The National tribune., 1899-09-14


I afterwards had bear hunt and real
lively hunt for n full-grown grounding.
Sam and the children We're with me when
hauled him out of his hole by letting
down a cur-dog by his hind legs; when
the dog seized the grounding 1 drew the
hog and dog to the surface. while the chill
dren held on to my feet and legs. Throw
ing the hog and dog down, half dozen
other dogs pitched in, when the hog fought
them sharply with his needle-like teeth
until, being overmatched, he started down
hill; and such a rough-and-tumble fight
down to little stream, where he intrenched
himself under large log across the stream,
where we ended him with clubs. He
weighed over % pounds.
Being placed at a deer-stand one day,
Uncle Jimmy" driving with his cur-dogs,
large black bear instead of q deer came
out at my stand and made straight for me.
He looked as big as an elephant. chang
ed position-took the hillside, 20 or 80
yards from whence / opened fire upon him
with musket loaded with bucllshot; but
he was on the run, with a curious sideway
movement and missed him.
All laughed heartily as told the story,
ClCiS oIiiiiiN Sd lig. All. lTlellU, III you
had just had a rifle"
But in that case | should probably not
have hit within 100 yards of the "critter."
Another deer-hunt, and as the deer
passed the house of freedman, the only
one in the settlement, his little son fired
on him with musket, wounding him,
when the deer took refuge in broad place
in the North River, and Uncle Jimmy
coming up, shot him through the head
us he stood at bay. a great feast we had,
to be sure.
My little son Charlie was present. and
was greatly interested. He frequently after
wards in Richmond told the story to many
admirers. Soon thereafter we bade adieu
to our kind and never-to-he-forgotten
friends, and returned to Richmond not
very lony after, the place from whence
we started: and have often thought that
had quite fairly illustrated "Bunyon's
Pilgrims Progress" during my many and
varied experiences and travels during the
war, and had at last thrown off my burden
at the gates,' as did Christian.
SOME RANDOM RECoLLECTIONS.
| neglected 10 mention an incident or
two in connection with the battle of New
Creek Station. On the morning after the
battle, in company with Provost-Marshal
Drake, we rode up the NORTH, end of Pine
Mountain,-the very route where the red
headed Captain had made his famous
charge,-and discovered two or three dead
Confederates. The one discovered. strange
to say, was in citizens dress, and only par
TALLY buried-head and upper part of the
body exposed to view.
The effects of shot and shell were every
where visible, trees and shrubbery being
torn and demolished in every direction
These destructive missiles came from
Fort Piano, as referred to elsewhere. Re
turning, We witnessed the passage of the
funeral cortege of the seven Federal sol
diers who fell at the battles 'front.' and we
stood uncovered as it passed. About a
like number was killed on the Confederate
side, also many wounded on both Sides
Visiting the hospital with Maj. Drake, 1
noted that the wounded-both Confederate
and Federal-occupied the same large
apartment, here Confederate and there
Federal, all being treated with the same
consideration by the Surgeon and other /
officers.
/ may here state that Maj Drake was |
from Parkersburg, w. Va, and Coils. Hoy
and Stephens were from Cincinnati, O., |
and who were lawyers, as / remember |
The two regiments which defended the post |
of New Creek were not Regulars, but were
9O-days men; but, indeed, no Regulars
could have acted with more prowess, de-
termination, and pluck than did they. A
health to both commands and their com
manders.
Kilpatrick's raid around Richmond in
1864 created, seemingly, more consterna-
ton in the city than did the seven days
battles with Mcclellan around Richmond.
Every bell rung out long and loud. 1t
was understood that Fitzpatrick proposed
to liberate the Federal prisoners then COM
fined on Belle Isle,-some $1,000 in num- 1
ber,-but the Confederates, in large num-
bers, from Fredericksburg, caused Gen.
Fitzpatrick 10 retire without succeeding i'm
his efforts.
Capt. Grimes, of Grimes's battery, ac-
by my cousin, Capt John
Clarke, called on me just before that event, !,
and the next morning, Capt. Grimes, with
his battery, was sent 10 oppose the ad-
vance of Gen. Fitzpatrick, and was killed
by a shell just west of the city had
known Capt. Grimes in Portsmouth several
years before.
The Pawnee war, so-called, created the
greatest excitement in Richmond. II seems
that the Confederates had seized some
powder at Norfolk just before the war, and
the repart came that the vessel containing
the powder, then on the way to Richmond,
was being pursued by the L. S. gunboat
Pawnee, with the purpose Of bombarding
the city.
Col. Tom August with all the troops and
artillery that he could muster, marched to
Rockets and took possession, while hun
ireds of people, armed with pistols, old
and scythe-blades, brought up
the rear. / followed, and on arriving at
Rockets took position upon a large pile of
oyster shells, and looked on at the show.
An old lady who shared my seat upon
the oyster shells asked my opinion as to the
situation, and 1 told her, just for the fun
Of it, that the city was just as good as
destroyed; that the Pawnee was an awful
and carried about 100 guns
that threw shot and shell seven miles;
with that she rolled clear down the pile of
shells to the bottom, after which gracefully
departed, seeing that she was not injured;
but just as 1 departed mighty cry arose
hat the Pawnee was coming.
A vessel of some sort was seen coming
around the bend, and while August and
lis people sprang to arms, the thing came
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