The National tribune., 1897-02-11
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.

E. w. Menaugh, Co. f, 9Th Ind. Cav,
Salem, writes: - remember very funny
incident that occurred in January, 1860.
Our regiment was camped at Louisville, KY,
for few weeks for the purpose of drawing
fresh horses. The boys visited the theater
nearly every night in squads. About 400
of us were present when Shaksperes Mac
beth was being presented. The play had
advanced as far as the third scence OF act
3, where the murderer assaults Banquo
The audience was perfectly quiet and
watching with intense interest the very per-
feet rendition of this play. But just at the
moment when Banquo was assaulted voice
from the pit shouted, Grab a root fol-
lowed by q similar ejaculation from another
part of the house, Yes, grab root; - it,
grab r0otn It was like a volcanic eruption.
The suggestive words we're roared out from
each soldiers mouth until they could be
heard for blocks away. Some of the boys
rushed for the stage and implored Banquo
to grab root and fall back. Others de-
manded of him in very strong language to
grab a root and cease firing.
The police at this juncture arrived and
attempted to quiet the boys, but they hus-
tied the police out. Gen. John A. Logan
was present, with portion of his staff, and
for several minutes enjoyed this romantic
scene, but when the boys commenced climb
ing over the chairs and seats and advancing
| on the stage it was more than he could
stand, and he commenced retreating. The
boys turned on the General and good ma
turedly commanded him to advance and
grab root This was wild scene, and
many minutes elapsed before oder was re-
stored and the play could 20 o."
The Flag Of the 1e4th Ill.
Thomas Hughes, Co. G, 124th ILL.,, New
bern, H., says the colors of the 124th had
quite history. They were borne by the
regiment on the march of Grants army from
La Grange to Port Gibson; were in the bat
ties Of the latter place, Raymond, Jackson,
Champions Hills. Siege of Vicksburg, and
other conflicts. They were carried in the
great drill of the Third Division, Seventeenth
Corps, when the 124th won the prize banner
presented by Gen. Mcpherson, Jan. 80, 1864
They were deposited at the Capitol of Hi
| nois in May, 1865.
An Interesting Sketch.
William Simmons, 1882 Wharton street,
Philadelphia, is preparing history OF the
West Gulf Squadron, covering the territory
from Pensacola to the Rio Grande and the
Mississippi as far as Vicksburg. If the ship
worthy of publication in connection with
that squadron he wants them to send it to
him. The contemplated publication can be
made unusually interesting, not only to
naval veterans but to readers of THE Ma
TIONAL TRIBUNE generally.
All Down But Two.
l. J. Knight, Go. d, 7th Iowa, Oskaloosa,
Iowa, says: mine men from our immediate
4 iotn M
D, 7th Iowa. They were William, Henry,
Denny, John and Isaac j. Knight, H. Shell
don. and Jacob Rissor. William Packard
aud Henry Denney were killed and Henry
Packard was wounded at Belmont, Mo-,
Nov. 7, 1861; John knight was killed and
Joseph Denny wounded at Lays Ferry, Ga,
May 15 1864; John D. Pickard was wounded
at Atlanta, July 20, 1864; Sheldon was
wounded at Jonesboro, Ga, Aug. 81, 1864"
Medals of Honor.
Wilson Smith, Battery H. Sd N. Y. H. A.,
Rome, N. Y, has something to say about
medals too. Bristow Goodheart says: "Why
not issue medal to the Hospital Steward
for giving quinine capsules, or to the Chap
lain for not losing his Bible? Well, really,
Uncle Sam must be in hard lines if ont of
of the truly meritorious on whom to bestow
the medals of honor that have been issued.
Many will be pleased, however, to learn that
medals may be had for the simple doing of
duty or through political influence, though
few have discovered that political influence
ever came the way of the private soldier"
Painful Waiting.
JAS S. Reeder Co. G, 10th ILL.,, Garrett, ILL.,,
L l.. IL,
10, 1863, and taken to Andersonville. On Aug.
9, 1864, % of the prisoners were selected
to be sent through the lines for exchange.
They went to Macon, then to Port Royal.
But IL did not get through the lines, and
Reeder was one of them. He was taken
to Florence. In the latter part of February,
1865, Reeder was taken out and loaded on
the cars aud started for Wilmington. He
arrived there in the night, and was put on
the cars for Goldsboro, and held there until
our forces had captured Wilmington and
on the last day of February arrived at the
picket-lnes, eight or ten miles from Will
mington."
Wants to Find Her Friends.
Mrs E. II. Tousey, Baxter Springs. Kan,
writes II want to hear from any comrade
who was pilOted across the Little Tennes-
see River where it empties into the HOlstOn,
between London aud Knoxville, Tenn"
This lady, a widow with two little children,
the men will doubtless remember, for the
army camped the night before she pilOted
them across the dangerous ford. The Off
GERS had their Headquarters in her house, it
4