The National tribune., 1903-07-09

they would attend to US after they came
back. They wheeled into line and rode
away from us. We crawled through the
weeds to the woods and staid all night.
| In the morning. when we got back to
camp there was a shout from the boys,
for they thought we were killed or cap
tured." .-
Comrade J. S. Casper. winner. Rudolph,
| O.. reports as follows: Born in New
York. 1872 Enlisted August, 1864, in Co.
A. 1S4th y. y. We We're hustled to Ell
mira. and occupied a part of Barracks
No. 3. Inside of 10 days were sworn into
the service. and Cos. A, B, d, and + sent
to Washington. and We're marched across
Long Bridge to Arlington flights. where
we drew Springfield rifles, buggy hardtack.
and bacon and shippers. In four or five
days took train for Harper's Ferry, and
camped on nights one night: then started
up the Valley as guard to train of LOO
wagons and several thousand sons and
daughters of jackasses. When feed-call
sounded in the morning ard braying com
menced, we estimated them at a million
at least. We arrived at Harrisonburg as
footsore 400 as could he found. Marched
part of one day through smoke when
SheridanS cavalry We're burning every
thing in sight. As an inducement not to
than any rear guard. 1t was only neces-
sary to look on the hills and see the glim-
mer of their arms at any time. Staid at
Harrisonburg two nights. and took train
back to Martinsburg. After three or four
days stay at Martinsburg, again started
with train up the Valley. and were at
tached to First Brigade. Third Division,
Sixth Corps. and started overland for
Petersburg. Marched one day and camp
ed until about n. m. when heavy can
nonading was heard in the rear. We fell
in and were double-quicked y TO - miles
with only two five minutes rests, and that
afternoon camped on what was few days
later part Of the Cedar Greek battlefield.
Our brigade was in camp about one mile
| from Cedar Creek when on Oct. 10 we
| were awakened by deuce of a racket up
in front Rushing out in the fog to see
what was the matter, we were formed into
line within 10 rods of our camp. In half
an hour or so we began to hear the
whistle of bullets through the fog banks,
and were ordered to lie down. Panic
stricken soldiers from the front were just
cutting holes in the fog getting to the
rear; some with guns, and only partly
dressed, ran over us as if we We're n cor'lu-
roy road. After they had passed the fog
| lifted. ard we could see spts of fire, and
bullets whistled over us and We could
plainly hear the rebel yell. / don't know
how the other boys felt, but / knew that
| had far rather been on the farm milking
| the cows just about that time; but as the
Johnnies came in good range we We're or
dered to get up, and they soon found they
had run up against something. They
hunted cover. Our four companies We're
at the right of the 9th n. Y. The 9th
were fianked and fell back. We were too
green to know by the firing that we were
getting left, and in a fair way of all be-
ing captured, when an officer rode close to
our rear and shouted BY the right of reg-
ment, to the rear, double-quick" do not
know if l have this just right or not
But he might as well have given the
command in Dutch as we had drilled only
in company drill, and but little of that.
Seeing that no one understood what he
meant, his next order was, Run like -,
or you will ali be taken prisoners 1t is
not necessary to state that we understood
that order and lost no time in obeying it.
1t was nip and tuck for two miles, with
Halt, you - Yanks,' sounding in our
ears. mixed with the whistle Of bullets and
shells. This gave us the most exciting
time we ever had before breakfast. The
rebs halted along the way to pick up stuff
that we had no use for, such as blankets,
| tents, knapsacks and overcoats. But we
got our second wind by the time we came
| to a long line of fence. and found lot
of the early runners piling it in heaps. So