The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-20

Capt. Brown, you will have to take
charge OF my little battalion. i can't do
any more ! remember his exact words.
He clambercd onto the rear step of
an ambulance in rear of our line and rode
from the field, and Capt. Brown took
command.
About this time looked down the line
of our regiment was in Co. A. the head
of the rcgimcnt-and about three OF four
companies to my left l saw Capt.-now
Gen. COppinger-his neck and shoulders
covered with blood. i did not notice him
as he left the field, as l was too busy.
and | am certain that Coppinger and
Locke belonged to my LIST Battalion at the
time.
| was acting file closer nj this time. and
my place was two PAGES i'll rear OF the
company, to see that every man kept his
position and did his duty. We had re-
Gently had n batch of recruits to make up
the losses on our Chickahominy campaign
a few months before. and ! saw one of
them step from the ranks and squat down
in rear of the company. | stepped up 10
him and saw he was not shot. and said:
Get up and attend to your business s.
He said. Il can't
Get up, or / will put head on you
with the butt of my muSkct'
He held up his gun and said: 'See
there a ball had struck his gun near
the muzzlc and jammed it i'll so it coNd
not be used. | saw he was all right and
good stuff, too, so | said:
We'll. drop it. There are lots more
all over the ground that the owners will
never call for"
He picked up one and was all right
again.
The rebel fire slackcned in our front.
We advanced and they fell back. Soon
we halted and lay on our arms. In n
short time Mcdowell and some of his staff
came near our company, advanced about
six rods, and took observations. | well
remember the hat he worc-a large white
thing, that looked like an inverted turtle
shell. There was no firing at the time
on our part Of the line. In few moments
he rode away.
Capt. Brown, now in command, was sit
ting on his large gray horse a few feet
in rear of my company. A solid 12-pound
shot came over, struck the sand about
three rods in front of US, rose, and we
watched its flight over our heads as it
made straight for Brown. 1t did not seem
to go very fast, but the old Captain did
not get out of its range, nor did the horse
1t struck the old gray just in front of the
Captains left leg and stood the horse on
his head as neatly as you ever saw
plantation darby dance the '.Iuba." The
Captain managed to clear himself. and
rolled to one side as the old horse fell over
The horse jumped to his feet, whirled
around two or three times as u dog does
after its tail, and then boted for the rear
like Kansas cyclone. The Captain
jumped up, too, drew his blade and
shouted
Catch him, Shoot him! Any way to
get him. There are two bottles Of whisky
in the saddle-bags"
About three days after the fight one of
our drum corps fetched the horse into
camp, but not the whisky, and the last
time L saw the old horse there was a welt
where that cannon ball cut, Just in front
of the collar-bone, full as large. or larger.
than the ball was. ] was told, but will
not vouch for it, that they could never get
the old beast into a fight after that. and
L didn't blame him.
We stayed there about an hour or so.
and then, as most of the troops and trains
were out of the way, fell back to Center
vile that night, and from there to near
Chain Bridge, and skedaddle No. = was
over.
l never have believed there was the
least use in the world for our being
whipped" out at that time | saw at
least whole division of troops to our
rear, masSed in n large field. half or three
fourths of a mile in rear of us. that | did
y
left the field that afternoon there were
some signs of rOut along our way-some
baggage-trains, dismounted
cannon, etc, but we were not pressed at
all, and did not hurry much either: neither
were we driven rod at any time. but
did drive the Johnnies back as | have
mentioned. l speak only of our regiment
Or battalion.
Nine months later we followed the rebs
where we fought the Summer before for
a single night, and as it was not dark vet
three other boys of my company and [
went over the field. First we went to
the two old apple-trees where we had first
formed our line and lost our first man
There L picked up a skull. The teeth
were loose, and | pulled one out with NV
myers and said: Boys, l am going to
keep this tooth to remember the fight"
ana each one of us took a tooth; have
mine now. Then we visited the strip of
timber where Kendall was killed and
along the line of n rail fence near where
the right OF onr regiment had been was a
Lhlcket OF Saplngs, and in this was nearly
Wagon-load of bOneS-whole skeletons
lhen went up TO the railroad cut n short
distance from the right of our regiment
where we lay in front of the rebel battery
lhere also were plenty of signs OF war
louhu me thISh bone OF Il man-rebel we
SuppoSed-who must have been very tall.
for when we compared it with others If
was about a third longer.
We had camped for the night near
where our greatest loss was sustained. |
ma all over the ground were small mounds
where the soldiers were quietly sleeping
The sleep that can only be awakened Inv |
he last bugle-call. Let us hope we NAV
all meet there, where war and strife are
40 more.
| shall be glad to hear from any of the
Did boys who may see this article. Let
ne assure them | have a soft place in INV
heart and memory yet.-M. REED. Ser |
seant, Go. A, list Battalion. 18th l.. s.
FIRST Brigade, Second Division, Fifth
Corps, Seymour, Wis.
The list SIM