The National tribune., 1903-06-11
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.

THINKS coMRADE QUICK SHOULD WRITE A
NOVEL.
Isaiah p. Watts, Chaplain. Department
of Indiana, Winchester, Ind, writes:
"Comrade Reuben d. Quick. in his article
Polk was killed Aug. 81, 1864. Now, il
the comrade would read little history he
would learn that our army was not in
front Of Pine Mountain at that time, but
was far south Of Atlanta. The comrade
ought to write novel. Gen. Polk was
killed June IA, 1864. and the shot was fred
from tho 9Th Ind. Battery. 1 was on the
skirmish line, about half way between the
battery and the top of the mountain, end
saw the group of Confederate officers be-
fore the shot was fired. When the shell
exploded among them they scattered. end
that evening l learned that the shell killed
Gen. Polk. l made an entry Of the fact
in my diary at the time, and have it be-
fore me now. Maj. Geo. Carter and Capt.
J. S. Fisher, of the S4th Ind, both living,
were standing near the gun when the shot
was fred, and they will corroborate the
statements L make. The Fourth Corps
was lying north and west of the mountain.
and the 5th Ind. Battery was on a hill
commanding the summit of Pine Noun
tain"
INHARMoNIOUs STORIES.
B. T. Martin, Co. X, 18th Wis, Ellen
dale, n. Oak, writes: Il am especially
interested in Gen. Raum's story, and in 81
and Shorty. The boys diversity of rec
objections and view points makes mighty
interesting reading = harmlessly amusing.
One writer says the 10Th Wis. went to
NatcheZ, thence up to Vicksburg; another
haf hn let 4 tn fret fn
Vicksburg, and yet another is positive that
the list N. Y. was the first to enter in.
All one can do is to tel what he knows,
and let it go at that. July 4, 1868, the
18th Wis. was in Vicksburg at noon, pass
ing in review. 1 do not know what regi-
ment was in front of us, nor do l know
what regiment was in our rear. One COM
rade is certain that Gen. Polk was killed
in August, while l claim to know that he
met his fate in June. 1 was near the bat
terry, and have no recollection of more than
one shot being fired"
THREE YOUNG SOLDIERS AND A cENTENA-
RIAN.
Capt NJ. NJ. Murphy, Mt. Vernon, O.,
writes: 81 see that S. S. Martin, born
April 26, 1850. claims to be the youngest
soldier. l am Commander of Joe Hooker
Post, q, Department of Ohio, and be-
longing to the Post is T.. p. Webster, born
Dec. 6, 1919. and enlisted Oct. Is, 1864.
Two, John T.. Stone and VIM. ]. Dennis,
were born in July, 1S49. The former en-
listed Feb. IS, 1864. and the latter May 2.
1864, and again. Feb. %, 1865. have one
soldier who enlisted July 20. 1851. dis
charged Sept. 4, 1862. who claims to have
been born in Ireland in 1795. l believe I
have one of the best Posts in the world,
pa members. its numerical standing in
Ohio being 18th or 14th. Many of us take
The National Tribune. l have been tax
ing it regularly about % years. The long
term men in my Post want a graded serv-
ice pension act. while the short-term men
straight $12 service BILL"
PETERSBURG EXPRESS.
John F. Horsley. Co. E, 1st Conn. FL.
A., Sterling, III. writes: 1.-The Petersburg
Express was a 32-pound Rodman in Bat
terry No. 5, or Fort McGalvy. We had one
Rodman and two 32-pound PARROTS, four
S-inch mortars, and, for time, two 10
Founders of some light battery. The 81
pound Rodman was trained on the city,
and at the opening of the siege, it was
fired at regular intervals; hence it was
called the Petersburg Express. Later the
firing on the city was discontinued, as it
was thought unnecessary to batter down
buildings and kill women and children. We
were on the extreme right of the lines, Bat
terry No. ) being on the bank Of Appomat-
tox River. Gooseneck Battery was in our
front, and Chesterfield to our right. These
two batteries made it interesting, and
sometimes hot for us. We had very
good view of the city"
THE CHARGE AT CHICKAsAw BLUFFS.
A. J. Jacobs. Co, D, 22d KY. Breckin-
ridge, ILL.,. writes: ''The division command
ed by Gen. Geo. W. Morgan was disas-
trously defeated at Chickasaw Bluffs. The
brigade to which belonged was composed
of the 18th Ohio, 22d Ky. AID Ohio and
54th Ind. Col. J. f. De Courcey, of the
10th Ohio, commanding the brigade, not
ing the enemy's formidable position and
superior numbers, protested against max
ing the charge, predicting failure. How
ever he obeyed orders. Many were killed
and wounded, myself among the latter.
The wounded were sent to various hospitals
up the Mississippi River, those of my regi-
ment being sent to Memphis. Upon one
occasion l awoke at midnight to find my
self in the midst of death'-on the one
side was dead comrade and on the other
side another was dying. Such is war;"
THIS MOTHERS ELEVEN SONS.
Mrs. Celena Smyth. Spokane, Wash,
writes: Mrs. III. 4. Merchant, widow,
who resided at Rockford, H., had IL sons
in the army, as follows: G. w. Merchant,
Co. G, 74th ILL.,: A. L., Co. C.. 18th ILL.,;
Enoch, Co. +, 156th H.; d. o., Co. G,
18th ILL.,; S. B., Co. G., 44th ILL.,; A. J.,
Co. G, 45th III; L. H., Co. G, 45th ILL.,;
Aaron, Co. G, 18th Wis; N. NJ, U. S.
Cav; J. B., teamster. and one other whose
name escapes me. One was killed at At
Ianta, one at Island No. 10. and one died
at home on sick furlough. Two were
Seven are alive, living in the
Northwest"
THE CRATER.
Peter p. Miller, Co. f. 51st Pa, De-
troit, Mich, writes: ''Three regiments,
forming three battle lines, stood ready to ad
vance when the mine was exploded, the
51st Pa. being the third line. When the
debris had settled, the first two lines went
over the works and into the crater, the
51st not moving ont OF its works. The COL
ored troops then followed, their officers
who came under my observation being
drunk. l was one of the detail that carried
into the crater Not more
than 5000 men went into the fight. Grant
and Meade were responsible for the blum
der.
SIX BROTHERS.
Mrs. Celena Smyth, Spokane, WASH,
writes: MIR. Margaret Bryson, Jordan,
Minn., was the mother of six sons. all of
whom were in the army. David Bryson,
6th Conn; Alexander, 18th Mass; James
T., 2lst Mass; Robert s., 4th Mass. Cav;
John, 34th Mass, and Charles IT,, 62d
Mass. Excepting the latter, who served
Dne year in the cd Mass. and three years