The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-05
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.

From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
.r :. Gen. VIM. Nelson.
Thos. H. Hammond, M D.. Oxford
Fla, who served as Medical Officer tt
two companies Of 1st Regiment of Mich
tgan Engineers and Mechanics and two
companies of the I'd Ind. Cav, sends Us
some interesting items with regard to
Gen. Nelson. On one occasion, when
the men of the two companies OF Michi-
gan Engineers and Mechanics were
about to embark from West Point
somewhere near the mouth Of Salt Riv-
er, for Nashville, and after the troops
under Maj. Hopkins with great diff
Guilty were gotten on the boats, Gen
Nelson came up and ordered Maj. Hop
kins to put them all, with the wagons
and everything. on that boat. Maj. Hop
kins said that would be impossible. and
Gen. Nelson, becoming very angry, told
him that the men might remain where
they were, and for him to report to Gen.
Buell.. Maj. Hopkins took Gen. Nelson
at. his word, and the men who had not
gone on board, but who had their thing
all on the wagons to go, soon had the
tents up again. At this point Gen. Mel
son rode up. not on his big black horse
this time, and seeing DR.. Hammond
standing by tree, yelled: Where is
the commander Of this brigade?" When
Hammond replied that he did not know
the General became greatly excited, or
dered Maj. Hopkins put under arrest,
and told the men to march down to
the boat quick or he would have them
marched down with bayonets in them.
Another story Is told of Nelson riding
up to Gen. Grant on the field of Shiloh
and saying: Gen. Grant. l could blow
your tactics to with a thimble full
of powder This story DIR. Hammond
vouches for, as it was told him by a
comrade living in Oxford who was a
witness Of the event. He also says that
Gen. Nelson was man of Immense pro-
portions.
Wheeler at Stone River.
Col. NJ. II. Fitch. 9Th Wis. and 21st
Wis. Pueblo, Colo, says that in the
history of the Army OF the Cumberland,
with reference to the cavalry raiding to
the rear, it is said: wheeler, with
about $500 men and two pieces of ar
tillery, swept around the right Ii
should be around the left. The attack
was made upon Ga wagons. and A of
these were saved by a quick movement
OF the 21st Wis, under the command of
Comrade Fitch. who was at that time
Adjutant. The regiment was just fin
fishing breakfast along the pike on a
beautiful morning, and Leut.-Col. Ho-
bart had ridden forward to see what
was in front. when the Adjutant, who
was watching the train moving along
the pike at a distance of a mile, noticed
the attack, called the regiment to arms
and started for the train on the double
quick, beginning to fire on the Confed-
crate cavalry as 1t came within range.
The ranks opened up to let the wagons
pass between, and the rebel cavalry was
driven off 10 of q hri-
gade hurried up to the support of the
21st Wis.
The Provision Thief.
J. n. French, Co. K. SD ILL.,, Las
cruces, ". NJ, wants to know If any of
his comrades remember this incident:
Near the close Of the engagement at
Allatoona, Ga, Oct. As, 1864, an at
tempt was made to burn the provisions
which Sherman had accumulated for
his march to the sea. We were engaged
In bringing our dead and wounded
from the field, when a figure was no
ticed lurking near the depot of sup
plies, Some one, guessing his motive
Immediately shot him, and the body lay
on the field for the greater portion of
the day. On examination it was found
that the man wore suit Of Union blue
over the gray uniform Of Confederate
officer. What disposition was made OF
the. body / do, not know, but right at
the bend Of the road is an unmarked
grave which is taken care Of by the
railroad. Can this be the grave OF the
man who attempted to burn our sup
plies? Comrade French would like to
know IL anyone can give a correct ac-
count Of this incident.
Springfield Landing, La.
c. A. Tarbox, Co. c, 10th N H
Keene, y. H., referring TO the raid OF
the Confederate Col. Logan on Spring
field Landing below Port Hudson, July
2, 1863, denies that there was any sur
prise or that Logan made the raid He
says that 1t was Col. Frank p. Powers
Gardeners Chief Of Cavalry, who raided
the place about o'clock in the morn
Ing, and left in about Is minutes, with.
out doing much damage except taking
some Is prisoners, of whom Comrade
Tarbox was one. He was on guard over
the ammunition tent, which the rebels
wanted to destroy but they did not sue
coed in doing SO. The affair was badly
exaggerated and misrepresented.
list Wis. Cav.
Thomas A. Healey, Co. NJ, 1st Wis
Cav, Milford, Neb., thinks the article
giving sketch Of that regiment published
In The National Tribune rather brief
since II was one of the regiments which
secured the capture of jeff Davis. Will
liam Matzke, a member of the regiment
and one OF the squad Immediately con.
eerned In the capture, resides in hi!
town, and received his share Of tn.
100000 offered for the capture Com.
rade Healey says that he considers oul
advice to pensioners contained in the
issue Of April worth 10 times tn,
yearly subscription to any soldier who
will heed II.
Opposed to the Wirx Monument.
Comrade Joseph C.. Coulter, 424 South
Bell street. Shawnee. Okla, would like
to know Gen. Powell's address, He say:
he was the regimental bugler detailed
from Co. ID, I'd Va. Cav, under Gen
Powell's command, and that he was tn.
one who lifted him and Col. Tolon from
their horses at the battle OF Wythes
VILE. II think The National Tribune 4
one of the very best OF papers," add
Comrade Coulter. "and / am opposed Il
the erection of a monument to Capt
WirZ."
why Negley Reiterated.
d. d. Rose, Co. A, 11th Mich, Val
paraiso, Ind, wishes to refute the i'm
putation that Gen. Negley was not ii
the battle Of Chickamauga, but retreat
ed precipitateiy. Comrade Rose pro