The National tribune., 1899-04-20

toward Centerville. and soon the boys
were hurrying forward. While filling thu
canteens for the boys ! became sepa
rated from the troops. 1t was quite {
warm day, and it seemed strange TO me
Ia put down Il rebellion on Sunday. After
/ trying TO find the boys | gave it up, and
went up TO sec how a battle was fought.
| On reaching the Stone Church saw the
results OF war. Upon one side vi the
steps OF the church WAS pile Oi legs ana
arms, and the ambuianCeS ,-"Tc backing
/ up, with the blood dripping through the
bottoms. Soon there came a confusion
/ ;i1at is hard 10 describc-infantry, cavalry
artillery, now and then a carriage. all IN
| promiscuous confusion, each for himself
and everything was chaos. The soldiers
would throw away their muSketS, ana the
rebels would throw shot and shell down
among the people. One old white cll-
zen said:
You'd better hurry up and git to Wash
ington before the Black Horse Cavalry
cuts off your retreat"
Soon Il soldier came up TO me and said,
"Get off that hoss," placing gun under
What was | to do' Everyone seemed to pe
looking out for himself. Why shouldnt l
II The houses all along the route were
filled with wounded men. | concluded II
best TO get out of dangers way, and went
down into the woods and joined party Oh
about so soldiers who were making a re-
treat While going over the hill an officer
rode up and said, in commanding voice,
"Men, rally around me, for God $ sake.
If YOU must die, then die like soldiers.
l have often thought of that brave iei-
low, and always, when Bull Run is men
toned, that voice comes ringing in my
ears. ] never knew who it was, and 1t
would give me great pleasure now to meet
him and take him by the hand. He,
however, had no control over the men,
for they were panic stricken.
On reaching the edge ol the WOODS d
company of cavalry swung around on our
right and fired Il volley at US. ~ pan
struck tree, and my eyes became hlleu
with the dust from the dry bark. l was
compelled 10 stop and rub my eyes, ana IL
was some time before | could collect my
self 10 get out of there.
When night overlook us it started TO
rain, but we continued our march on 10
Washington, almost worn out and diS-
couraged. We reached Washington the
next morning, having taken a round
about way, increasing the distance SIX 10
eight miles. | learned that the Vermont
boys were at Alexandria. My Lieutenant
was in the hospital at Georgetown,
wounded. | then had to shit for myself.
After the boys had recognized they
went into camp near Cham bridge, AT
Camp Griffin. | launched out INTO the
newspaper business, selling the New
York Herald, Times, Tribune, Phlia-
dclphia Inquirer, Washington Chronicl
and Forney's War Press. Keeping a
weather eye to windward, found that the
Wisconsin boys were great readers, much
like the Green Mountain boys. The 9th
Wis. was at Camp Griffin all that Winter,
while the I'd was at Fort Runyan. Later
on the 9th and 9Th joined, and finally
drifted over to the Western boys, who
seemed to take kindly to me. There being
d vacancy created by one Jiggadeer -Brin-
die, as he called himself, Withdrawing,
l took his place, and stuck by the Wis
consin boys, who, after the battle OF
South Mountain, were known as The Iron
Brigade. 1t was composed OF the I'd, 9th,
and 7th Wis, 18th Ind, oath Mich, to-
gether with Battery B, 18th U. S. Art.
TO be continued