The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-23

with fires all burning and pots, etc, on for
cooking. But you state you left at midnight,
Feb. 8. so l presume the cooking was being
done by those not able to 90 out with you,
and possibly they were expecting you back.
We didn't ask them. In fact, they did not
give MS the chance.
| 1T has always been our idea that to us
belonged the credit Of capturing camps and
| Fort Heiman in troo military style, but
YOU have removed the delusion. Anyway,
we made ourselves at home. | will pay you
this compliment-you left some mighty good
grub, and you reveal the secret of it: it came
| from home There were 200 or 800 bushels
of speckled back-and-red beans, however,
which the Commissary forgot to take along,
and our own Commssary undertook to make
us eat them. They were not in it with the
old army beam
Later we camped near an old log barn up
river from your camp, on the bluff overlook
ing the river ] was much interested in the
account of picket duty. 1t was not my first,
for we had been in service since August, '6l,
and were all Winter just above Columbus, at
Fort Holt, and often visited back and
forth with your garrison there, and many,
many a time when on videt in those Ken
tucky woods thought of home and got just
as sleepy, but was in the presence of the
enemy.
But speaking of Fort Heiman, l had a
little picket experience there that is worth
telling about. You remember how the back
water covered the river bottom? We were
destitute of any camp equipage, and the
weather, as you state, was the worst KIND,
so with few of my messmateS we concluded
to 60 down and, if possible make our way to
our steamer lying moored to the river bank,
and of course it was necessary to build a
raft, for the 800 or 400 feet of back water
kept Us away fiom the landing
eve accomplished our design, and arriv-
ing on board the old Chancellor, ana finding
our blankets etc., and also finding that it
was nice and warm in the cabin on the
steamer, we just settled down for one good
nights sleep. 1t happened TO be the wrong
night, for some time during it the long
roll sounded and the troops were ordered
into line to repel an imaginary foe The tell
tale roll-call raised the question Of our
whereabouts, and when the next morning we
hove 10 and went struggling into camp with
our outfit we were Immediately taken before
the commanding officer After listening to
our story he inflicted a sentence of five DAYS
extra picket-guard.
Talk about suffering ] doubt if ever the
much -talked-about soon won heroes Of a
later date suffered as much. 1t was the only
punishment received during my nearly five
years service. | imagine / stood guard near
the scene of your hair-raising experience.
stood picket where? Why, like the fellow
who in telling about being born on Cape Col
said he was born all along the shore, l do not
think there was an inch of ground within
the confines of Fort Heiman that | did not
stand picket on.
ON the 18th of February our Colonel,
with 60 men. had a scrap with Col. Miller
and our history says put to flight his 300
cavalry, capturing one prisoner. do know
that detachment of about 80 Of us went
out on the run to reinforce our 60, meeting
them coming in from Big Bethel.
aside from this little affair there was
nothing much to mar our peace while we
staid there, which was until March 6, just
one month before the battle of Shiloh, when
we marched to Paris Landing, and, boarding
our steamer, moved on up the Tennessee
River.
Many of the dear boys that went with
Us up the beautiful blue never returned.
We lost very heavily at Shiloh. The flower
of my company, seven Of the best, fell on
the first day. was struck with spent ball
and knocked out, remaining in a dazed
and nearly paralyzed condition until late that
night Cropping my way to the field, i found
it impossible to find my command. ] went
right to work, and many poor, dying fellow
was fed, and we drank from the same can
teen.' j, like yourself, was young, being
at the time of the battle OF Shiloh just II
years of age Was born Al ri 10, 1845.
81 shall look forward to all your letters in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. like the real
thing. Thanking you on my own behalf for
the account of your interesting service, will
subscribe myself
Zone of your Friends of the enemy"