The National tribune., 1901-07-18
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades AIoEg the Whole
Line.
coLoR-BEARER OF THE 9TH n. j.

CoLoR-BEARER OF THE 9TH n. j.
Color Serg't George Myers, 9th n. J.,
has just celebrated his 18th birthday at
his home in Newark, n. j. Comrade
Myers was born in Detroit, Mich, in
1925, and moved to Newton, n. j., in
1886. In response to Gov. Olden's call
for men he enlisted, in September, 1861
| in the 9th n. j. The regiment went into
camp at Camp Olden, near Trenton. Dec.
I, 1861, the regiment started to Wash
| ington. bearing the colors presented by
the women of Jersey City, ''the finest flag
that went out of New jersey" accord
ing to Serg't Myers.
| A thrilling story is told of his escape
| Drewry's Bluff, Va. Under cover of
dense fog a division of rebels suddenly
burst upon the thin Union line. Although
| the advancing host met with whitening
fire from the New Jersey riflemen, Injured
to war;" says the story, land were five
! times hurled back in confusion and dis
order, it was evident that at last they
must give way. The 9th had lost most OF
its officers and many of the men, when
the eXultant rebels burst in upon the sur
vivors with redoubled fury. Serg't My
ers, undismayed and calm and collected
as on parade, seeing himself and a few
| comrades surrounded, with scarce hope
OF escape, stripped from the staff the
silken shred, and, hastily buttoning it
within the folds of his blouse. grasped
rife, and, calling upon the men to fol-
low, dashed through the line of rebels,
dealing heavy blows for life and liberty,
and thus escaped capture and saved the
precious flag"
1t was in this battle that he suffered
a severe wound, from the effects of which
he has never fully recovered.
Sprp't MVprS when in n hOSnitnl in
SO, after being wounded, received papers
signed by Brighten. Hickman, Col. Ia
briskie, Leut.-Col. Stewart, Mayor Cur
| It's, Surg. Woodruff, and Capt. Abel, Civ
ing him his honorable discharge, and I'm
testimony to his courage on sthe field of
battle, his devotion to the cause, and the
faithful manner in which he performed
his duties as a soldier" Serg't Myers
would not accept the discharge, however.
He re-enlisted, and served until 1865.
DEATH OF GEN. JONES.
W. w. Hill, Fort Wayne, Ind, has
read with interest the different accounts
written by members of the 18th w. Va.
and 18th Conn. of the killing of Gen.
Pa. was sent to the rear with prisoners
after the engagement. He thinks that
these comrades have forgotten the 2Sth
Ohio, which also guarded prisoners. The
term of enlistment of this regiment had
expired before the battle. Its percentage
of loss was heavier than that of any other
regiment. The men were armed with Bel
gian rifles, with saber bayOnets, and after
the killing of Gen. Jones the men attacked
the rebels with bayonets.
After the battle Comrade Hill went over
the ground where the severe fighting had
taken place, and helped care for both rebel
and Federal wounded. A member of the
2Sth Ohio, slightly wounded, was placed
with his head on the rail, with a Con
federate mOrtally wounded lying by his
side. The Union soldier objected to the
presence of the rebel, and threatened TO
shoot him unless he was taken away. 1t
became necessary to move the 2Sth Ohio
man to another location to prevent him
shooting the rebel. Comrade Hill saw
Gen. Jones after he was killed, and Sc
cured button from his coat. He remem-
bers the presence of the 18th Conn. and
18th w. Va, but does not remember see
ing any of the S7th Pa. His regiment the
123d Ohio was not engaged, having been
detailed to guard the wagon trains.
Comrade Hill wishes that some COM
rade would write up the Lynchburg raid.
ADMIT NO REBELS.
Phil NJ. Wagner, Co. L, Sd III. Cav,
and Co. II, 2Sth ILL.,, Tyler, Tex, enters
a solemn protest against the admission to
the G.. A. X. of Confederates, as suggest
ed by Comrade j. L. Richardson. He be-
lieves that Comrade Richardson has stud
led up this plan to learn the sentiment of
veterans on the subject. Comrade Rich
ardson stated that he had several cousins
in the Confederae army, and that he was
satisfied that they were found true to
their cause. Comrade Wagner admits all
this, and states that those he met on the
battlefield were brave and true soldiers.
He had several brothers-in-law in the Con-
federate service; three were killed by the
Union army and three are still living ard
are his best friends today.
Another comrade who strongly protests
against the admission of Confederates, as
suggested by Comrade j. l.. Richardson,
Co. b, 91st Ind, is Daniel Spencer, Co.
G, 18th Iowa. Comrade Spencer lives at
Springfield, Ore. He considers Comrade
Richardson's proposition an insult to
Union soldiers, both living and dead, and
recalls the brutal treatment of Union pris-
Oners by these same men whom it is now
proposed to admit to the ranks of the G.
A. Il. Comrade Spencer believes in letting
the Order die with the last Union SOL
dier.
HIS INCREASE CLAIM REJECTED.
D. j. Matheny, Co. f, 55th ILL.,, Chand-
Ter, Okla, complains of very harsh treat
ment at the hands of Commissioner
Evans. The comrade writes he received
a gunshOt wound in the right forearm at
Kenesaw Mountain, June 81, 1864, and
On account of such wound was granted a
pension of Sc per month. In October,