The National tribune., 1904-05-05

and came up against Il frOnt-yard fence.
filed right and faced front. Our company
was left of the reg iment, and the company
left rested on gate. the only entrance in
sight. We assumed that Il nice home
must be near. and many of our Southern
brothers with guns.
Col. Drake sat on his horse near the
gate. but the fog was so thick no one could
see the house. nor recognize his best friend
Il rod distant. The Colonel ordered Lien
tenant Mckenny. in command of Co. +.
to send IL man to the front to'learn facts in
the case. | was the man who got the
order. AS | was about to go through the
gate to tackle the Southern Confederacy
and Beauregard the gentleman of France.
IL bOysl-lOoking Union hero came up from
the rear over the same road we had just
come. and he had fellow in gray as pris-
oner. The rebel had held him prisoner for
some time. but. lie stated to Col. Drake.
he forced his captOr to surrender to him
The Colonel was much pleased when the
boy asked what lie should do with the pris-
oner. who was nearly twice as big as the
boy, who wanted to 20 back and get some
more. as the woods behind us was full of
the same kind of game-and so was the
country i'm front!
went through the gate. not once
dreaming of ever getting pension, bu;
knowing that if Longstreet was there
couldn't see him. l had got about FIVE or
six rods when | heard a voice behind me
and near the gate that sounded to me like
fractured horn in distress:
Don't fire. it commanded Well,
was scared enough before | heard that.
but now. | received all the scare there
was in the plant. l was out there in the
dark. alone. and both sides ready to soak
me. / started forward. seeing big tree
few feet away. Then the fog lifted
somewhat and | was ordered back
When | got to the gate there were a
Major and three Orderlies from the enemy
who had ridden through me-the firing
line-and without my knowing anything
about it. / went back feeling that l could
excuse myself by saying | had not had
time to get my line posted before they
broke through me. but nothing was said.
Col Drake was a minister. Christian
soldier, and found no fault-and he was
not afraid to die. He was killed at Cold
Harbor.
After had fallen back and rejoined my
command we right-faced. doubled I'D and
found field of 70 acres or more. posted
battery Oh the highest point threw out
right wing as skirmishers. left wing pro-
tecting right of battery; 10Th n. Y. Oh
left of battery and on firing line At noon
we relieved the firing line and they took
our place near the battery.
Soon heard a loud Gathering of horses
hoofs behind and to the left of the Skin,
mish line. thought Stonewall Jackson
was in our rear. | saw four colored men
on horses coming down through our lines.
l couldn't guess what they were going
among the rebels for, but each of them
had revolver in his hand and sat his
horse like monkey. When the horses
jumped the fence upon which our firing
line was formed they did it fine and the
riders never bndged; sat there AS if they
were wooden monkeys glued to the horses
Those colored fellows went through our
front line. down among the enemy and
through their lines, fully 500 yards. and
came out near the right of our lines all
right, rode up to the main line and
through, faced about like old veterans.
ana formed OH to the left Of Gen. Drake
and staff!
We got away soon after and went to
C0ld HarbOr.-1sAAC CHAPMAN, Co. r..
9th Me-, HOLSTER Mass