Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-04-22
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Inrs.
dents of the Late War, and I'm q
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell Of Camp, March and Battle.


at meeting of the Seventh Michigan
Association. Circumstances prevented
my attendance:
About o O'Clock in the evening. July
z, 1863, Colonel Steele told me that l
was wanted at brigade headquarters
on special service, probably for vi
dette duty. | asked him II he ordered
me TO go, and he said: mo; do as
you like about it, If you go, you go
as volunteer" | went to Billy
Towars and told him / would be away
the rest Of the night, and gave him
some little commissions to perform in
case did not return. reported at
brigade headquarters, and from there
one of the staff officers and myself
went 10 division headquarters. After
short talk with Gibbon he said l
would do. He told me was TO put on
g rebel uniform and do my best TO get
into the rebel camp. We had taken
number of prisoners during the day,
and among them was Seventh Geor-
gla fellow about my size. After a long
talk with him in regard to the loca-
ton of his regiment and company,
names of their officers, etc, l changed
suits with him, put a sheathknife and
revolver under my coat. and was
ready for one of three thlngs-to be
shot to be hung, or to succeed. Ar
rangements We're 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 good send
of as prisoner trying to escape.
everything worked as ordered until
| had made a hundred rods, when a
picket-post that was not in the deal
opened up in good shape. | tumbled
into the wheat and crawled on my
supper for about eighty rods When
was well out of range | 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.
| had no trouble with this post, and
@AtAS w " lti tAtDi huOut d NAN nOtlE.
They told me where Ewell's corps
was, and when / was well rested |
started out to find my new regiment
The next half mile or more was most
ly timber, and as the moon made the
open fields as light as day, did not
try sneaking, but hustled along like
one in a hurry steering all the while
for the main camp. There was where
my trouble began. / was near enough
10 their camp to hear moving men
and horses, and could see the camp
lights to some extent, when 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
must go with him to Magruders
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-loOklng fellow, and talked
straight from the shoulder and /
knew there was no way to avoid going
with him; but | must watch my
chance, which at that time looked
very poor He said ! could go ahead
and make for certain open space
where he said Magruder's headquar-
tiers We're. He put me in a bsd posi-
ton, and | did not dare turn on him
as long as he carried his gun Mt full
cock and at ready. / stumbled a time
or two, but every time | looked his
way / looked into the muzzle Of his
gun. We were getting nearer the
open, and | was getting very nervous,
so much so that | am sure he noticed
1T. 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 l grappled him before he could
bring his gun into position. | struck
quick, and with all the force | could
muster. / knew the knife had gone
true TO the mark by n shudder that
went over him, and when he struck
the ground | 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 II was soon over.
dragged the body back into the
shadow and hid IT the best / could
under fallen tree. | placed his gun
alongside Of him, and tried to make
a prayer, but the words stuck and ]
could not even think them. For the
next few hours ! think / was insane
TO a certain extent / don't remem-
Der feeling the least bit timid, but /
used all caution In approaching the
rebel camp. At one time ! was with
in ten feet OF rebel, and 1t seemed
to me that | must stab him. and
laughed to myself to think how 1t
would surprise him. Just then an of
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