The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-05

after that band of guerrillas which L had
passed the night before. 1t was known
that they were IN the neigh bOrhood, and
these men were sent out in search oi
them. told them what knew about it,
and minated that If | were not so hun
cry | would go back with them to the viii
lage. That objection was soon removed
by supplying me with substantial break
fast from their hayersacks.
We started for the village, and had
gone about five miles when we were sud
denly surprised and fired upon by the
guerrillas. Two of our men were killed
on the spot, and my horse received three
bullets. He reared and plunged before he
fell, and in doing so the saddle-girth was
broken, and saddle and rider were thrown
over his head. | was thrown on the
ground violently, which stunned me for q
moment, and my horse soon fell beside
me, his blood pouring from three wounds.
Making a desperate effort to rise, he
groaned once, fell back and. throwing his
neck across my body, he saturated me
from head to foot with his blood. He died
in a few minutes.
PLAYING PosSUM.
/ remained in that position, not daring
to rise, for our party had fled and the
rebels pursued them. 4 very few min
utes clap ed when the guerrillas returned,
and the first thing | saw was one OF the
men thruSting his saber into one of the
dead men beside me. was lying par
tally on my face, so | closed my eyes and
passed for dead.
The rebels evidently thought was I'M
worthy of their notice, for, after searching
the bodies OF the two dead men, they rode
away; but Just as | was making up my
mind TO crawl out from under the dead
horse, heard the tramp OF horses feet
and lay perfectly still and held my breath.
1t was one of the same men, who had
returned. Dismounting, he came up and
took hold OF my feet, and partially drew
me from under the horses head, and then
examined my pockets. Fortunately,
had no official documents with me, and
very little money-n0t more than 81 After
transferring the contents of my pockets
TO his own, he remOunted his horse and
rode away, without ever Su pecting that
the object before him was playing pos
sum.
Not long after the departure of the guer-
rillas our party returned with reinforce
mentS, and pursued the rebel band One
Of the men returned to camp with me,
letting me ride his horse and walking all
the way himself The guerrilas were
captured that day, and, after searching
them, my pocketbook was found upon
one of them, and was returned to me with
| its contents undisturbcd. 1t lies before
| me while | write, reminding me of that
| narrow escape, and OF the mercy of Coo
| in Sparing my Improbable life.
| BIttI hdittHton TIC dTIf1y Ell
camped in that vicinity for a few days
F.! duri e which Father Abr&ham" took the
| favorable opportunity of relieving the IDOL
of the Army of the Potomac from his COM
| mand and ordered him to report at Tren-
| ton, N. j., Just as he was entering upon
another campaign, with his army in splen
| did condition.
| After a brief address and an affecting
| farewell to officers and men, he FASTENED
| to comply with the order.
| The new commander marched the army
Immediately to Falmouth, opposite Fred
ericksburg OF the incidents OF that
march / know nothing, for | went to
Washington, and from thence to Aqua
Creek by water
| went from Washington to Aqua Creek
by steamer and from thence to Falmouth
on horseback. | round the army en-
camped in the mud for miles along the
Rappahannock River
1t was now December, and the weather
was extremely cold yet the constant
rains kept the roads in the most terrible
state Imaginable.
Ga riding along the brink OF the river we
could see distinctly the rebel batteries
frowning on the nights beyond the city
of Fredericksburg, and the rebel scntinels
walking their rounds within talking dis
lance of our own pickets.
The bridges were soon completed. and
troops marched over and took possession
Vi TIC Cits iUstittIo were cStGD
lished in the principal building, and q
church and other Urge buildings were
appropriated for hospital purposes.
or course, it is not. Tor me TO say whose
fault it was in sacrificing those thousands
Of noble lives which fell upon that dis
astrous field, or in charging again ano
again upon those terrible stone walls ano
Notifications, after being repulsed every
time with more than hall their number
lying on the ground. The brave men,
nothing daunted by their thinned ranks,
advanced more fiercely on the zoe.
But when it was proved to demon
stration that it was morally impossible to
take and retain those nights, in conse-
quence OF the natural advantage of posi-
ton which the rebels occupied, and still
would occupy if they should fall back
whose fault was it that the attempt was
made time after time, until the field waf
literally piled with dead and ran red with
biOOd'
A council Of war was held by our Gen
erals, and the conclusion arrived at that
the enterprise should be abandoned, ano
that the army should recross the Kappa
hammock under cover OF darkness. Every
thing was conducted in the most quiet
manner; so quiet, indeed, that the enemy
never suspected the movement, and the
retreat was accomplished, and the bridges
partially removed before the fact was
discovered.
After the battle of Fredericksburg the
weather was very cold, and the wounded
suffered exceedingly evcn after they
were sent to Aqua Creek, and other
they could not all be provided
for and made comfortable immediately.
Our troops returned to their old camps in
the mud, and remained stationary for
several weeks, not outstanding our daily
orders were to be ready to march at a
notice. The unnecessary
slaughter Of Our men at Fredericl,sburg
had a sad effect upon ur troops. and the
tone Of the Northern press was truly dis
tress ing.
Ito be contiAued.)