The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-24
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and lived TO verify my word, for / have
done an immense amount of hard service
| since then. Invent to the field again with
my company sometime in March, 1868
Our route lay by way of the Ohio and
| Cumberland Rivers, and as we landed
and remained at the little town OF Dover
! for some time | had an excellent oppor-
! tunity TO survey the old battlefield OF
| Donelson. The ground was rough and
| hilIy, and exceedingly difficult TO manu-
yer troops on, while the fort itself stood
on a commanding eminence overlooking
the river. The field was strewn with mis-
SileS of all kinds, while the diSmounted
+, guns, the scared and fallen trees, and
| the furrowed earth all told of the terrific
| struggle that had taken place upon the
| hills.
| Having no guide / could learn nothing
| save what was then discernible, such as
| the respective lines battle of the two
| armies. Here and there along the inter
val between them would be places where
| the timber was unusually cut up and the
ground terribly torn by artillery, while
every visible object on the surface would
be riddled with bulletS-S0 many memen-
toes of violent charges under murder
GUS fire. When we consider the almost
impregnable position of the enemy, fortified
at nearly every aSsailable point with ex-
treme care and skillful Judgment and the
nature of the ground our troops were com
PEELED TO charge over, the battle OF Fort
Doneison must appear to every reader OF
history as one of the most gallant VIC
tories which eur troops won during the
late long and bloody war.
In due course of time we arrived at
Nashville, and on landing set out Tor Camp
Stanley, near Murfreesboro, and there we
found our regim ent,-the glorious old attn,
sadly thinned in numbers, but as full
of fight and as enthusiastic in the cause
as ever. | missed many familiar face,
and N0ipp that would have gwen
me friendly greeting, had it not been
huShed in death. My comrades gathered
around me and welcomed me among them
once more; and now again | really felt at
home. No one knows the deep attach
ment existing among soldiers; they can
scarcely realize it themselves until sur
rounded by adversely; then it is that we
feel how devotedly we love one another.
Co. A had not been long in camp before
1T was put on picket, and on this duty
We continued for IA days. under COM
mand of Lieut. Charles D. Henry, being
stationed on the East Liberty pike, about
two miles from Murfreesboro. For sew
eral days nothing occurred to mar the
even tenor Of camp life, except that
squad of buShwhackerS, five or six in
number, fred a few random shots at us,
which resulted in quick chase and
final escape.
QUEER CHARACTER.
After this the Lieutenant put me on
patrol duty outside the lines to watch all
suspicious points, and while on this duty
/ was one day joined by Lieut.. Frank
Robbie, the Captains brother. We rode
out together much beyond my ordinary
trips, having crossed Cripple Creek and
gone about three miles beyond it, when
we met an old black man riding along the
road, apparently buried in deep thought.
There appeared to be feeling of calm
felicity pervading his soul, for it shone
out on his face. Such were his medita-
tons that he did not notice us until we
addressed him:
"Uncle," | asked, after saying chow
dee, "ain't you preacher!"
He raised his eyes, and seeing only a
strange officer and soldier at his side, !
opened them wide and replied
LA, masSa, how you know dat"
eve only guessed at il; but what is
the news?"
well, marsters," he said, ''if / amt
you is some dem gemmen dey
call Yankees, and if you is, amt afeard
10 talk 10 you; but, lor', a body doesn't !
nebber know who dey is taIkin' TO now
days"
"You are right" we responded; eve are
Yankees, and ii you know anything about
-he rebs we want you 10 post us"
"Weli, marster, | is de Wilder Trim
ole's Willis, an ! is preacher, "a Meth
1dist preacher; and last Winter, on de
ust day OF December, our soldiers cOtch
ne an whipped me, kaSe deTe was on e
If our boys on the plantation toie 'em dat
lie Wilder Trirble'5 Willis prayed for de
Union"
OF course we sympathized with the old
nan in his persecution, but he was not
he only one who was prosecuted then for