News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-07-02


had been imprisoned so long by the
preceding rain that we heartily en-
joyed the beginning of the trip. We
had been well fed all winter, but nc
one neglected the precautiOn of carry
ing all the rations, particularly fat
pork, that he could get. In camp we
had good fresh bread daily, but once ir
awhile when other rations abOunded ]
had begged a days ratons of hare
bread instead and slowed 1t away
against the next scout. | had never
forgotten the semistarvation Of our first
three days outing.
On the morning referred to only foul
companies Of US went out, but we fell
entirely safe. What could happen tc
us? We were strong enough to whiL
any force of the enemy that had YET
moved between our lines and their OWL
unless our irregular spies-all coloreG
people and natives of the country-hat
counted incorrectly the enemy's few
detachments. Of course we would be
fired upon as soon as the advance
81 uNA lllG NLICIIlJ plNhtlS' anu, Sls
most southerners had handled guns
from their youth up, two or three OF
our men would probably be killed OF
wounded, but we had come to regard
that sort of thing as a matter of course
1t was one of the fortunes of war-ol
misfOrtunes of being at the head of d
cavalry advance. To prevent unfair
ness in this respect companies took
turns of day each at the head of
scouting party, but the advance proper
was always taken from the right, OF
head Of the company, so in forming
line for start there never was an TN
seemly rush for positions at the right.
The extreme advance consisted OF
four men, riding abreast or by twOs.
according to the width of the road, and
carrying carbnes or revolvers in their
hands ready for instant use About 90
yards behind rode a single trooper
called a messenger, to pass back any
alarm or other information which the
men ahead might shout to him. Fifty
yards farther in the rear were two
men, who also had messenger within
earshot, and within 80 yards of him
rode the remainder Of the platoon
8 or - men-about as far from the
main body as from the man in front.
The specified distances were meas
ured only with the eye, but whether
they were too little or too great the
main body was far enough in the rear
To Hn ont re rniof ltlDiol- Of
binary firearms, and most firearms OF
the enemy's cavalry were ordinary
This distance enabled the main body
to draw sabers or get their carbines o.
revolvers ready for action, according
to order 1t Also allowed US to get
into trot or gaIlop with some momen.
tum to it by the time we had closed on
the advance and begun the charge or
chase. Meanwhile the messenger and
reserve had closed on the first set OF
tours and begun firing if they saw any
thing to fire at. Should the advance
halt, they began firing at once; if they
turned to run, they parted and gallop-
ed down either flank in single file, sc
the troop they unmasked could clear
the road by firing or charging. Il new
err had the melancholy satisfaction OF
seeing the advance break to the rear.)
Whenever we found the enemy In
line, even behind breastworks-for moi
all of them were cavalry-we would
deploy as skirmishers in the woods or
fields on either side Of the road and ad'
vance at the gallop, firing rapidly as
we rode. | don't believe carbine firing
at the gallop at a mark 200 or 30C
yards away ever did much damage,
but the successive puffs Of smoke
made our horsemen difficult marks tc
hit. In such dashes the bugle general
ly sounded the recall before the Skin