The National tribune., 1900-08-23
SOME GOOD SERVICE.
Saw His First Dead Rebel at shiloh-other
Experiences.

EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: i was en-
rolled at Ottawa, ILL.,, on Nov. IL, 1861,
as private in VIM. CogsweiPs Indiana bat
terry of light artillery; served three years,
and was discharged on Sept. III, 1864, at
Nashville, Tenn; re-enlisted for one year
on Sept. II, 1864, at the same place, and
was finally discharged at Montgomery,
Ala. on June 5, 1865.
The first dead rebel / ever saw was at
Pittsburg Landing. We went there with
Buclrs forces, and landed near the log
church.
The fighting was all over when we ar
rived. 1t was raining in torrents at the
time. and the newly-cut road from the
Landing was regular mire, and such n
| time rs we had getting our guns and bag
gage unIOaded and drawn up the river! 1t
was sight to see the mules mired down,
and after being stripped left to be tram
pied over.
At the end of the ga1gway lay six or
| eight dead rebels stretched out side by
side. We tramped over and around them
all day. In the evening we struck tents
ON the battlefield.
| On retiring for the night l was very
careful to place my new overcoat under
my head for pillow. During the night
| someone slipped it from under my head.
Our stay there was short, owing to the
fact that all the water we used came from
the ravineS, and there being many dead
soldiers yet lying over the battlefield, il
was not very palatable.
We started in the direction OF Pnrdy
On our way we came to big mud-holt
that had been crossed and rccrossed Sc
often by troops that it was almost impOs
sible TO get through it. About midway
mans hand was sticking up, the body
completely covered. l heard some one
make the remark that that poor fellow
was reaching up for his land warrant
IL autn I'D ya1T
|. Bummers,' and no doubt many of th'
Ohio, Illinois and Iowa boys remembe
that name. We participated in the battle
! of Vicksburg, Black River, Spanish Fort
, Blakely. Jackson, Lookout Mountain. Mis-
; sion Ridge, and Nashville, Tenn. In tn
last-named engagement our battery be
5 came so eager or for some reason at on
time got in advance of the infantry. Som
/ rebel prisoners as they. passed us going Z
the rear yelled over and asked why W
: didn't put bayonets on our guns.
After the fight ! was left behind. sick
4 Up TO that time l was considered tn
e toughest man in the company, but hay
d never seen well day since.
e Two of my comrades struggled back t
e camp and stayed with me and carried IN
n medicines and food. After i got able {
{ travel we started together, and caught u
/ with our command. Our officers had thos
1.-TWO boys arrested and court-martfaIed ia
e desertion. AT the trial / was called as
= witness, and on my testimony they wer
d cleared. Their names were Sandford Bray
e ton and William Hudson.
e ! applied for a pension about ~ year
t ago, and it is pending yet. / have ful
y nished all the evidence required except on
n witness. a private, and j hope that som
e of my old chums will see this and, if poi
d sible. render me assistance. i am nearl
II Is years old broken down in health an
I. have not a dollar that ! can call my owl
c except the SS per month the GoyernmeI
y gives me under the law OF 1890, and
can't get an increase.-THos. CLEGt
II Aurora, Kan.