece, and I think killed a can
noneer and cut of the front Of this Ser
geant's blouse. The Sergeant was carried
back 10 or Is rods; then he jumped off the
stretcher and came back to the field. He
commenced to assist to put on spare wheel;
again he fell over and was carried to hospi-
tai. / want to know, also. where Shorty !"
Folsom is. Folsom was No. on Serg't Sui
liyan's piece"
James Gearon, of Wallace, Idaho, has in
his possession two discharge papers, each be-
longing to Bernard Burns. They were left
with Gearon by Burns long time ago. AS
they have been forgotten, 1 send you this,
thinking it might catch the eye Of the
owner.
Mrs. Sarah 8. Baker, Montrose, Colo,
would like comrades who. knew her hus-
band, Thomas Y. Baker, Captain, Co. G. 87th
N. Y, to address her.
Lots of Fun In "By-words.
T. w. Parsons writes I am of opinion
that the phrase Here's your mule " was in
use before the war. In fact, if have the
true version of it, its origin is not set down
in the Snnday-school books. My good old
mother always told me not to use by-words,
that they almost invariably originated in
something coarse, but in camp everything
goes till it is run down, or worn threadbare.
| While the Sd and 4th KY. were in camp be-
low Louisville, KY, during the month OF
| October, 1847, on our way to Mexico, the
| people from the city came out to camp in
crowds to see the volunteers, as we were
| called. Our camp was six miles from the
city, in an old field and on fiat ridge.
Quite often the young bleods from the city
would come out on horseback and ride en-
tirely around the camp, up the front and
down the rear, and when they started up the
line our boys would raise the yell: Whoa
there' Jump off and hold to the grass.
When you want to stop pull those strings
and halloo whoa We could tell what part
of the camp the young swell was passing,
and by the time he reached the gate again
he would look as though he wished he had
not come. do not know where these say
ings originated, but they got started and
went"
J. w. Homer, Louisville, Kan, writes a.
to "Grab root: In the battle of Stone
River, JAM 2, 1868, the Goth Ohio, to which
/ belonged, was in the line that charged Gen
Breckinridge's command. We advanced ir
good order until the river bank was reached
After that we fought on the Indian plan.
went headlong down the river bluff, and a
1 was plunging my way to the east shore
observed on the waters edge large syca
more tree from which the earth had beer
washed under it's roots. On near approach
to the old giant looked back and saw man.
of my brave comrades shooting into th'
timber in my front. The bullets were splash
ing the water nearby and it made me fee
religiously inclined, and immersion was ii
order Every time that came up som
comrade yelled excitedly from the Opposite
shore, "Grab root"