The National tribune., 1900-02-01
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
GETTING BACK TO THE ARMY.

GETTING BACK TO THE ARMY.
Row so of the 10th N. J. Cav. Came to be with
Gen. Wilson on His Raid in June. 1864.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The
writer was with his company on picket
duty on the morning of the battle OF
Hawes's Church, Va, when the rebel cav
airy charged us. At that time | was
mounted on a horse which had lost its
sight by a stroke of lightning that killed its
owner, Corp1 Beals, in charge of our pio-
neer corps, about one week before.
Our Captain had been ordered to fall
back as soon as our picketS were driven In,
so that some of the regiment that were
mounted half mile in our rear could meet
the rebs with drawn sabers,. which they
did in grand style, and drove them back
as fast as their horses could carry them.
AS | was on the left of the company |
was the last man to start. By that time
the rebs were close to my horses heels,
shooting and yelling. My horse ran into
rail fence on the left of the road and
stopped so suddenly that was thrown into
the field on the opposite side OF the fence.
After running the gauntlet for more than
half mile, with the road filled with rebel
cavalry from fence to fence, / joined my
regiment again, the rebs having been met
and driven back by the mounted men men,
toned above.
From there went to White House Land
the Trevilian raid under Gen. Gregg.
Capt. Bliss, of Co. D. with so more men OF
our regiment, was sent out to Gen. Wilson s
command, which we found engaged with
the enemy near the James River.
We were attached to the 22d N Y. Cav.
pontoon bridges and camped near City
Point for about week, when we started
on the Wilson raid. We went through the
rebel lines at Ream's Station and COM
menced destroying railroad tracks, tanks,
bridges and everything that would be OF
use to the enemy. Notwithstanding the
loss we sustained in getting back to our
hard blow to the enemy.
During the raid some 1.500 slaves joined
us in their efforts to gain freedom. 1t was
no uncommon thing to have join us col
ored woman astride q mule, with two pick
aninnies in front and two behind. When
would have large guilt filled with every
thing, from handkerchief to a suit of
mems clothes. When they found 1t was
to keep up with the cavalry
with such bundles, they would lay them
down and sort out the best and make a
smaller package. Judged from the looks
Of what bundles l saw opened that they
/ noticed a suit of mans checkered
clothes in bundle that an old woman
was asserting from, and as 1t had been
some two weeks since | had my clothes off
] gathered them up and went into an old
blacksmithshop and put them on.
A great number Of our horses had been
shot in the skirmishcs during the raid,
and many more had to be abandoned IS
too weak to go farther.
The dismounted boys would get some
comrade to hitch his horse to whatever rig
could be found-muie carts, wagons, bug
gies and old harness, but no horses, We're
10 be found on nearly every plantation.
Enough of these had been hitched to to
fill the road for more than half mile.
Every thing went our way until we got
back as far as Burke's Station, some %
miles from Petersburg. The enemy had
massed their forces at the Station to pre-
vent us from joining our main army from
hat direction. 1t was very dark night
but the fighting was kept up nearly all night.
Capt. Bliss and nearly all his command
we're captured, but in the darkness of the
night the rest of his men, including my
SELF escaped capture. Capt. Bliss's prison
ife and escape makes very interesting
reading 1t can be found In the history Of
he 10th n. Y. Cav. Col. Bliss. as he is
nav, Mich, and was Department Com
mander of Michigan, GAR, during the
year of the Buffalo National Encamp-
nent
Early the next morning Wilson headed
mis- command in the direction of Ream's
Station, in hopes of getting to our lines
by that route We reached Ream's Sta
ton about noon on or about June 30, and
had the hardest fighting during the raid.
With the help of our infantry and all our
efforts we could not make an opening to
our lines. 1t will be remembered that the
infantry in front of Petersburg tried to
relieve us and failed.
1t became apparent to Gen. Wilson to-
ward night that the only way out was to
get back to Burke's Station before the
enemy did, and cross where we had failed
the night before. Before starting he
ordered all the wagons picked up on the
raid to be burned. The ambulances We're
left behind with the wounded. All the
cannon except two were spiked and left, as
the horses were too jaded to draw them in
the rush that was to follow. Gen. Kautz
took his command and went around Rich
mond with them and joined our army
opposite City Point. | understand KautZ
advised Wilson to let well enough alone
and make for our lines before we got back
as far as BurSe's Station.
BY the time the general rush was well
started the rebel infantry, which we had
been fighting, were charging into our forces
from all directions. AS had no command
left after the most of them were captured
with Capt Bliss, | had nothing to do but
look cut for No. 1 and make observations.
was near all the negroes, and shall never
forget how they would rush here and there,
not what to do. | remember see
ing a colored woman beside the road cry
ing, while her little girl, about three years
old, was being trampled on by our horses,
and no way for her TO get to it without be-
ng killed herself. All but about 300 Of
them were killed or sent back to their
masters.
When we reached Stony Creek it was
nearly dark. The bridge being narrow |
did not deem 1t safe to cross in such rush,
so rode my horse through the creek.
While climbing the opposite bank, which
was very steep, the girth to my saddle
broke, slid over my horses rump with my
self, a pillowcase full of flour and large
ham into about two feet of water. Ny
horse got loose and climbed the bank on
the other side, where met him. had not
gone far before / saw darky holding an
officers horse. AS the officer was not there
commenced to take the saddle for my own
use. The darky set up a yell Hurry
up, MaSsa; man gittin' de saddle" Be
fore could fasten the saddle on my horse
the officer came. He was so enraged that
he drew his revolver and threatened to
shoot me. i slid his old saddle on to the
ground, and mounted my horses bare
back and rode him until about midnight,
when found a saddle under a played-out
horse lying in the road.
To cut my story short, we Travelled some