The National tribune., 1903-05-28
WITH BANKs's EXPEDITION.
A Drummer Boys "Reminiscences Of the Rcd
River campsdgn.

fated Red River Expedition, have read
with interest the stories of Maj. J. A.
Bering, 4Sth Ohio, and II. II. Martin,
10th Ind; Maj. Behring'S story appearing
in The National Tribune Of date Jan. /,
1908, and Comrade Martins elaborate
narrative in the issue f0f April 8. The
places and eventful occurrences. so inter
estingly described by the comrades, are
fresh in memory, not Easily forgotten.
While writing this l a'di again travelling
from Sabine Crossroads the devious route
to Morganza Bend. The comrades will
pardon me if some of MY statements do
not exactly coincide with theirs. Even
when Immediately on the scene of action
men have different impressions of their en-
vironment, and, of course, after many
years have come and gone the scene is
differently pictured by their fallibIe MEM
ories.
That portion of the Thirteenth Corps
sent upon the expedition arrived ut Pleas
ant Hill on the evening of April {. The
men were tired, wet ard muddy and mad.
They went into camp and cheerlessly
waited until nearly midnight for the ar
rival of the tents ard mess cooks. We
put up the tents, but our rest was brief
About ] o'clock a. H., of the Sth, the
brigade to which 1 belonged, First Brig
ade, Fourth Division, Thirteenth Corps,
was ordered to strike tents ard be ready
to march at moments notice, which
notice was soon given. The brigade. COM
posed, as l remember, of the 18th ILL.,,
18th KY, SD Ohio, Goth Ind, and 23d
Wis, with section of Minis Battery,
found the enemy, at sunrise, near an old
mill on the bank of a small creek. We
inconsiderately and impolitely disturbed
the COnfederates while they were eating
breakfast. They did not tarry to finish
their sumptuous (:) meal, but Abandoned
the breakfast to our tender mercles, leav-
ing it, still warm, lying on~the logs and
rails that composed their breastworks. -,
Maj. Bering says: "Thc regiments cap
'tured were the 18th and 1a0th ILL.,. 10Th
Ky, 4Sth Ohio, and the Chicago Mercan-
tile Battery" Now. as to the 18th Ohio
and the 10Th Ky, have a vivid recol-
lection that they were on hand ard doing
Comrade Martin. replying to Maj. Ber-
ing, says: You will remember that when
the cavalry moved out that morning their
train followed Immediately in their rear"
Again, he says: "When your division took
the line of march the same thing oc-
Cured" e.
Now, where did that cavalry move from.
and at what time in the morning! If
my memory serves me CORRECTLY, and L
think it does, the First Brigade of the
Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Corps,
led the advance. supporting the skirmish
line, from the old mill on rfie creek, un
til the turning of the tide of battle in the
late afternoon.
Upon the same occasion the said First
Dr,rv 10 af
on the extreme left. the fankers being
about 80 of the 1st Mo. Cav. supported
by the 9th Mo. and 1st La Cav. Again,
Comrade Martin says! HAt this juncture
Gen. Jandram protested against sending
the infantry forward saying, that its
presence would emb6'den Gen. Lee to
push ahead beyond his supports, and
predicted just what happened later" l
was under the impression that Gen. Ran
som was chief commander on the firing
line, Gen. Landram then being n Colonel
under him, commanding my brigade. Com
rade Martin reflects disparagingly upon
a certain cavalryman.s Possibly that cav
alryman may have belonged to the 9th
Mo. ! want to say, and l know whereof
speak, that n finer lot of fighting men
than the 9Th Mo. Cav. never drew saber
were true. We should always exercise a
little charity, when judging others. A
body of troops going to, the front are not
to know Just what caused a
reverse beyond the horizon Of their vision.
and, therefore, they should not speak
lightly of disorganized troops falling back
from some advanced position. War is
very uncertain. The best troops Of to-day
may he stampeded tomorrow. There
were very few regiments, veteran or other
wise, that did not at some time go hur-
riedly to the rear. The most, if not all,
Of our brigade was out Of ammunition
when the order came for our withdrawal
from the line.
Banks. ! candidly believe, made that
lladvised disposition of the various wagon
trains, purposely, after deliberatiOn. All
that has ever been said or done in Banks's
favor never has had the slightest effect
toward changing my views upon this part
Of his management of that ill-starred CAM
paign. ---s-s
If Comrade Martin met retreating cav
airy before reaching the firing line, he was
not in the hottest of the fight; because
the only cavalry that ] know anything |
about stood their ground. supporting us,
until we fell back to the timber, and then |
cavalry and infantry went to the rear,
making all possible speed. Having no
we could not stand out there |
ike dummy targets.
Comrade Martin speaks of resting by !
The ralfOau. 1 never saw Or heaIu OF u |
railroad anywhere in that vicinity. How |
ever, there were many things out there |
hat did not see.
The comrade says. also: 'The Third |
Thirteenth Corps. on our arrival |
IT Alexandria. about April 25, was given |
he task Of holding the enemy back while !
he dam was being built for the purpose
IF getting our gunboats over the rapids. |
It may be that what was left OF the |
Fourth Division was with US in this
work" Yes, indeed. cemrafSe, we were
here. The JOhnnies would occasionally |
lrive in our pickets, and sometimes, drive |
Us in. too We burned dwelling. oecu-
,isd by two ladies, mother and daughter.
llso the outbuildin9s, they affording pro-
.ectiOn to the rebel sharpsheoteSs.
The gallant I4ient.-COl Webb, Of the
nth H., was killed in the first days
light at Sabine Crossroads. remained
,y his side until he died. was not far
away from Gen. Ransom when he was
in the knee and fell from his
lorse. He was placed in An ambulance,
which, going to the rear, was stopped by
he blockade of wagons. The soldiers
picked up the ambulance and carried it
o an nnobstructed part of the roadway.
Whenever / think of that wagon block
lde I recall few verses Of an iInprovised
song sung by the boys when retreating
rom Pleasant Hill:
We fought the rebs- with might and main,
Football. football.
U1 fnuphf N he Nth MIGHT md r,1as IN |