The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22

taken from US. Col. Shanks old us not
to draw our pay when pay day came, and
he would have the order revoked, as il
was unjust. l did not draw my pay the
| first pay day, and when the next pay day
came my pay came up all right. But
those who drew their pay the first pay day
after the trouble, lost their money.
The next morning after our release we
were cold and hungry. One of my com
rades and l started to town, determined
to have a New Years dinner. We soon
met man with a basket of half-moon
pies. He said they were for an officer. He
claimed that he was blind, but he seemed
to get along very well without any guide.
We had come to the point where we could
not believe q white mans word, and, we
could not always believe the negroes. My
comrade had two-dollar Omaha red
backed bill. do not know why they we've
even struck, for they were worthless. But
that one. was good enough to buy the
whole job lot of pies. l think that was
the meanest thing / ever did, passing
counterfeit money on a blind man.
Jan. 2, 1864, we started back to Union
City. The weather was so extremely cold
tina; many of the boys froze their feet,
some so severely that amputation was
necessary, from the effects of which two of
the 9TH Ind. Cav. died.
About Jan. Z, 1864, we started on an ex-
petition through Tennessee and MIissis-
sippI. We had to cross the Obine River,
which was so swollen with ice and water
that the bottoms were covered for four
miles, and the ground was very boggy, and
the horses were continually miring down.
Many a good horse went down never to
rise again. My horse mired down, and
had to crawl off him into that ice-cold wa
ter waist deep. He succeeded in getting
up, and | again mounted. Our horses mad
to swim the channel l remember that
showed great cakes of ice out of the way
of my horse.
/ saw an act of kindness in that swamp
l shall never forget. We had a man in
our company who was getting quite gray
His name was Hickson Ransbottom. Els
horse went down never to rise. He got off
In the water waist deep. While he was
standing there a little Frenchnan by the
name Ct John Dupuy rode up, and when
he saw the gray-headed man in the water
he dismounted and helped him on his own
horse. That act took as much Courage as
to go into battle.
On this trip we captured few prisoners
and then returned to Colliersville, Tenn.
Feb. IL, 1854, we left Colliersville to
form junction with Gen. Sherman north
east of Vicksburg. We were commanded
by Gen. Sooey Smith. He had about 1000
cavalry under his command / shall not
attempt to give detailed account of this
trip, until after we commenced to retreat.
However, l will say that portion of the
country We passed through was very fer
tile, and we destroyed great cribs of corn
belonging to the Confederate Government
We engaged the enemy on several DAYS,
and lost some men and captured many
prisoners.
After driving the enemy for several
days, on the 21st we commenced to re-
treat, which was a surprise to every one
in the command. Every private felt that
we were whipped, and that Gen. Smith
was coward. The Confederates fol-
lowed US and 1t was continual fight.
On the 3D. the Third Brigade was en-
gagged, while the balance of the command
was slowly retreating. The Fighting Rri-
gade broke, and became stampeded and
uncomfortable. None but he who has been
there has any idea Of the awful situation.
lhcse men came pouring into our ranks
until the road was solid mass of excited
men and horses. Added to this there
were, | presume, a thousand refugee
negroes following us, all mixed up in the
stampede, with the enemy pouring shot
and shell into our rear.
THE CHARGE AT IVY FARM.
Along in the evening, when we were
being fanked by the enemy, Col ]. p. C.
Shanks rode out to one side, with him
Lieutenant-Colonel Of an Illinois regi-
ment, and gave orders Fall In; no mat
ter where you belong" / remember the
expression OF that little Lieutenant
Colonel, I'VE will whip them before the
sun goes down."
Many fell in, with the rest, but num-
bers passed on. We were on hill slop-
ing to the east, and back Of us was an old
log stable. When we had a respectable
line OF men, Col. Shanks gavs the COM
mand Draw saber," and then Charge"