The National tribune., 1902-09-25
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
SCOUTS AND SPIES.

Line.
SCOUTS AND SPIES.
COmrade S. RAIDER, CO. /, Goth. Ohio,
Allis, Mich, writes: Il have read in The
National Tribune many excellent accounts
of different battles and campaigns, but one
branch of the service has been neglected
by authors. l refer to the service rem
dered by scouts and spies. Aside from the
Spy of the Rebellion by Pinkerton.
and Bensons excellent works, who Goes
There? and a Friend with the Counter
sign very little has been said in praise
of these brave men who entered the Con-
federate lines in search of information.
Wedo not ask the personal history of these
men; that would be impossible. Just give
us their names, companies, regiments and
the States from which they hailed, and
the Generals under whom they served.
| This, We think, can be done, as their
| names are surely on the records. Why
not the scouts and spies hold a ReInion
in Washington during the National En-
campment, and march in a body in the
great parade!
AN incident showing the daring of our
spies came under my personal observation
during the Atlanta campaign. The Goth
Ohio was on the skirmish line. The Con-
| federate rear guard was slowly retreating
across an open field. One of their men
stopped behind large oak tree, standing
a few rods from the main timber line and
began firing at us. The remainder of the
Confederate force passed into the timber.
A few minutes later, this man sprang
from behind the tree, and with his gun
at trail arms, and holding his hat with
his right hand, started at a run toward
our lines. The Confederates opened fire
on him, and so did some of our boys. The
bullets knocked dust up all around him.
Reaching our lines he exclaimed, L want
to see Gen. Sherman The prisoner was
sent to Shermans headquarters under
guard. A few minutes later l passed by
the tree where the man stood while firing.
There lay the bullets of the cartridges
he had fired at US. That evening we
learned that he had been sent into the
Confederate lines four months before, and
that he had returned to our lines with a
complete map of Atlanta and forts and
line of works about the city. If Dayton,
TalmadSe, or any other of Sherman's staff
officers is living, he can surely recall this
circumstance.
A YOUNG SOLDIER.
John T. Wilson, Co. B, 42d Ind, Col
lege Corner, o., is one of the young sur
vivOrs of the war of the rebellion. He
was born Nov. 16, 1S49, and enlisted
Sept Is, 1864. After short period in
Camp Darlington, Indianapolis, he was
sent to the front with n number of re-
cruits and convalescents, and for a time
was with Pap" Thomas at Chattanooga
In the Spring of 1865 Comrade Wilson
and all the able-bOdied men of the camp
were ordered to Parkersburg, w. Va,
thence they went to Washington. D. c.,
and later to Wilmington, n. c.; then
marched to GoldsbOro, where they Joined
their regiments. Comrade Wilson march
ed with his regiment to Raleigh, N. c.;
thence to Richmond and on to Washing
ton, where he participated in the Grand
Review. He was discharged at Indianap-
oils June Is, 1865. Comrade Wilson fur
ther says: Il started out to show you
! was the youngest soldier. You know
it takes grit in a boy only 10 years old
to ask girl for her company. 1 did;
and when l was 16 years old 1 married |
her, she being year younger than my
self, and when Grant was running for |
the second term l took my boy with ME, |
who was four years old, and voted for
the first time"
EXECUTION OF A CONFEDERATE SPY.
Some weeks ago Comrade Charles F.
of Hickesville, O., wrote for The
National Tribune his recollection of SER
vice in Georgia, and especially Of the ex-
ecution of a Mr.. Edwards, who was
charged with being Confederate spy.
Since the article appeared in The Ma
tional Tribune, COmrade Roberts has re-
ceived letter from L. w. Barrett, of
d. c., who writes as fol-
0ws: MY home is at Dalton, Ga. Mr..
Edwards was my friend; he was Post
master before the war. Did Edwards
nave anything to say before he was hang
I'd? l was County Treasurer for 10 years
lfter the war, and saw the tree every day.
This tree was near Dalton. We wanted
o relieve Edwards, but we failed to do
20, as you know. l was a Confederate
oldier and was with Johnston, and later
with Hood at Atlanta. If you come to
Washington in October, call on me in
Secretary's Office, Interior Department
Wy kin were in the Northern army; my
ather was from New York.
THREE BATTLES AT FORT DoNELSoN.
Comrade G. w. Huddleston, Battery
q, I'd Ill. l.. A, Haselwood, Ill., makes
he claim that his battery participated in
hree battles at Fort DonelsOn, Tenn. In
he first battle, Feb. IA, 1862, the bat
cry was a part of Gen. U. S. Grants
The troops participating in the
ecOnd battle, which occurred Aug 81, or
Sept. 1, 1862, were Battery III, ID Ill. l..
L., the list Ohio and 5th Iowa Cav The
ntire force was commanded by Maj. Hart,
list Ohio. At the third battle, Col. Alb
Ter G. Harden, SD ILL.,, commanded. The
;X0UR FORT
70