Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-07-02
THE BOOMING CANNON
REcITALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-

Ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
Speaking OF campaigns In a noun
famous country" said a First Ken
lucky man, Il was one of those who
looped the loop on Loup creek, in West
Virginia, at the time of the raid TO
Rolla. We started from Camp Enyart
on the Kanawha and went up Loup
creek valley, and in one nights march
crossed the stream thirty-five times
We made the march to Rolla, ninety
miles away, over one of the toughest
mountain roads in existence, and drove
the rebels out of Rolla.
I've We're on the return march with
several wagons loaded with dry goods
and provisions, and ninety head of
cattle, and were not many miles from
our own camp when the rebel cavalry
overlook the column. The boys were
not expecting pursuit, and were taking
things easy. l was with the rear
guard, and when we saw the cavalry
coming We formed across the road,
waited until they were in short range
and blazed away. A good many of the
Johnnies rolled off their horses, and
the charging column stopped, giving us
time to load and fire again.
This second vOlley caused change
of program The rebs dismounted and
came forward on foot to outtiank us
On one side was Coal creek and on
the other a fence. We were ordered
to meet the rebels, and we met them.
| was loading in haste when a rebel
parted the weeds near me, and, a re-
volver in hand, said: Now I've got
you, Yank.' But as ne had to turn the
cylinder with his hand l had my
doubts and charged him with the bay
onet He lodged and his pistol went
of, but the bullet missed me. He still
insisted that he had me, and as the
Johnnies were climbing over to my
side of the fence, and all my squad
had by this time been killed or cap
tured ] retleated at n fun run.
Il ran across field of red clover.
the reb bullets nipping the blossoms
off as ran, and then climbed through
laurel and holly bushes on the noun
tain until came to a fence. As | sat
on the fence, getting my wind and tax.
ing observations. two rebel cavalrymen
came up behind me and ordered me to
throw down my gun. l obeyed orders
so energetically that the old musket
was bent double. This enraged my
captors, because n gun was a gun in
those times, but told them they ought
not to scare man out of his wits.
Later, when the command halted,
was permitted to go to the creek TO
fill my canteen, and taking advantage
of TIE situation ! ran at full speed for
the road. My guards let loose with
their shotguns, but / lodged into
corn field and ran on.
Il left the field when | struck ra-
vine that ran up into the mountain,
and was making great progress, when
j plunged headlong into q sort of a
sinkhole Of a place and came down
on a hundred or more rebels lying in
ambush. They greeted me with AL
ways room for one more and Blank
You, keep still,' and after a manner |
felt at home in spite Of the odds
against me. They were lying in wait
for my own regiment TO come out from
Camp Enyart, but it didn't come, and
the ambassadors started back to Rolla,
taking me and other prisoners with
them. They tied heavy rope to the
nf
back to the tongue of another wagon.
Between the two wagons they tied the
prisoners in pairs, the escort riding on
either side of us.
THE rain came down that night in
torrents, and all OF MS were miserable
AS we passed through a thlckct of
underbrush | cut the cord that bound
me to the Southern COnfedcracy, drop
ped to the ground. and sneaked into
the brush After the rear guard had
passed | took the road back toward
camp. After a time ! heard voices
and. listening to thu conversation. |
felt the voices belonged to Cnlonists.
/ hailed the parties and was rewarded
by silence. In two minutes Il voice
from another direction said, Come this
way: be careful A man took my hand
and led me into cabin where all was
dark and still as a death chamber.
Then the man who he'd my hand
said: j know by your speech you are
Yankee. My name Is John George.
and / am loyal to the old flag He or
dered light and treated me 10 the
surprise of my life. The room was
crowded with West Virginia Unionists.
men and women, and they gave me
most enthusiastic welcome. / had
wandered, in the dark, into the domain
Of the loyal West Vlrginians, and had
stumbled upon one Of their meetings.
] remained with them that night. and
the next day the whole ncighborlood
came 10 see the live Yankee Mt the
home Of John George.
Men came By the score and insisted
that drill them. They were Ike chill
dren in their eagerness 10 learn. In the
earlier part Of the day ] was Captain