The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-04-30
Veterans History.
Thrilling Experiences Of John DAWSON OF
Poplar. as furnished BY Himself
For the War History.

known as the "Balstead of Boston" anC
We were lying in the harbor at Con
stantinople, Turkey.
We had shipped at Cardiff, England
and when we entered Constantinoplt
We were notified by our captain that he
had sold the ship.
The agreement between sailors anc
captains is that when sailors lship from
one port and the captain Gisposes oftht
ship soon after, he is bound by duty t
return bis sailors to the port from
which he shipped. Such was the caee
with our captain who was a kind anC
patriotic man. He told us that the shi1
was sold and that there was war goinl
on in America and if we chose he woul,
send US there free of charge, as mer
were in demand there, or back to Car
i diff
! With no particular motive, not know.
ing the cause of war, or thinking of the
result, but willing to enter the fight, al
i but two of our crew left Constantinople
! for America.
enlisted first, on gun boat, the
name of which l cannot recall. During
skirnlsh which lasted short time
our boat was disabled and / was trans.
| ferred to another.
served three years in the navy, and
it was while i'll this service that | frs,
heard the "hum of hostile bullets. In
"a | entered the land service. ! en-
listed in New York, and this time the
motive was patriotism and justice.
The first hum of bullets which greet
ed my ear on land WIS on moonlight
night while regiment of tired and
thirsty soldiers, after long days jour
ney had crowded round well in front
OF little dwelling owned by family OF
negroes. No sooner had the bucket de-
scended the we'll, when buzz whizz !
went bullet and scattered the regi-
ment in every direction. Companies
were badly mixed at that exciting mo-
| ment and ii took some time to organize
| again.
When organized, the command Vol
| unteer Skirmishers" was given. With
out moments thought 1 was out and
OFT with squad under Lieutenant Her
ring. We followed the road through a
| corn field for a short distance and on
reaching the edge Of the woods all came
together again. No sooner bad we met
in body than volley of shot fell upon
us from cavalry who lay concealed be-
hind large grove of trees.
Three times were we fired at IN this
same manner, but not one of our men
was injured. This move made every
man brave and courageous soldier
ard the success which we had. took the
place of the fear which WAS IN our bo-
som when we started.
The next morning to our great salts
faction. We took about $50 men prison
ers They were the self-same men who
had poured the volley of shot into our
squad the night before.
Our march continued on and on for a
couple OF days with nothing Of impor-
lance happening until we met new
enemy. Our regiment was ordered out
to guard the pioneer Gang" who were
engaged in building bridge across a
creek.
We took our stand back a little from
the creek in the woods, and were not
there long when, to our surprise, we
heard cavalry coming down the
road and soon heard the cry "Surren-
der !'-Down went our guns and everv-
thing, and many of our men were cap
tured
l made for the creek and that was
one of the times | had occasion to run
and did run! Soon | reached clear
ing on which stood the ruins of an old
house which had not long been burn
ed. large chimney stood among the
ruins and suggested a place of refuge
for me. 1 crawled up this chimney and
stood there all the afternoon, and all
that night. | could hear the loud voices
and the firing Of the rebel guns, at
times they stood with their breasts to
the old chimney and fired at our bows.
My heart was filled with fear as now
and then | heard bullet strike nv
place OF refuge. After dark the firing
ceased but still did not think it safe
to leave the chimney. Along toward
morning CT daylight. being very weary
OF standing in such an uncomfortable
position, | ventured down. All was
quite and | was free to rest until morn
ing when found my way back to my
command.
While on our march towards Colds
boro two or three comrades and
myself noticed house short distance
away. Thinking perhaps that we might
hnd something to eat there, a few of
us left the line Of march and went to
the house entered and found some
thing to eat. | was just IN the act of
putting pan of milk to my mouth
when rebel, or bush wager, with a
revolver in each hand stood before me
and pointing the revolver at my head
ordered me to surrender. The lady of
the mouse was IN the room at the time
and begged the man not to kill me in
the house. We surrendered, but one
OF our comrades fortunately, escaped
and notified the cavalry of our capture
They came charging down the road and
rescued us from our captors who drop
ped their guns and took to the woods.
The seargent came TO us and said You
are great fellows, why did mt you pick
up your guns and shoot those fellows
when they turned ~ Well, l often
thought OF why l didn't myself. Our
relief came SO quickly and Unexpected
ly that everything ives greater sur
prise than l had before experienced
and they were Oft before | recovered