The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-19

FOR FIVE miles long. had stepped into from
two to q dozen holes, and came out with
a grnnt A few rods ahead some fellow
evidently struck deeper, nastier hole, and
instantly shouted Moo b-o-t-t-o-m! Al
most simultaneously a yell commenced
there, and went forward and backward
until the entire line was making the wei
kin ring. Strange to relate. no one felt
tired any more, and when we struck the
shore where the transport lay, all seemed
to feel as good rs new"
I had been acquainted with Capt. J. l..
Kinney, then of Dayton. Iowa, 20 years
before he related the following incident,
and to that fact I pin my faith that il
has never yet appeared in the columns oil
The National Tribune.
| Capt. Kinney was in command of
company of colored soldiers under Gen.
Steele. who occupied the right at Fort
| Blakely. The company had been drilled
by one of the experts sent over from Et-
rope at the request of Gen. Grant. and
one of their evolutions was to squat and
move along on their toes, thus exposing
less of their bodies to the enemy's fire. A
deep ravine stretched along about half
way between the nearest breastworks of
| the contending armies, on our left, but
nearer ard deeper in front of Gen. Steele
Across this rayine trees had been feled,
criss-cross, in all directions. In their in-
tense hatred of ''nisser" soldiers. the Con
| federates massed the bulk OF their forces
in front of our right, and the colored
troops We're compelled to crawl under and
through the fallen trees, while our white
troops walked over. zigZagging from one
tree to another. Capt. Kinney halted his
men under the far side of the fallen trees.
and while one of his men was dressing n
slight fesh-wOund the Captain had re-
ceived. and finding that the left wing was
turning the advance into n charge. he or
dered his men forward in the creeping po-
sition. Facing death at every step, his
mirth was aroused by the order Of n six
foot Confederate officer, in full view:
Fire low! Now the earthl The niggers
are crawlin'n'
Capt. John 3. Scott, of n Wisconsin
regiment. relates the following but he
never rcverts to it even at this late day
without every portion of his anatomy be
coming corrugated with laughter.
They had camped one night near q
bayou, and early in the morning when he
went down to get little water. he observ-
ed just above where he stood what he
took to be a log lodged against the bank.
Just as he was about to dip he heard a
loud yell of fright and conglomerated ex-
Ipletives mingled with water splashing. A
cook had approached with large bucket.
and placing his foot upon the supposed
log. it commenced to move with spas
modic jerk, displaying to the astonished
gaze the form of an immense alligator.
and carried the cook as far out in the
water as fright and 1.-THE muscles could
send him. The saurian had apparently
been asleep when they approached, and,
from his rapid strides to get away, was
evidently as frightened as the cook.
The battle of Pea Ridge was one Of the
most far-reachiLg engagements of the
war; 1t was fought on the Confederate
side with force outnumberfng ours by at
least three to one. Gen. Curtis realized
the gravity of the situation. and kept in
close touch with his officers, and was as
sured by Gen. Osterhaus that the artillery
would MAKE 'em schmell IL
Confederate Gen. Albert Pike had rails
ed force of 5000 Indians from Indian
Territory. They did not like 'the guns on
wheels" which let tree-tops and limbs
down upon them, but went into the final
engagement with high hopes of showing
their prowess and winning the day. They
were placed in the center front, and Pri-
vate Harry WILDER relates the sight he
witnessed. He was q member of the in
fantry detailed to support the artillery
massed at the center, lying fiat on the
ground just back of the artillery All the
guns were loaded with blank cartridge.
The Indians were allowed to approach,
brandishing their weapons, one-third the
distance, when the guns were simulta-
neOusly fired, and they fell back. Finding
themselves unframed, they were embOld-
ened. At their next advance they were
allowed to come two-thirds the distance,
when another blank shot was fired from
all the cannon. Then came the order to
load with grape and canister. This time
the Indians were allowed to approach
close to the cannons' mouth, when the
General shouted "Firer' Our informant
says he never saw such a sight before or
since. The air was filled with Indians
heads, arms. legs, and every portion of the
body, in every conceivable form and
shape. What remained of the Indians
left the field and went home, and could
not be persuaded to return again.-L. r.
T., Portland, Ore.