The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-24

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In The
National Tribune of Jan. %, Comrade
Wentz says that Comrade Tufford told
him that Capt. Kefer, Of Co. NJ, 14th
n. Y. III. A., was badly wounded and fell
into the enemy's hands at the North Anna
River. That is a mistake. Capt. keifer
was wounded June 2, 1864, at Cold Har-
Dor. l was near Capt. keifer but few
moments before he was shot
Our Company U, with other companies
Of the 14th, went on picket about noon.
June / all was quiet during the after
noon of June /, but near dark our picket
line was attacked and driven back, and
two men of Co. l were killed-JOhn
Gamer and Irwin Woodhouse. Later III
the evening our picket line was re-estab-
lished, and during the night we heard
troops moving and at work in our front,
and in the morning we saw a line Of rebel
works in the edge of the woods. In the
afternoon of June our men saw some
one lying on the ground between the lines
and occasionally moving. George Chris
man, of Go. /, and another comrade, went
out and brought MIN in on a blanket; it
was James Z. Glassford, Co. l, wounded
in several places.
During the night our troops had with
drawn from that part OF the line and left
us on picket without support; about p.
m. we received orders to hold the line
until dark, and then withdraw. About ID
minutes after we received the order q
bugle sounded in our front and q division
of the enemy advanced upon us. We
were gathered up, two companies of us
q and Nj, and started for the works in
our rear as soon Is possible. Capt Keifer
had command of that part of the picket
line. AS We were marching along q wood
road, Charles ID. Miller, of Co. l. received
flesh wound in the leg, and jumped out
of the ranks. crying: "Oh! Oh"' Capt.
Keifer said: THAT is nothing. Don't fall
out" Miller kept along and was saved
from a rebel prison. AS soon as we
reached the works Keifer halted US to fire
few volleys; but on the enemy came,
and were swinging around our left, with
the apparent intention of surrounding us.
Up to this time Co. had lost but four
men since we were placed on picket, the
day before. Capt. Keifer, seeing the sit
uation, called: Boys, take care of your
selves" and we started from the works
on the run. AS we left the works one OF
was poured into US; it seemed the air
was literally full Of bullets. l have often
remarked Of it that the air was so full of
bullets it hardly seemed a. butterfly could
have escaped without being winged. Three
times, while l was running, l put my foot
on the spot where the :, dirt had been
thrown up by bullets Just in front Of me.
l was slightly wounded in the foot, but
managed to escape, though was the hind
most man in crossing the open field over
which we retreated. The JOhnnies did not
follow us; il they had would have been
taken prisoner, for l was so weak and
worn out that my strength began to fail.
1t was when We started from the works
that Capt. Keifer fell, badly wounded; his
son, Will, a Sergeant, > said to Orderly
Serg't Cratzenburg: II am going back to
see il l can help father" Cratzenburg re-
piled: mo, do not go; you cannot help
him." but he went back and was severely
wounded. They both fell into the enemy 8
hands and died on the field, or soon after.
Sergt Cratzenburg lost an arm and
was taken prisoner at this place. Out Of
119 men that Co. took on picket the
missing according to the report of Orderly
Sergeant Brown. All these casualties oc-
Cured in less than five minutes, and it is
not strange, for the rebels were firing on
US from front and both tanks. Co. Nj
suffered equally as bad. l was told after
ward that when those of our officers who
escaped reported to their superiors they
were saluted with the words: I'VE are
glad to see you; we never expected to see
man OF you again"
/ would like to correspond with any one
who can give me further information of
the Captain or of Serg't William Keifer
Will was about my own age. and we had
formed n close personal friendship. He
sacrificed his life at this time to give as
sistance il possible to his wounded father:
loyal. affectionate son.-D. l.. PHELPS,
Co. ], 14th N. Y. III. A., Saint Lawrence,
n. Y.