The National tribune., 1902-08-14


CORRESPONDENT
on our return trip from the battlefield we
missed the locality where we had so care
fully stored our blankets and haversacks
at the request of Gen. Sherman, ard we
were truly orphans in strange land.
While we were preparing our camp
ground for nights rest, who should dash
along the pike headed toward Washing
ton but whole brigade or division of Con-
gressmen and newspaper correspondents,
who had gone out with the army in car
riages to see the fun, and, having seen
enough to satisfy them, were going home.
Most of them had lost their carriages and
were mounted ON horseback, having left
the harness on just as they unhitched, in
order that they might have something to
cling to, and they were clinging fast
enough. There was one newspaper man
in the division by the name of Carleton
who wrote a great deal about the battle
and the retreat afterward, having viewed
the battle from afar, as he ''stood on the
roof of house near Stone Bridge" l
believe he lived in New York, for some
Of the Goth boys seemed to recognize him,
and as the cavalcade dashed down the
pike, one of them remarked to a COM
rade, as he pointed out gallant horse
man with huge roll of manuscript in
his pocket and a bunch of quilts over his
ear, while his soft felt hat served for q
saddle: "DO yez moind that foin-looking
lad in lade Of the whole gang there, Bar
ney? Well, that's Carleton; he wroits for
the papers and is one Of the raciest cor
respondents in the army" To which his
and l behave yeZ roight; he's the raciest
of that gang, at all events" I'm not so
sure that Carleton's soft felt felt soft,
but it must have been some improvement
on the bareback of harnessed steed.
We cheered and laughed till the tears
ran down our cheeks as long as the cav
alcade was in sight, and to the day of my
death l shall never be able to recall the
vision without laughing.
This cavalcade reached Washington early
the next morning, safe and sound, but a
little sore. From them 1t leaked out and
gradually worked into the papers that
"McDOwelPs army was panic-strickenr'
We had settled for the night in our
improvised camp when we were reused by
the bugle call which sounded "Fall in"
1t seems that council Of war had been
called by Gen. Mcdowell, which, by com
mon consent, had resolved itself into Il
council of retreat, where it was soon de-
cided to begin the retreat to the defenses
Of Washington that night; in fact, there
was nothing for Mcdowell to do but re-
treat, as the terms of enlistment of half
his army would expire within a week
There was no time to issue rations, and
Gen. Sherman obtained leave to put his
brigade in the advance, !. e., next to the
Congressional and journalistic cavalry, as
his men were minus blankets and provi-
sions, and, some of them being three-year
troops, their lives were worth saving. We
learned, also, " that mysterious way
through which knowledge is often gained
in camp, that Gen. Sherman had this very
retreat in contemplation when he instruct
ed us to pile our blankets and haversacks
on the bank of Bull Run, SO that we might
be light of foot and fleet as the wind for
the home stretch.
Sherman's Brigade took its place in the
advance of the infantry, and during that
memorable night-march we would have
kept in sight of the flying cavalry, but for
the thick darkness that concealed them
from view. Soon it began to rain-a gen.
tie mist at first, then drizzle, and by
daylight it was coming down in fine shape.
On our homeward march we did not sing
as much as we did on the advance, but we
made better time. In fact, 1t was the
old camp before breakfast, after which
we might sing again.
AGAIN IN CAMP.
We reached camp in sections, from 8
to IL o'clock the forenoon Of July %, and
l had the honor Of being among the first.
Our comrades who remained behind in
charge Of the camp, had caught q glimpse
of the Congressional cavalry an hour or
two earlier in the day, and heard the
voice of Carleton as he shouted In pass
ing: "The whole army is panic-stricken."
Then they put on the camp-kettles and
prepared coffee and hardtack and such
other articles Of food as they could OBJ
tain, for our refreshment Immediately
after breaking our 24-hour fast we seemed
to hear voice Of command saying: "To
your tents, o I'd Wis.," and we got there.
When We retired to our tents, we hoped
to enjoy season of sleep and repose, af-
ter our long and weary march; but about
noon we were aroused from our slumbers,
not to partake of a nicely prepared din
ner-nO, and really I never learned ex-
actly for what purpose we were aroused.
intended to ask Gen. Sherman why it