The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-04-27
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl.
dents Of the Late War, and I'm .
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell Of Camp, March and Battle.

Association. Circumstances prevented
my attendance:
About 9 o'clock in the evening, July
2, 1868, Colonel Steele told me that
was wanted at brigade headquarters
on special service, probably for vi
dette duty. | asked him if be ordered
me to go, and he said: mo; do as
you like about it. If you go, you go
as a volunteer" I went to Billy
Towars and told him 1 would be away
the rest of the night, and gave him
some little commissions to perform in
case / did not return. l reported at
brigade headquarters, and from there
one of the staff officers and myself
went to division headquarters. After
a short talk with Gibbon he said
would do. He told me was to put on
a rebel uniform and do my best to get
into the rebel camp. We had taken
a number Of prisoners during the day,
and among them was a Seventh Geor-
gia fellow about my size. After a long
talk with him in regard to the loca-
.
names of their officers, etc., changed
suits with him, put d sheathknife and
a revolver under my coat. and was
ready for one Of three things-to be
shot, to be hung, or to succeed Ar
rangements were made at the picket
line for me to run the guard and get
over into the rebel camp. They were
to keep up scattering fire from our
side, SO as to give me a good send
on as a prisoner trying to escape.
Everything worked as ordered until
1 had made hundred rods, when a
picket-pOst thai was not in the deal
opened up in good shape. 1 tumbled
into the wheat md crawled on my
supper for about eighty rods. When
was well out Of range 1 got up and
finished the distance without any
trouble. A squad from the rebel lines
met me and helped me over the re-
naming distance into the rebel camp.
1 had no trouble with this post, and
stayed with them about a half hour.
They told me where Ewells CORPS
was, and when 1 was we'll rested 1
started out to find my new regiment.
The next half mile or more was most
~ timber, and as the moon made the
open fields as light as day, 1 did not
try sneaking, but hustled along like
one in hurry, steering all the while
for the main camp. There was where
my trouble began. l was near enough
to their camp to hear moving men
and horses, and could see the camp
lights to some extent, when a fellow
stepped in front of me not more than
ten feet away, and ordered me to
halt. AS he had his gun pointed in
my direction, he did not have to re-
peat the order. / told him my story.
and he seemed to believe it, but said
l must go with him to Magruder's
headquarters, as he had positive or
ders not to pass anyone. He said it
was only short distance, and was on
my way to my own regiment. He
was fine-looking fellow, and talked
straight from the shoulder, and 1
knew there was no way to avoid going
with him; but 1 must watch my
chance, which at that time looked
very poor. He said could go ahead
and make for a certain open space
where he said Magruder's headquar-
tiers We're He put me in a bad posi-
ton, and 1 did not dare turn on him
as long as he carried his gun at full
cock and at ready. / stumbled a time
or two, but every time l looked his
way L looked into the muzzle of his
gun. We were getting nearer the
open, and 1 was getting very nervous,
so much so that l am sure he noticed
it. Soon We came into an open space.
and his shadow showed plainly that
he was in the act of shifting his gun
from left to right. Here was my
chance! My hand was on my knife,
and / grappled him before ne could
bring his gun into position. 1 struck
quick, and with all the force I could
muster. / knew the knife had gone
true to the mark by shudder that
went over him, and when he struck
the ground 1 forced my elbow into his
mouth-not a second too soon-to keep
him from alarming the camp. He was
game to the last, but it was soon over.
I dragged the body back into the
shadow and bid it the best 1 could
under a fallen tree. / placed his gun
alongside of him, and tried to make
a prayer, but the words stuck and 1
could not even think them. For the
next few hours 1 think 1 was insane
to a certain extent / don't remem-
Der feeling the least bit timid, but 1
used all caution in approaching the
rebel camp. AT one time 1 was with
in ten feet of a rebel, and it seemed
to me that 1 must stab him. and
laughed to myself to think how it
would surprise him! Just then an Of
Ger came riding up, and asked to see
Magruder. There was only one tent
In sight, and the light In this was a
guide I followed. 1 was close enough
to hear the greater part Of the CONVEX
sation. 1t was to this effect: Lee
had determined that on the following
day he would force the main lines at
the center, and it would be an easy
matter, they said, to do this, as the
Second corps was to move to the right,
and the Pennsylvania State militia
was to take their place. I still had
that desire to stab some one; but this
thought came to me-when had gone
cox,,o distance Prom, 1Foc~rdo~,c hoc1