The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-22

head Of his regiment appeared VOL
ley was fired which killed the Colonel
and wounded one man. 1t was very
poor shooting, or more of us would have
been killed or wounded. We returned
the fire promptly, and the enemy fed,
being secure against pursuit. Our Ma
jOr, whose name / cannot remember
main body and with them to Baton
Rouge, taking our dead and wounded
There were some queer things or Oc-
currences connected with that expedi-
ton. The force consisted of two Cor
three, am not sure) regiments of cav
airy, one of infantry and section OF
artillery. We left Baton Rouge in the
afternoon, and camped near Redwood
Bayou, about Is miles out. Early next
morning we crossed the bayou and cap
tured picket. Capt. Wooster, Co. E,
with 35 men, led the force. We crossed
beautiful open space, grass-covered,
about a mile across, then through heavy
timber about one and a half or two
miles, then higher ground sparsely COW
cred with timber, and met the advance
of the enemy. Capt Wooster sent back
report, after exchanging a few shots
and halting, and We were ordered to
wait further orders. 1t soon became
evident that the enemy was making a
flank movement at our left, and the
Captain reported accordingly. He was
directed to send two or three men to
observe the movement and report. 1t
was my fortune TO be one of the two
who crawled through the bushes to see
what We could. We counted them as
they rode by twos till satisfied, and
returning reported that at least 200
men had gone to our rear. The Captain
was then ordered to take their trail
with his 35 men and follow them back
About halfway back We met Lieuten-
ant returning to the front; a good shot
killed his horse, and he became our
prisoner. just before emerging from
the trees we fOundered through bad
slough, made worse by the enemy who
preceded us. Coming to the edge OF
the beautiful open prairie. we discover
ed on the other side of il 800 I'm line
ready for a charge. The artillery had
been ordered to the front, and began
to shell those I'm front, and that in
formed the thanking force that instead
OF an ordinary scouting party of so TO
100 men that they expected to capture
they were themselves in a tight place
And what could 80 men do to hold
them in the box? Capt. Wooster and
Lieut.. Pixley were In my rear as we
stood in line. One said: What shall
we do?" The other replied: I'VE are
not going TO surrender Then said
the first: I'VE must cut our way
through them" Just then one of our
number, who was more familiar with
conditions than the rest, said: There
Is blind road short distance to our
left II we can break through can,
ana vines to that We are all right; IL
leads to our main body" The Confed-
frates had started; officers swords
shone: the yell was ringing clear. When
the Captain heard OF the blind road he
said "Fours left-gallop-march!" and
we plunged into the thicket. Some were
h. "a. E.II
cut the vines to liberate him; nearly al
lost our hats: but We got out of the
vines and back to the front and ouI
prisoner with us. comrade Cronk, who
had the prisoner. rolled the sleeve ir
such a way as to give him good grip
and threatened TO shoot him IL he die
not do his best TO keep up, and Cronh
took him through all right. Getting tc
the front there was more waiting and
1T was then that Col. Boardman asked
To take his regiment and go on. Rid
ing bare-headed became decidedly un.
comfortable. Seeing a man sitting OF
his porch with q hat on, / rode up anG
said: Friend, please lend me your
hat" He replied: 1T is all the ha
have, and / cannot spare It," With Z
little more emphasis I said: But l an
working for Uncle Sam and you are
sitting in the shade, and / must have
that hat" He arose quickly, brough
me'the hat, saying: "Oh, certainly, Ger
tainly." And then j was mean enough
TO say: THANK Sou. Call at my Office
In Baton Rouge, and / will settle fo
it."
/ always wondered why the 300 die
not fire on us or try to capture us til
in the Fall of 1865, on duty i'm New Or
leans, j met man who was one Of tn,
900. He said they thought we had al
ambush, and kept as far away from
US as possible. only wanting to get t.
the front again. They got there. ant
by our dallying had plenty of time /,
prepare the ambush that lost us oul
Colonel
Now, comrades, IL / need correctin,
Tor any Of my statements you will hay,