The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-28
CLOSING DAYS OF THE WAR.
What New York Heavy Battery Contributed the Finish and
How 1t Endured



In writing war recolIections at this late
date one is liable to omit much that really
happened, but which memory can not re-
call. However, some incidents are I'M
printed i'm my own memory. These largely
relate to my company (A), to the field offi-
GERS. or friends, officers and privates, who
had business or exchanged courtesies with
me.
N. Y, and was taken to Bulls Head Bar
racks on West Avenue, once the old
bulls Head" Tavern: Here Adj't Van
Brackle had his Office, while Lieut.. Under
hill had command of the camp. Having
never before slept in a. house without any
furniture whatever, and wrapped III a
blanket, on the floor, with a few hvely
crawlers to keep me from sleep, passed
poor night. The next day my brother
found me and had talk with the AdJu-
tant, after which l was permitted to go
home every evening.
Adj't Van Brackle retained me IN the
Office, where, for about three weeks, as
sisted in copying muster-out rolls.
On dark, stormy and extremely cold
night, Jan. 4, 1884, we broke camp,
marched through sn5wstorm to the de-
pot, where we bid the last goodbye to
friends. Arriving at New York in the at
ternoon of the next day, we were marched
to temporary barracks IN front of the City
Hall, where now the post office stands.
After two days We to5k a boat to Fort
Richmond, s. l., wheIe Capt. Wood, or
Co. A, urged me and three others to join
his company. which we did, as we could
draw no rations until we We're assigned
We fonnd Co. A a quiet, orderly set of
men, mostly married, having enlisted as
soon as they heard their name called in the
draft going ON at Ogdensburg. During
the month four of the companies, under
command of Maj. William III. Reynolds,
were moved to Fort Schuyler, Go. A being
one. There our duties were to guard
hospital and camp of sick, cOnvalescents,
recruits, deserters and bounty-jumpers.
Quite q number of these lost their lives by
drowning, trying to escape.
THE SOUP RIOT.
We had not been there very long when
some dissatisfaction was heard about our
evening soup. One eveHing this soup was
extra thin, and with one accord the boys
jumped up and overturned the tables with
the soup and the steaming contents of the
kettles on the floor, even upon the laps of
some of the slow ones. This Of course,
was reported to Gen. Brown, the Post
Commandant, who invited the boys in COM
pany form, under direction of their Or
DERBY Sergeants, to come upon the giacis
and hear him talk. Everybody was eager
Ii.
Gordon of the It'll u. s. from the fort was
quietly placed between them and barracks.
After being soundly eensured the men
were ordered to drill, which they did until
2 a. m. Our soup and side dishes were
found somewhat improved after that.
About April % we received orders to
join Gen. Grant at Warrenton Junction
Va. Our battalion, under Maj. Reynolds,
shipped in one of those drab steamers, for
merly blockade runner, together with
several hundred recruits and men for the
army whom we had to guard. We left
New York by way of the Narrows, many
of us looking upon headquarters and Fort
Richmond for the last time. Arriving at
Washington, ID. c., via Fortress Monroe,
we joined the balance of the regiment at
the Soldiers Rest, near the depot, where
we bunked- once again in yermin-infested
barracks until the next day. We then be-
gan our long march, loaded with many
things deemed indispensable. Our loads
must have been somewhat similar to ST
Klegg's as a recruit; but they dwindled
from day to day. Our first day was not
Oyerdone, marching via Long Bridge to
Alexandria, but the next was rouser, and
by evening, when the bugle sounded
Halt near Fairfax, the boys would sink
down where they stood, into. the dust, upon
their backs, heads hanging ever knapsacks,
utterly tagged. 1t was with great diff
Guilty they were reused wheE Fall in was
sounded The road looked like a field of
battle with 1900 dead and dying strewn
about-even the groans were not missing
We finally turned into lot to camp,
where We slept the sleep of the saints.
judging from the silence in camp.
Some natives appeared at daybreak, and
were loaded with presents not wanted BY
us, such as backing and clothes brushes.
portfolios, bottles of bitters, extra cloth
ing Sha wing pIIpa dinner cafe ap1 otb,.
household and toilet articles. Our march
ing WAS easier this day, loads being lighter.
and We were getting used to it. We passed
over Blackburn's Ford, Bell Run, and
many historic places, which many of the
boys in other days and regiments had WIS.,
Tied, and which were pointed out to the
green ones. Quite a number of the boys
had re-enlisted from the New York State
troops that were with Gen. Mcclellan on
the Peninsula. May 1, 1854, at Warren
ton junction, Va, We were assigned as a
provisional brigade in Gen. Ferrero's
Fourth Division, to the Ninth Corps. On
the evening Of May 2, the last dress pa
1,800 men and SO officers, in three bat
talions; some Of the other regiments look
ing on, as if Barnum had show for their
benefit.
On March the army moved, and during
the next two days we crossed the Kappa
uannock ana the hapIdan, the latter after
dark OF the 4th, and after q great deal of
hating We arrived alongside of a low, zig
gag rail fence, where we remained. At
daylight We saw cavalry picxets about A
quarter mile ahead OF us, ard heard the
yell OF an attacking party to our left. The
battle of the Wilderness had begun. We
shifted to the left during the day, and by
night were stationed in the edge of a
woods, where We were ordered to lie down
on our arms and make no noise Another
line, New Hampshire regiment, was
some 20 or % feet ahead Of rs in similar
position.
ALEXIS FIRST PRIsogER.
About midnight some one :stubbed the
foot against the musket Of Alex. McKin-
non, who lay next TO me, and Aleck
growled Who is this, and where do you
belong?' Some one, in frightened voice.
answered: II belong to the -th Ala.
bama." H'm.-you cant ccme through
here, then" said Aleck. Whereupon Percy
Scofield. on the other side of Aleck.
punched him, saying: why, he is a reb:
you want to take him prisoiier!r' Aleck
jumped up, and said: That's so; you are
my prisoner This was in a grand tone.
excited as he was, and We laughed over it