The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-24
PICKET SHOTS.
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
A LONELY COMRADE.

NIdSS., WHO HOW lives III carry od.s muSt
sometimes feel lonely and crave a camp
fire meeting OF old comrades. He writes
that he keeps every copy OF his National
Tribune, which is n good sign. One copy
escaped from his file, and il we can find
another of that issue he shall have it. He
states: Il am the only Union veteran
here. believe that three or four live
some II miles from me; but l have seen
only one Of them. was 3S
months in the service: We took part in all
the battles from Charlottesville to the
end-Beverly Ford, Gettysburg, Lookout
Mountain, Missionary Ridge; with Sher-
man to relief of Burnside, at Knoxville,
and through all his campaigns from Chat
tanooga to Atlanta; to the Sea; through
the CarOlinas; to the surrender of John
ston, Goldsboro in the Grand Review.
have my discharge, received in June,
1867
VERY UNUSUAL RECORD.
John F. Childs, Natick. Mass, sends this
interesting statement of his army service:
There were six from my fathers family
in the Union army-my father and FIVE
Of his sons-each OF whom enlisted for
exhibit n service like mine. Without he
ing mustered l served three months in CO.
q, 9th Me.-and got no pay. Was in the
first battle Of Bull Run. In the retreat
walked barefooted and carried my boots
over my shoulder. An officer asked me to
lend him the boots for one of his men who
was disabled. did so, and the boots
have not yet been returned. Presumably
the comrade is not through with them yet
but if he or the officer will kindly return
them l will appreciate it: even il they
need repairs / can mend them, as / am a
eobbler. l came home from the three
months service and enlisted in Co. /, 18th
Me-, and after two years and four months
was transferred to Co. B, Both; was in
principal battles of Army Of Potomac
was three times slightly wounded; dis
charged March IL, 60. Belong to Post
63, Natick, Mass; value The National
Tribune more than any other paper ]
read"
THE FOUR BROTHERS WELLS.
Comrade Jas. L. Estlow. Co. A. Sd "
j., Burlington, n. j.. writes: "In 1880
when Commander Of Post Is, Department
of New Jersey, / had the unusual honor
to muster in at the same Post meeting
four brothers. Their service in the army
aggregated Is years and nine months. VIM
Wells served three years and three months
was severely wounded at Second Bull
Run; Jesse Wells served three years, one
month; wounded at Malvern Hill Geo
Wells, served three years, nine months
wounded at Savage Station; Thos. Wells
served five years. eight months; wounded
at Petersburg. Their ages run from GO to
10; the largest pension received by any OF
these heroes who suffered and suffer fol-
their country is $12 a month. Is it just
Is the Government just to the men who
leaving all they loved-often wife and
children who, i. the volunteer was killed
might be cast to homeless want; to the
men who bravely took mp muskets and
stood in front Of raging death; interposed
their bodies as shelter from the bullets
Of those who sought the life of the Gov.
eminent? Think Of those men-who sac.
rifced the strength Of their young manhood
for the integrity Of the Government being
now. in their age. left to struggle and suf.
Ter want, while the Government they res
by its wealth! Is it just2''
HOW FORT WHITwoRTH WAS TAKEN.
e. w. Dayton. Co. d, 36th Wis, writes
"Capt. G. 81. Purdy, Co. A. 18th W. Va.
referring to the fight at Fort Gregg and
at Whitworth 10 slightly OF. The 38th
Wis. and Go. G, Berdan's Sharpshooters
captured Fort Whitworth, in q gallant
charge at daybreak, led by Col. Clement f.
Warner, Seth Wis; Capt. w. 8. Porter
Both Wis. in charge Of left wing. We
reached the fort 10 minutes before any
other troops got there. As we were com.
ing out of the rebel works with a swarm OF
prisoners we heard a hoarse voice give the
command: Forward, 18th Wis., Our
prisoners, in fright, threw themselves or
the ground. l told them to have no fear
as it was only some fresh fish Of the
Twenty fourth Corps. This took place
early in the morning-two hours before
Fort Gregg fell. Eleven dead rebels lay
thn Fort a ~ 0lir,,h oI fbo
GEN. PoPE's ORDER TO A REBEL BATTERY
}. Nj: johnson. Co. L, LIST N. ]. Cav.
writes from Newton, N. j.: 1.-THE reminis
cences Of Orderly Serg't Wilson interes,
me very much, especially when he gets Il
Cedar Mountain, where l was ordered
with detail to guard ambulances on battle
field and bring off the wounded On going
down through the woods near the battle
ground. the rebels being SO edited with
success. came on with their wild yell and
drove US back. AT this point met del
icate young soldier, who was badly
wounded and scarce able to walk.
mounted him on my horse and sent him
to the rear. According to his narrative
this must have been Wilson himself
Being mounted. he pushed on in advance
Of me: SO much so that had great diff
Guilty in getting through new battleline
then forming partly in the woods. Reach
ing the hospital | found another cavalry.
man about to ride away with my horse.
II wonder il Serg't Wilson, of the It'll
Ohio, knows that about dark the rebels
ran up battery near where had been the
hospital that served him. and commenced
Smelling the LIST N. j. Cav, not 200 wards
off. and started panic in the ambulance
and wagon train? AT this juncture Gen
Pope came up. and seeing the havoc, or.
dered Capt Ash, LIST N. J. Cav, of his
staff, to ride over to the rebels, it being
dark and direct its commander to cease
firing. Capt. Ash said he thought il n
rebel battery. Bat Gen Pope replied
Nonsense; go and give the order" So
the Captain rode boldly up and ordered
the fire to cease. The rebel officer reluc.
family obeyed, while Capt. Ash galloped
back. glad to escape detection. However
the Captain thought it going a little too
.nuEnM TTNM