The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-26
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
First to Carry the News.

n
First to Garry the News.
James A. Graham, 18th Mass, and
Signal Corps, U. s. A., Newton Upper
Falls, Mass, enlisted April 90, 1861, for
three months, but his company was no,
accepted till July 2, 1861. when 1t was
mustered In as Co. G, 18th Mass. He
was detached and ordered to the sigma
Corps in December, 1S61s and was In
the action between the Cumberland
Congress and Merrimac at Newport
News, March s, 1852. He helped rescue
the crew Of the Congress while the Mer-
rimac was firing hot shot into her. He
witnessed the fight between the Merri-
mac and Monitor, and was the first to
report the destruction of the former to
President Lincoln, who was at the fort
at the time. Comrade Graham saw the
flash and heard the report of the ex-
plOsion. The President came to the
Signal Station about o'clock tha'
morning. In the Autumn Of 1862 Com
rade Graham, with a detachment OF
Signal Corps officers and men, were dis
tributed among the different divisions
Of the army, and Comrade Graham was
assigned to the Army Of the Cumber-
land. Gen. Sheridan's Division. He was
in all the battles and engagements Of
that army. Gen. Sherman would como
to the Signal Station, borrow a pencil
to lite dispatch. ard rut the pencil
hi rs pocSI,! son.s again. Eerr6N an.
other pencil, put that in his pocket, un-
til he had all the pencils. Comrade
Graham told the General what he had
done, and he replied: 1--WE all have our
faults and that is one of my bad ones.
His detachment of Signal Corps men
was sent back with the Fourth Corps
to Nashville, and took part in the bat
ties of Spring Hill and Nashville. He
re-enlisted at Chattanooga, Feb. IS,
1864, and was discharged Sept. 2, 1865.
as the war was then over. Gen. Anger
signed his discharge papers. From
Rocky Face Mountain he could see the
movements of four armies, the Armies
Of the Tennessee, Ohio, cumberland and
Johnston's rebel army.
The Best Fighting Regiment.
c. r. Warfield, Co. H, 121st Ohio
Harman's Md, writes: 81 have to
smile outright in reading Of the fighting
regiments. / have always thought that
the one who got whipped was the worst
one hurt. According to the Fox stand
ard the best fighting regiment in the
war belonged to the rebel army. and
took part in the battle Of Bentonsville,
Ga. AS / remember It, we were fanked
from the left, and the 121st was on the
extreme left Of the brigade, the 18th
and 108th Ohio next to our right. We
had become so twisted during the after
noon tnat neither We nor the reDS knew
where we belonged. Some time during
the night we heard that some troops
were passing in our front. We halted
them to see who they were and where
they were going. They proved to be
rebs, and when asked to surrender re-
fused. and we therefor fired into them
at q distance of less than 40 yards From
the number found dead the next morn
Ing we concluded we had killed them
all. Now, come on with your fighting
regiments. As for ours we went where
we were sent. and stayed where we
could, and are satisfied with our work
from start to finish. Will say in part
Francis B. De Witt, IL years old, who
was afterwards a member of Congress
from Ohio. Now, boys, let's hear from
all along the line as we used &c. in the
old days, when one picket shot would
start up another. See that your pen Is
in order. but never stand back because
your spelling Is poor. The National
Tribune editor is a good spelIer. and
has long head to CIPHER out what We
intend to say
The Seventeenth Brigade.
Henry Breidenthal, Sd Chic. Pleasant
City, o. wants to make a correction OF
the Official Records, which say that
Gen. Jones commanded the Seventeenth
Brigade. Rousseau's Division. at Stone
River, Dec. 81. 1852. This is incorrect
Gen. John Beatty. formerly Colonel OF
all through that battle, closing on Sat
.urday night. Jan. 8, 1863. where the
brigade did the last fighting, when II
captured one line Of breast works sit
uated between the pike and the railroad
not far from where the Hazen Monu-
ment Is now located. Comrade Breid.
enthal also says there was snow on the
nrorfnd Cfono River nac 1852
for he knows that IT was lying on that
cottonfield at the right Of the pike early
In the morning. Possibly 1t got too hoi
later in the day for anything to remain
frozen. Wednesday. Dec. 81. the sur
shone warmly, and II was clear and q
10 rain Friday. Jan. 2. and rained al
day Saturday and all night. Sunday
Jan. 4, was beautiful and clear wher
the army crossed over into Murfrees
boro.
"WhistIinE Dick"
H. K Hess, Co. A, 161st NJ Y, Putt
ney, N. Y, referring to Comrade Walk
ers article published in The Nationa
Tribune of May 8. 1906. says: 1T is {
well-known fact that during the Vicks
burg siege one Of our shells struck thi.
gun in the muZzle and broke out piece
about two feet long and dismounted tn.
gun. In 1854 was In Vicksburg. One
Sunday there was a military execution
Our regiment formed side Of the square
The rise of ground just back Of the large
gun made the background, with troop.
on the other three sides. Some on,
called attention to the gun as the fam
Gus "Whistling Dick" I afterward.
went over TO the place and looked the
gun over. '.Whistling Dick" was a Ions
32-pounder English navy gun, rified
The Sergeant In charge told me tina
although cut of two feet 1t would out
shoot any gun on the Notifications
The Rebel Ran Tennessee.
H. K. Hess. Co. A, 161st N. Y. Pull
ney, " T.. would like to know wha
became Of the rebel ram Tennessee
captured at Mobile Bay. He expected
TO see II brought out at the time Of tn,
Spanish War, but did not even hear 1
spoken Of.
Foiled the Attempt.
Samuel Zeigler. Co. III. 30th Iowa
Ripon. Cal, was in charge Of part o
the patrol guard the night Columbia
g. c., was burned. and assisted in al
attempt by a Captain claiming to be oil
Gen. Logan's staff to fire a priyat
house. He was called in of the stree
by a citizen, and found the aforesai,
Canfotn and nrfyafo with rQvnlyor