The National tribune., 1903-11-19
Johnny THE BuoLeR.
Pathetic. Amusing and Historic Rsminisosn
oas Of Heroic Lad.

JOHNNY THE Bu0LER.
Pathetic. Amusing and Historic Rsmiaisesn-
oss Of . Heroic Lad.
[Comrades Of the old 9Th N. 7. Cav.
win undoubtedly read with very active
interest the subjoined letter, kindly sent
to The National Tribune by Comrade John
'ane'' y Albany. Albany Ore, April 20, 1908.
"Capt. James Bryant; Dear Sir and
Comrade: Through one Of our brigade
comrades who resides in our County, viz,
Josiah Lehn, late Of the galloping 18th
Pa. Cav, l learned Of your whereabouts,
and as Comrade Lehn mentioned my cap
ture and sojourn with the late "Jsb"
Stuart. thought would write to you.
Eyes, I am Johnny the Bugler.' and
was captured at Barnett's Ford. Rapidan
River, Va, on July 1S. 1852, with about
35 Of Co. A and Lieuts. Wilson and
Burns. was taken before the rebel Gen.
Cav, and they decided that I was too lit
| tie. and utterly unit to so to prison, aud
Col. Jones kept me Mt his headqua ters.
After two weeks Col. Jones received a
| furlough to visit his home, or his sisters
home. and took me with him. The Colonel
was widower. and. having no children,
he, after reaching his family home. in-
lOEucu Iuc tuAt duCptcu uc dS hio
| son. As he had me in his power. Of
course 1 could not argue the question with
| him to much advantage; but intended to
| see about 1t later on.
1--WE stayed at his home about three
weeks, and returned by way of Richmond.
There saw the great old man JEFF. him
self; also a great many of the rebel ofi-
| as the smallest Yankee ever captured.
After weeks stay at the Capital we
returned to his command. which we found
at Berryyille, in the Shenandoah Valley.
II then commenced laying plans to get
away; but l was watched pretty closely.
One evening I borrowed one of Jeb's
horses and started for the picket line.
The picket line was at that time near
Halltown. As I came up to the pickets,
who belonged to Co. F, 7th Va. Cav,
was halted, and somehow there were shots
fired. and CorpI Jones. of Co. f, fell
dead. The horse brought me through to
our pickets-of some New York infantry
regiment.
Bolivar flights and questioned. and
handed to him some papers. rolls, ETC.,
which had taken from the headquarters
tent of Stuart. Gen. Slocun's staff
treated me very kindly, and after a stay
of two days sent me to Washington and
l rejoined our regiment, between Alexan-
dria and the Long Bridge, glad to be
among my comrades again.
"You remember Lieut.. W. T. Boyd of
our Co. A? He came through here about
four years ago. He lives in Lake View,
Lake Co., Ore. He said to me that when
he was captured on Wilson's Raid the
rebels hunted among and examined all the
Union prisoners, and asked him if Johnny
was along. He said: "Yes, but you fel-
lows will not get Johnny this time" They
told Boyd that if they ever got me they
would hang me. as they had not forgotten
what had done in the Valley. l was
sometimes little uneasy. but l had great
pleasure afterward on March Z. 1855, at
Roo6's Hill, when we were taking what
was left of Apple Jack Early's army back
to Winchester. Yon remember the fight
at the crossing of the river; how the rebel
cavalry closed in on us to recapture the
prisoners; when they came up and we
met them. standing still until there was
but small distance between. when Col:
Boyce said: Johnny. sound the bugle!
and we went for them!
"I captured Rosser's Bugler, bugle and
ALL I remember that big mouthed Blow
hard. 1t did me lots of good: it seemed to
me like getting even little bit! dropped
his horse and he looked up into six
shooter 1t was no use, he was in for 1t
and he surrendered.
"When the rebels skeda ddled went ont
in front of our line. | sounded the rally
for them; but they had enough.
well, Captain, as look back to those
days sometimes think. and always with
gratitude, how good the boys We're to
me-the smallest of them all. I shall
never forget the gallant men of the 9th
N. Y, and their fatherly care and kind
ness to me-
sT have read in The National Tribune
about comrades claiming to be the young
est in the army. l was not IL years old
when enlisted in Co. A. and I always
bad real hard time to get on my horse.
from which could mount l WAS left un-
til some fellow came along and gave me
a lift: -,
Mounted Service and was assigned to the
7th Cav, Co. K and Co. G and Co. G. and
went to Arizona. 1 was there 10 years.
fighting Apache Indians and in the
in the Bannock war and against the Sho-
shones and Pintos- / soidierad in Utah.
Nevada. California, Oregon, New Mexico:
served three years with our old battery
friend, f. G. NJ. Pennington. Sth Bat.
ID Art: at Preside barracks. San Fran
"The training with the 5th N. Y. Cav.
old and stiff. suffering at times from lots
of hard knocks in the service: but still
blow the bugIe when some old comrade
answers the last roll call; and sometimes
when l feel like shaking my neigh bors up
a little / blow from reveille to taps. Boots
and-saddles makes me think of the times
when the boys used to bless me, especial
ly after long ard rough ride and no
grub. coming into camp perhaps wet to
the skin, some so tired that, after lying
down they were asleep in no time; worn
out, men and horses: and then: Why here
is that confounded johnny blowing Boots
and d-saddes! Some scouting to do or pick
ct duty"
"Yes, Captain, remember all that; and
many a time Johnny could hardly keep
his eyes open to make the rest between
notesi How sleepy we did get, some
times, and hungry. l was always hungry.
Capt. McGwin-may he rest In peace.
poor man. He was killed In the Wilder
ness. Well. old Luke McGwin once said