The National tribune., 1899-03-23
PICKET SHOTS.
From Alert Comrades Along the
Whole Line.
An Illinois Comrade Writes.


Kan, writes: 81 wish to criticize Lieut..
Dixon's statement in your paper Of Feb. 9,
in the crossing of the Second Division, Fif-
teenth Corps, at Lays Ferry. think he is
under the impression that the 81st Ohio
made the crossing, which they did, but did
not stay there; Gen. Sweeny having re-
ceived information which he thought was re-
liable, and as he states, "a. sundOwn they re-
crossed to the safe side. The facts are, as
| well remember, and which the Records of
the Rebellion will prove, that on the next
morning, about o'clock. the First Brigade,
commanded by Brig Gen. Rice, was ordered
TO cross at Lays Ferry, while Gen. Burns's
Brigade was ordered to Calhoun Ferry. to
make demonstration. Capt. Compton, Co.
C, and Capt Newton, Co. D, with their
companies, in all about 80 men, in pontoon-
boats, were ferried across under scattering
fire from the enemy's pickets. They made
landing and drove the rebels away, and
threw up bridgehead and intrenchments
till all of the other regiments of the brigade
were over, consisting of the I'd Iowa, 7th
Iowa, Goth Ind. and sd Ill. The pontoon-
under Col ParrOtt, advanced and charged .
column of the enemy, and lost Is men in
about five minutes. We then waited till all
the divisions were over, and advanced"
Porter Ketreated.
J. R. Rathburn, Co. G, sd Ind, and Co.
K, 125th Ohio, Big Run, O., writes: "While
at Camp Irwin, Texas, Serg't Porter and 1
went out for bit of the fat of the land.
After going some three miles from camp, we
found two fine old Texas bulls, and con-
cluded to take few pounds of one of them
to camp. As l carried the gun, went
ahead Of Porter. and when / shot the
old gentleman fair in the face, at the crack
Of the gun he fell, but arose at once. Such
believing, paving, and hooking the ground
| never saw before When he prepared for
battle, Porter called out: Slap in load y
l soon loaded and came TO ready, then
looked around for Porter. He was in full
retreat for the timber q mile or more away.
But l got the bull"
Stone River Fight
Chas. H. Hults, Petit, Ind, writes: "I
saw in your issue of Feb. 23, by Capt. j.
Caster very good description of the battle
of Stone River. But the Captain must not
believe that the 10th and 18th Ind. and
McCook's Division did all the hard fighting
If remember correctly, was there, men,
Der of Wagner's Brigade; also, No l on No.
gun of the 10th Ind. battery, commanded
by Capt. j. b. Cox. So, On the morning of
Dec. 81, 1862, Wagner's Brigade, with the
10th Ind. battery, was ordered north of the
pike and railroad, out in an open cotton
field, almost in the bend of the creek. We
did our snare of the fighting Five unsuc-
cessiul charges the Mississippi Tigers made
on the battery that day. We used nothing
but grape and canister all day long The
rebels we're fighters, but they couldn't move
the old 10TH"
Before Fort Robinett.
W. S. Snow, Lieutenant, Co. X, 11th No.,
Wakenda, Mo-, writes: In talking over the
fight at RObinett with Comrade Joseph S.
Pine, Co. !, 39th Ohio we agreed that the
G3d Ohio was on the right OF the battery,
the 39th Ohio on the right of the 63d Ohio
and the 1lth Mo. in the rear of the 63d. The
Johnnies made their charge three columns
deep. Their first line was repulsed by the
63d Ohio. The Johnnies rallied and being
reinforced by their second line, came on
again. This time the ODD Ohio was thrown
into confusion, and borne back by sheer
force of numbers The 1lth Mo. was then
ordered forward. We fired several voleys,
and then met the JOhnnies with bayonet
and clubbed musket. We did our share in
turning the tide OF battle. After the retreat
OF the rebels, the l1th Mo. occupied the
front line until we started in pursuit next
morning. 1t seems that Capt. Gilmore did
not know Lieut.. McNeal. l can assure the
Captain that the Lieutenant was there, as
have q personal knowledge of the fact"
Famous 3rd Iowa Cavalry.
Rev. Alfred Spence, Newport, Mo-. writes:
II have not seen word from the Sd Iowa
Cav. served four years in Co. E. On the
Wilson raid Bailey" Peden and were on
detached service in Battery l, 4th U. s. Art.
and when we got to Atlanta, wanted to be |
released and sent back to our regiment. The
war was over, but they would not send US
back, SO we took leave Of absence and went |
out between Peach Tree Creek and the Chat |
tahOoche, and went to work for old Father
Fineher. One day l went back to the regi- ,
ment to see how things were getting along,
and my Lieutenant wanted me to come back
to the regiment, and did; and that day 1
was arrested and sent to the battery and tied
on the spare wheel of the caisson. That
evening, at feed call, Corporal of my COM
pany came into the battery and wanted to
cut me loose; but told him no, as he would
likely get into trouble. That night, just at
dark, an order came from my company to re-
lease me in one hour, or they would take the
old battery, as they all had theic srencer
carbines and 100 rounds. But was released |
inside of one hour, and went back to the |
country and staid till my descriptive roll was |