The National tribune., 1901-05-16
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have TO Say
About Their Campaigns.
THE l69th PA.
A Splendid Record Made by This Command

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almost the start. Every copy has been
stacked away, because they contain his
torical facts from eye-witnesses of the
greatest events of our National existence;
while some so-called histories were writ
ten for effect and are misleading rs TO
actual facts.
The 169th Pa. has been branded as a
body of men that filled the hospitals with
sick, and whose ranks were badly depleted
by the numerous desertions during their
term of service"
l served as 4 private in that organiza-
ton. i was under military age, and was
not paid substitute; hence / never
thought this was directed at me personal
ly. If you allow me space / will give
your readers my experience with this
body of men, and would say right here
that | never knew of any deserting a post
of duty or the service, and that very few
ever saw the inside of a hospital.
These men were selected from several
thousand that had been drawn by lot to
equalize the quota in the State. They
were brothers and associates of those al
ready in the service. The regiment num-
bered 800 men, and was organized at
Camp Howe in October, 1862 as soon
rs armed and equipped we were sent to
Washington, D. c., then by steamer to
Fortress Monroe, and were finally landed
at Yorktown.
The next day we crossed the river on a
ferry. While passing fort some one
cried out "F-r-e-s-h-fishr' On looking
around TO see fish, l discovered some
''vets" pointing at our knapsacks, saying
tun rnn HnH hnr of p1u oil q
crossing the desert. We soon went into
camp, where we were put under strict dis
cipline and drilled almost constantly.
One evening, in response to call for
volunteers, | was placed on the beach in
front of several boats, with orders to
allow no living rebel get away. 1t was a
bitter cold and stormy night. The sur
roundings We're anything but inviting. At
daybreak / discovered the pickets had left,
going to safer quarters. We changed our
camp, and with the aid of Mink's n. Y.
Battery proceeded to hold down Fort
Keys during the Winter.
Raiding parties were sent out at inter-
walls, and succeeded in capturing hundreds
of horses and mules for our cavalry. One
of these affairs was led by Gen. Kilpat-
rick to punish the people who had cut up
his command in a previous raid around
Richmond.
Another cOmrade and myself proposed
10 get an OuIHI- CTOSSlHS lDt w are plNeI,
we struck a good Union man" who had
three sons with Lee. With the aid of an
old negro we gathered in three good horses
and five mules. Just then we saw a sight
up the road that caused US to let go and
prepare to take our medicine rather than
gracefully submit to a halter. Our scare
was grOundless, as the party proved to
be our OWN cavalry covered with dust.
The most destructive of these raids was
organized and started in boats the even
ing of June i, and consisted of 400 in
fantrymcn from four different commands.
We were landed at Walkerton Junction,
Mattapony River, at daybreak the next
cannon foundry at Aylett's Station, 10
miles above.
1t was evident from our sealed orders
that we had a big contract on hand. By
o a. m. the foundry had gone up in smoke.
We were much elated over our success.
The small outposts had been easily brush
ed aside, and in the absence of orders the
men contented themselves in covering the
country for miles on either flank, gather
ing up horses and mules, burning mills
and other public property.
We learned from prisoners and countra
bands that Pickett's Division was strung
along the railroad only a short distance
away, and Wise's forces we're on the river
below, blockading the narrow channel
with batteries on shore.
Late in the afternoon we drifted back
to the landing and scrambled aboard
sunbOat that was waiting to gather up
,tragglers, and the iron clad quickly |
moved down the narrow stream to assist |
in opening up the channel, throwing her |
luge shells far out.
1t was an interesting sight as we looked |
,ack. Hundreds of horses, mules end |
,ther stock had taken fright, and the poor !
that had caught the first |
breath of freedom, gathering up all the |
inery they could tote" were lining up |
IN shore crying, praying, and shouting |
'Massa Linkum, stop" yet we were spared |
he revolving scene that followed when the
force arrived who wreaked |
heir vengeance on the innocent and help
eSS negroes.
The next day the Richmond papers
we're filled with abuse of the hated Yank,
Who, with mere handful of infantry, had
'ierced their lines right under the eyes of
heir leading Generals, and whose work
# destruction was allowed to go on all
ay and had escaped without serious loss.
Jeff. Davis himself joined in this TRADE
4 abuse, charging his people not to allow
man to escape alive If repeated, styling
he destruction of property an irreparable
Oss.
Fort Keys was located at Gloucester
Point, Va, opposite Yorktown, and was
itted up with all the improvements en-
ineering skill could produce. 1t was said
o be a key to some position. There We're
lany of these keys" around the coast,
which kept about $4,000 able-bodied men
n idleness. Richmond was defended the
lost of the time by one-half that number.
let every attempt in that direction was
net by concentrated resistance.
In the Spring of 1868 our regiment and
Battery III, 1st n. Y. Art, were quartered
aside. The picket line circled to the river
bOve and below. Prowling bands of the
nemy constantly annoyed our pickets at
light. Finally a strong force appeared,
triling our wood-guard first. Three of
heir advance scouts singled out one I'M
ccountabie sick man, yelling Surrender,
'ank." When he got through with them
e said he had no one to surrender to,
ringing in fine sword and n badly-used-
p gun. After driving in our pickets they
eemed little slow for our officers, who !
ant out battalion of infantry and two
ections of artillery under Capt. Mink,
Tho sailed out for position, singing "Old
irimes is Dead" Perhaps that, more
nan his shelling, caused them to break
.fter following for six miles we gave it
p.
The news of Lees army marching bold
up through Pennsylvania reached us
lille on dress parade. These deserters of
istory, although their time had almost !
ypired, promptly offered to stay with
Old Glory" until the invaders were '
riven back over the Potomac; willing to
Ike a front seat at the next "big killing" !
rebel lead to Gloucester salt l
ater as a beverage. There was much s
'joicing when our boat arrived to take us |
other scenes. T