The National tribune., 1901-08-15
"How did you get through their picket

How did you get through their picket
line?"
well, you see, stayed the first night
about five miles this side of Ripley with
farmer by the name of Reed. The old
man said he had a son with Van Dorm,
but he was sick, and had been left in
some hospital. / told the folks there that
ing to see MIN. After breakfast l started
on my way to Ripley. When l was about
two miles from Ripley l came to some
cavalry. They stopped me and wanted
to know where | was going. / told them
my name was Albert Reed, and | was go
ing to see my brother, who was with Van
Dorm. They let me go on. l soon came
to the pickets, and they stopped me. l
told them the same story. l was pretty
tired, so | sat down with them to rest.
| got acquainted with boy on picket not
much bigger than | am, and he said they
would soon be relieved and would go to
camp; so l said l would wait and go in
With him. They were soon relieved, and
we went to camp.
This boy belonged to the 18th Ark.
After he got his breakfast We walked
about camp. / was surprised TO see what
big army they had. We went up the
hill TO Prices tent and sat down on q log,
and the hoy told me about the battle of
Iuka. While we were sitting there two
and one of them said: Here boys, hold
these horses So i held one and the
boy held the other. Just then Price came
from his tent, and they began talking.
The boy told me that one of the officers
was Van Dorm. They were talking for
long time, and / heard what they said
about going to Corinth TO lick old Rosy.
They were going to start the next day.
| began TO get scared, for fear | would
not get back to Corinth before the battle.
| heard Van Dorm say that we better go
first to Chewalla and gobble up the Yanks
there, and then go TO Corinth'
When these officers mounted their
horses and road away we went back to
the camp of the 18th Ark. While 1 was
the regiment. He put his hand on my
head and said 1 was small soldier. He
is real nice man, and looks like Uncle
Ebin. l stayed all night in the tent with
that boy. The next day / wanted to start
back to Corinth, so l got, up early, leav-
ing the boy asleep in his tent. l got
through the picket line all right, and hur-
ried for home. l had not gone far when
an old darby came along with a poor old
horse and rickety wagon. | asked him
to let me ride. He said, All right; pile
in He told me he was going to mill
TO get some corn ground. We talked
about the war; but / did not know just
how to talk with him. You see, | did
not know whether to be a Union boy or
a rebel. i finally told him my folks were
all rebels, and my brother was with the
army at Ripley.
The old man did not seem to know
much about the war. / told him | was
afraid the Yankees would lick us. Yes,
| boy, he replied, you are right. Father
Abraham and God is mighty powerful
Il rode with him about 20 miles.
Wasn't / lucky to get that rider
RosECRANs PREPARES FOE BATTLE.
When he had finished telling me his
story | took him by the hand and we
went to Gen. Rosecrans's headquarters.
We found the General sitting on the
| porch. l saluted him and he snid: well,
Captain; how do you dot / said: Gen
eral, here is a little boy who has lust
returned from Ripley, and think he has
some information that might be of value
to you
What, that little fellow; does he live
| there?'
mo, General; he is my nephew. and
lives in Galena. He was down to Rip
ley: He will tell you his story"
The little fellow tiIsH told the General
the story about as / have related it. The
General became greatly interested in what
he had TO say. After questioning the boy
very closely he turned to me and saiG I.
What is the boys name, Captain?"
Albert Boynton," / said.
well, Albert" said the General, what
did you see?"
II saw Price and Van Dorm, and their
army"
"How much of nm army have tbev
got?"