The National tribune., 1901-08-22

| tenderly lifted and carried back to camp
/ by a detail from our ranks, while we
continued a mile through the woods, in
the direction the enemy had retreated,
without catching sight of them; but we
| saw several pools of blood where they
had received the volley from our pickets.
Returning to camp, We learned from the
survivors of the picket guard the details
of the attack.
A detachment of IL men of the 1st Wis.
occupied post two miles from our camp,
near a public road skirted with heavy
| timber. During the night detachment
of Confederate cavalry, numbering &c,
! stole upon them and lay concealed until
the break of day, when they divided into
| two parties.
One party advanced, dismonnted, while
the other galloped rapidly around to cut
off the retreat and separate the pickets
from their comrades stationed at other
points. Our men saw the dismounted
party advancing, but were undecided in
the dim light whether they were friends
| or foes, so refrained from firing until the
| Confederates had come very close and
fired volley, bringing down the two poor
| fellows we saw. Unce- ain no longer as
to the character of their early visitors, our
pickets at once returned the fire, killing
| or wounding some of the Confederates,
who fell back in haste. Our men rapidly
reloaded their guns in preparation for an
other assault, but at this moment the
mounted party appeared in the open field
on their right, endeayoring to get between
our pickets and our camp.
Our men saw the danger and retreated
with all haste toward camp, following the
| line of stone fence which barred the
progress Of the cavalry, and furnished a
| natural rampant to cover the retreat of
the Wisconsin men. Their prey having
escaped, the Confederates knew that our
sr mi hn a.. ha.r 10
far from our reach, carrying their dead
or wounded with them.
March 10-The regiment was placed on
picket duty at 3 p. M, our company be-
ing stationed on the Franklin Pike, the
main thoroughfare for entering Nashville
from the south. During the day we had
no fear of attack, but were charged to
be particularly watchful at night, as it
was reported that the Texas Rangers
were preparing to dash upon us by way
of the pike.
Every precaution was taken to frus-
trate such an attempt, the entire COM
pany being required to remain under arms
all night.
Two men were posted 100 yards in adj
vance, with instructions to fall back and
warn US of any approach, while we re-
manned concealed behind a stone fence,
ready to rise and sweep the road with a
destructive. volley.
Quiet prevailed in our ranks and in the
direction Of the enemy until 10 d. m
when our sentinels came hurriedly but
noiselessly back to say they could hear
the regular tread of advancing footsteps.
In moment we We're alert, and lined the
top OF the stone fence with layer of
muskets, pointing obliquely down the
pike, and with finger on the trigger
breaahlessly waited for target and the
order to fire. Presently we heard foot
steps and voices coming nearer, but be-
fore the forms became visible in the pale
moonlight We were able to determine the
character Of our visitors, their animated
conversation revealing the fact that they
were negroes; SO We allowed them to walk
into our midst before we rose to our feet
and challenged them, to their great as
constituent and evident fear at finding
themselves SO suddenly surrounded by
murderous looking apparitions, who
seemed to have sprung out Of the earth.
/ When they found we were dem Yam
KEGS" their fear gave place to express
sions of joy that they were safe from
pursuit by their master, for they proved
to be family Of runaway slaves. Learn
ing from them that no Confederates were
near, we were in fit humor to enjoy their
wings" with their ungainly feet on the
smooth hard surface Of the turnpike, IN
til they were exhausted and dropped
asleep to dream Of freedom, while we
continued our watch until daybreak, when
we were again startled, this time By tie
report Of musket shots, about two miles
to our left, on the picket line, where a
post Of 10 men Of the 77th Pa. were fred
on and replied with volley, which ended
the affair and resulted in nobody being
killed or wounded, so far as known.
We feel sighted By the Copfederatss,
since we are taking 20 muck trouble to
put ouraslxps In thels way.
The chin Of the early morning hours
penetrated eYeA through our heavy over.