Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-12

three weeks, and from there he was sent
to New York city. and the mex day was
put on a transport for New Orleans. They !
left New Orleans and went up to Nor
ganza Bend September 2, 1864. This is
about 200 miles up the river. Then he
went to Port Hudson, and the first duty
he was assigned to was on the battery
wagon as a driver. He had his drill and
guard duty to do the same as the rest of
the men, and he began to think that he
was not going to see any dangerous duty.
He told one of the boys hat he hoped
he would get into a fight before he got
home, n the older and more expert
enced comrade told him that if Dewey
would take his (the comrade's) advice he
would keep out of all the fights he could
if he could do so honorably.
There was quite a large force at Nor
ganza Bend besides the battery boys and
sometimes they would go off on a raid
and take a section of the battery with
them. and each section would take its
turn to go. Finally the section to which
Dewey belonged was called upon to go.
as Dewey was a driver on the bat
terry wagon he was not called upon to go
that trip. They went out with three
days rations. Dewey knew that one of
the men was sick and could not go, and
as Dewey wanted to see a fight he went
to the sergeant and told him he wanted
to go in the sick mans place. The SER
geant looked at Dewey in surprise, and
said: eff o go you may get hurt"
ooh" replied Dewey. "you may get killed.
too, sergeant, for that matter: but I want
to go, and l want to go real bad" Off
went the sergeant, and soon he came back
with the sick mans equipments, consist
ing of a saddle. bride, nose bag, curry
comb, brush and blanket, saying: "Now,
Dewey, these are in YOU care. If you
lose them carelessly they will be charged
to you and will be taken out of your Jay.
but if you are in a battle and are obliged
to lose them it is hen the loss Of the
government" Dewey said: "All right, |
will take good car2Lof them"
Then Dewey saddled his horse II they
started for the steamboat landing. They
embarked on two large Mississippi river
steambats. There was on board two
pieces of the Second Massachusetts bat
terry and four pieces of the Fourth Mas
sachusetts battery and a large number
of infantry and cavalry. This was Octo-
Der 3, 1864. They started dow the river
and had a good ride to Bayou Sara. There
was a union gunboat in the river and the
steamboats, made a landing. and away
went the soldiers out into the enemy's
country in the state of Mississippi.
1t was not long before the cavalry cap
tured a rebel prisoner. n the soldiers
began 10 ask MIN HOW he DeSdu W NC
caught SO quick. The rebel said that his
mule was so cussed balky'' that he could
not make him go as he wanted him to.
He added: II suppose you think I am a
traitor to my country. but If you will let
me go you will see how quick I will be
one again." Then the union troops be-
gan to ask him what the prospects were
for their having a fight, n If there
would be rebels enough to make it worth
.l,:1 H1l,> ,,,;roV0. ,a,NlinI. "1 dnn't
consider that a fair question. but I reckon
you will find out pretty quick when you
get there"
The union men went on, and soon re-
ceived orders to go into camp and to hitch
their horses heads so high that they
could not lie DOWN. The next morning
early they started for jackson. To the
left was the town of Clinton. Dewey be-
gan to think it was a long ride and
wished that he could dismount and lead
his horse, when suddenly he heard the
command "Fcrward!' given. He looked
another with several plugs of tobacco
! the road The artillery went at a good
smar run down the hill. All the rebels
that We're in sight got up and busted ex-
cept one, and him the rebels had tied up
for punishment. He was captured and
united. Then the union troops found
nothing to prevent their going into Jack
i Sol, IllC was Nv capital u NllSSlSSlpDl
There were several stores in the place,
but no storekeepers to wait on customers,
One of the union soldiers would ask q
comrade to hold his horse and then he
would go into a store.
Finally Dewey thought he would go in,
as he saw one man with a long spoon and
andother with several plugs of tobacco.
Then the commanding officer sang out
every man to his post" and very soon