The National tribune., 1906-07-26
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
Line.
First TO Carry the News.

James a. Graham, 18th Mass, ana
Signal Corps, U. S. A, Newton Upper
Falls, Mass, enlisted April 20, 1861, for
three months, but his company was not
accepted till July 2, 1861, when it was
mustered in as Co. c, 18th Mass He
was detached and ordered to the Signal
Corps in December, 1861, 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 10 the
Signal Station about 5 o'clock tina,
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 Graiis..T, 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 come
to the Signal Station, borrow a pencil
to -.-ite 2 dispatch. and nut the penci!
In fi.s pocnI,. eofs.e again, borrow 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: I'VE 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. 13.
1864, and was discharged Sept. 2, 1865,
as the war was then over. Gen. Anger
L. i lsr-.l, ENvnT
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,
1Iarman'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 1 remember it, we were fianked
from the left, and the 121st was on the
extreme left of the brigade, the 18th
and 10Sth Ohio next to our right. We
had become so twisted during the after
noon that neither we nor the rebs knew
where we belonged. Some time during
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 a distance CT 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
Ing we had the youngest drummer.
Francis b. De Witt IL years old, who
was afterwards member of Congress
from Ohio, Now, boys, let's hear from
all along the line as we used to 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 good speller, and
has long head to cypher out what we
intend to say
The Seventeenth Brigade.
Henry Breidenthal, Sd Ohio. Pleasant
City, o., wants to make correction of
the Official Records, which say that
Gen. Jones commanded the Seventeenth
Brigade. Rousseau's Division, at Stone
River, Dec. 81. 1862. This is incorrect.
Gen. John Beatty, formerly Colonel OF
the Sd Ohio. commanded that brigade
all through that battle, closing On Sat
urday night, Jan. 3, 1863. where the
brigade did the last fighting, when 1t
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
ground at Stone River, Dec. 81, 1852,
for he knows that it was lying on that
cottonfieId at the right of the pike early
in the morning. Possibly ii got too hot
later in the day for anything TO remain
frozen Wednesday. Dec. 81, the sun
shone warmly, and it was clear and
little chilly Thursday. Jan. /. 1t began
10 rain Friday. Jan. q and rained all
day Saturday and all night. Sunday,
Jan. 4, was beautiful and clear when
the army crossed over into Murfrees-
boro.
"yyhIstling Dick"
H. X. Hess. Co. A, 161st N Y, Pult-
ney, n. Y. referring to Comrade Walk
er's article published in The National
Tribune of May 3, 1906. says: 1T Is
weil-known fact that during the Vicks-
burg siege one OF our shells struck this
gun in the muzzle and broke out a piece
about two feet long and dismounted the
gun Ii 1864 / 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 troops
on the other three sides. Some one
called attention TO the gun as the fam
Gus "Whistlins Dick" / afterwards
went over to the place and looked the
gun over "Whistling Dick" was long
52-pounder English navy gun, rified
The Sergeant in charge told me thai
although cut off two feet II would out
shoot any gun on the Notifications"
The Rebel Ram Tennessee.
H K Hess, Co. A, 1s1st n. Y, Pul;'
ney. y. Y. would like to know wha
became Of the rebel ram Tennessee
captured al Mobile Bay. He expected
to see II brought out at the time of tbs
Spanish War, but did not even hear i
spoken of.
Fooled the Attempt.
Samuel Zeigler, Co. H, 30th Iowa
Ripon. Cal, was in charge of part o
the patrol guard the night Columbia
s. C., was burned. and assisted in al
attempt by a Captain claiming to be OF
Gen Logan's staff to fire a privat
house He was called in off the stree
by citizen, and found the aforesait
Captain and private with revolver
drawn upon each other, the first deter
mined TO destroy the house by settini
fire to a bed, and the second as deter
mined TO prevent him, as the either
who lived in the house had sheltered
n.nft. Fnr