The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-01-04
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans OF the Rebellion Tell Of
WhistlinR Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
BurstinE Bombs, Bloody Battles.
Camp Fire, Festivc Bugs, Etc, Etc.

Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.
"The worst scare | had while I was
In the army" said Capt. Ludwig, "was
not in battle. In January, 1864, after
the battle Of Nashville, | was attached
to Cruft's division of Steedman's corps.
We were hurried forward in pursuit OF
Hood over the railroad extending down
through Murfreesboro to Stevenson.
This road had been torn up by the
retreating Confederates and hastily re-
paired by our engineer and working
corps, but 1t was in no condition for a
fast run.
"The division was loaded on trains of
box cars under orders TO get to Steven
son in the shortest possible time. Our
train was drawn by a locomotive in
charge of rebel engineer under guard
of two commissioned officers, and as we
went up the Cumberland mountain it
seemed to us that we We're going very
slow, and there was n good deal of talk
in our car to the effect that the Johnny
would play some trick on US. But when
we arrived at the summit and started
down the speed rapidly increased to a
mile q minute We made the seven
miles from the summit through tunnels
and over high trestle work in seven
minutes.
I'VE did not know at that time that
the engineer had lost control of the
locomotive. We knew only that we were
rushing down the southern decllyity
Of the mountain at a breakneck speed.
l stood at one side OF our boXcar and
Capt. George Hunt at the other. Trav-
cling bags, knapsacks, packing cases
were hurled about the car as we turned
curves and jolted over the rough track,
and the men were thrown about as il
they We're on a rocking vessel. We
looked into each others eyes, but said
nothing.
"We knew that the road had just been
repaired. We knew that the rails were
none of the best, and we expected that
every turn around sharp curve would
be the last We heard the whistle of
our own engine sound the alarm for the
train in front, which was to have
stopped at one of the stations. Both
| trains went flying past the station, and
we realized then that something was
| wrong. WheE we finally did come to
halt at Tantallon, Capt. Hunt and my
self ran ahead to the engine to investi-
gate. We found the two officers who
had been riding on the locomotive with
tho nnUinoap on1 ha him, oil
on the ground all pale and frightened.
1T was then explained that the en-
glneer had lost control of the locomotive
soon after we started from the summit,
| and that we had come down that re-
Gently repaired road, the frozen mud In
| some places on top of the rails, at the
highest speed ever made by an army
train. Then we We're all frightened,
more frightened, l think, than in any
battle in which any of us had ever par
ticipated. l know that Capt Hunt and
| myself, when we meet now, are ready
to admit that we had a worse scare on
that trip than on any other expedition
Of our lives, military or civil
''My worst scare in the army" said
the Major, was In trying to take a
steamboat load of tired and hungry SOL
diers across the Kanawha River, just
below Gauley bridge. Our brigade had
been out on a scouting expedition, and
had marched three days through con-
tinuous rains. We made our circuit
through the mountains according to
program, but we lost all of our mules,
all our provisions, and after three days
in the rain came back 10 the Kanawha
starving and desperate.
Just across the river was our camp
and plenty to eat, but the heavy rain
had swollen the river to a rushing tor
rent, and the captain of the steamboat
on the other side would not come across.
Haversacks were empty and there was
nothing to eat on our side of the river
but hard, green apples. The men were
reckless and shouted threats of all kinds
across the river TO the hestating steam
boat captain. At last the boat came
with Infinite difficulty to our side of the
river, and the men crowded ON until the
boat was loaded TO the danger point.
"The captain protested and declared
that he would not take the risk of try
ing to get the boat, loaded as it was.
across the river. There were several
old steamboat men In the command, and
we organized an advisory and helping
corps. We started across, but when
the current caught the steamer all the
skill of the old steamboat men ayailed
nothing. We went sweeping down the
torrent and for four or five miles it
seemed to me that there was no chance
of escape. I absolutely felt my hair
turning white, and yet the men of the
command, not realizing their danger, |
were full Of frolic and high spirits |
They made no complaint, when we land |
ed down stream except that they had to
walk five miles back to camp
Il had scare at Camp Gauley," said |
the Sergeant, (which scares me yet, |
when l think of it. In the rear of the |
camp at Gauley bridge the mountain |
rose abruptly and then descended as
abruptly to the ravine. AS a rule. this |
ridge was not guarded, but on one occa-
sion, when the enemy was in the rear. |
strong force was sent to the top of the |
ridge every night. One night | made a |
bed of rails on the outer declivity, !
bracing the lower side with powders. |
put my gum blanket over me and went |
to sleep.
I'm the night it rained furiously. The
water running under my bed of rails |
washed out the foundations, and, with
out warning, l rolled out of a sound |
sleep into the cold and drenching rain
and rolled down hill, humping against
a rock here and tree there, and ending
by sliding head first into the creek at
the bottom. ] was only half awake
when l went plunging into the water.
could not understand it, and l yelled
like an Indian. When the boys rescued
me, they said 1 was the worst scared
man they ever saw, and l have reason
to believe they told the truth"
''My worst scare in the army" said
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