The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-05-22

~ SOlhO VI viz SNhci W hAiS VIZ ASSN
,f us secured some roasting ears,
which we tied up in our dog tents
and swinging them over our shoul-
lers on our guns, we started back
for camp which was about a mile
and a quarter from us. In return
ing to camp we took another
route and as we came out of the
timber into the open fields, it so
that we were divided in
to three squads, and were about
two hundred yards apart. Our
squad was composed of James Cul-
berson and William Goings of Co.
X, John Tritsch and Thomas Mel
drim of Co. f, and Abram Guse-
man and Aaron Ecord of Co. F.
AS we came out of the timber a
short distance, we heard some sa-
bres jingling, and looking to our
left, discovered squad of rebel
cavalry, numbering about twenty
They were riding at break-neck
speed and were within hundred
yards of us before we saw them.
At the same time they began to
shoot at us and calling on us to
surrender.
We were in q narrow lane with
fence on each side of us, and
they were coming across a meadow
with no fence to stop them, 30 we
had to act quickly, as our guns
were in use carrying veal and
roasting ears and we could not
shoot. Some of us were fortunate
enough to jump the fence on our
right and drop down in the black
berry bushes and hide, but Ecord
and Guseman were not quick
enough and were captured before
they could get over the fence. Will
lam Goings Of Co. X, jumped the
fence behind me and ran back into
the woods and was captured.
Tom Meldrim ran across the field
and got away, which left James
Culberson and myself lying in the
fence corner, and the rebels sitting
ON their horses within twenty feet
of us, watching for us to show our
selves. Culberson was in one fence
corner and l was in the next and
the bushes were so thick that they
could not see us. But Culberson
seeing that Meldrim got away by
running, thought that he could dc
the same thing, 80 he arose to his
feet, and as his head appeared
above the bushes the Johnnies
drew bead on him and told him
to surrender, which he did like 9
little man. That left your humble
servant all alone, and / remained
quiet for things were getting inter
esting. AS the whole performance
was taking place in sight of camp
the boys in camp got their guns
and began shooting at the rebels
which made them think they woult
go with what they had in the way
of prisoners, as it was getting too
hot for them. At last an officel
with cap and blue jacket made
out of one of our dress coats, gav'
the command to go, and they
started at full speed, but Culber
son was not very good on the ru1
and began to fall behind unit
there was only one rebel behin(
him. So Jim, seeing large tre'
ahead Of him, thought that HI
would stop behind it and see if thu
Johnnies would let him 60, which
they did. After the Johnnies hat
left, the writer gathered up hi
gun and roasting ears and ran in
to camp, and l think that jump
ed about ten feet at time, and tt
say that 1 was scared, is putting
it very mildly, for ran because
could not fly. But Meldrim haC
arrived in camp and reported al
captured but him, and l reported
all captured but me, which was ,
mistake, for in about half houl
Culberson came into camp and tol(
me what l have written in this ar
ticle in regard to himself. Thi'
occurred on the Goth of Aug. 1854
and l never met Culberson aftel
we were mustered out until the re
union was at Tarlton, in 1893
When the reunion was held in Lo