The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-29

a blank cartridge, but no one knew which
one. The prOyOst-marshal then said.
Make ready-take AIM" then stepped
forward and pulled the Sergeant away,
and said Fire" The private soldier fell
back dead. 1t is said that the Ser
geant was so scared that he died in n few
days. Gen. Custer had commuted the
sentence of the Sergeant to three years III
the Dry Tortugas. The command was
then marched by the executed soldier.
Gen. Custer met death in battle with
| the Indians. Capt. Joel Il. Elliott, who
company in the 9TH Ind. Cav. He was Il
good officer. He was Lieutenant in my
company, but after the consolidation Of
the regiment he was made Captain of Co.
NJ.
MARCHING THROUGH A PINE COUNTRY.
Aug. s, 1865, we broke camp at Alex
andria and started on that ever-to-b here
membered "trip across the country to Tex
as. A few miles from Alexandria we
struck the pine timber The weather was
SO extremely hot that we could not travel
IN the middle of the day. We would
march few miles early in the morning
then 90 into camp until the next morning
We Travelled for days, and all we saw was
pine timber. little grass, and now and
then small stream, with millions Of bugs
and insects, all appearing to he hungry.
Here ! Will quote from Col. Thomas NJ
Browns diary:
Thursday, Aug. 1O-Marched or the
same as yesterday; passed through the
same KIND OF country; pines before us,
pines behind us, pines on either side OF
us-nothlng but pines. Weather very
hot; water very bad and scarce The lit
tie water we get is brackish and unfit for
anything except to be drank by soldiers
We made 1G miles to-day and pitched our
tents again in the pine woods Excuse
me for writing so much about pines,
sands dust, bad water, and bugs, for this
country affords no other subject for the
pen, and in other respects is so unpoetic
that to make draft on Imagination would
totally ruin the brain of an ordinary man.
FRIDAY, Aug. 11-Had no sleep last
night. Was up until midnight drawing
rations and forage, then went to bed to be
bitten, stung, scratched, and kicked until
o'clock a. m, when the bugle sounded
reyellie. The mornings are pleasant. but
Oh, the monday blistcrs US delightfully."-"
After days Of weary marching we ar
rived at Hampstead, Tex, Saturday. Aug
%, and went into camp. where we re-
manned over two months. At Hampstead
our regiment was consolidated: that is
two companies were combined, making
six companies instead of II Super-
numerary officers were mustered out. Col.
j. +. &. Shanks and Maj. James II. Car
penter were among those mustered out.
CO. rs they We're well liked by the soldiers.
They are both now dead Gen. J. p C..
Shanks died at his home in Portland. Ind.
Jan. q, 1901. He died poor man.
IN CAMP AT AUSTIN
Late in the Fall Of 1865 we left
hampstead and went to Austin, Tex. ar
riVlng there Nov. 4, and camped north Of
me city at a large running spring called
"Siders Springs" Austin Mt that time
was but small town, or village, with no
railroad nearer than 80 miles. The State
House would not now be considered a
good court house
a portion of the regiment was taken
800 miles north of Austin to Sherman.
lex, where they remained until we were
ordered home. / stayed at Austin. While
mere we would attend night meetings at
the little village of Fiskville, about five
miles north of Austin. The meetings
were held in grove OF liyeoaks Here
we became acquainted with the girls, and !
attended parties. One of my comrades, |
j. w. Lee, concluded to sit up with |
couple of the girls by the name of Lee |
but no relation to him. We soon found |
out that the custom there was for the old |
folks TO SIT up as long as the young men
stayed. That did not suit u.s. We were
in the habit of going to those meetings
without pass. The word got out that |
the officers would send the provost-mar-
shall after us. One night the Chaplain of
the 9TH Iowa Cav, q red headed, joyial
little fellow was preaching, and, Just In
the midst of his discourse, the brush
cracked, and some one hallowed Provost
guard" The boys did not wait to be dis