The National tribune., 1906-09-13
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Who'll,
Line.
With Morgan at Cumberland Gap.

Robert r. McMillen, Co. !, 18th Ky.
Decatur, ILL.,, was a private under Gen
George Morgan at the time he wa!
holding the Gap, keeping Kirby Smiths
army from coming through into Ken
lucky. The Two armies were SO close
that the pickets could shout to eacl
other Between them was a large corn
field, and the rebel pickets took all tho
corn on their side of the field and the
Union pickets all on theirs, until every
ear was pulled and eaten. Morgan had
about 1900 men at the Gap, and he
held it for three weeks after his pro-
visions gave out. depending on his for
aging parties. Corn and pawpaws were
about all they could scare up. and the
country for eight miles around the Gap
was completely cleaned out of these two
vegetables. 1t was corn and pawpaws
which saved the army on their retreat
to the Ohio River. Comrade McMillen
can never forget how good the food
tasted prepared by the good citizens OF
Greenup, KY, when they heard they
We're coming. Comrade McMillen would
like to hear from any of the coffee
coolers at the Gap or on the retreat
especially from any comrade of Co. l.
18th KY.
Who Helped Him.
S. A Whitehead, 147th Pa, OF
tawa, Kan, was wounded at Ring
gold, Ga, Nov. %, 1863. He was crawl
ing back on his hands and knees when
met by two boys of Co. G. who were
returning from carrying their Lieuten-
ant back to the railroad. He had been
shot through the neck. These boys
made a seat by crossing their hands and
carried Comrade Whitebread back to
the railroad also, the bullets flying thick
and fast. He would like TO hear from
these boys and to know if the Lieuten-
ant lived. Comrade Whitebread would
also like to hear from or receive in
formation of rebel Lieutenant he met
while in the Camden Hospital, Balti-
more, Md, during the Winter of '62
and '63. He was detailed to take care
of this Lieutenant, who had been
wounded at Antietam. His name was
NJ. B. Caldwell, and he lived at Union
Point, Ga. When Comrade Whitebread
left the hospital this man was very low,
and he would be very grateful for any
information regarding him.
Beats Them All.
H B. Hawes, Box II, Grant St.
Cherrytree, Pa, a veteran of 81 years.
thinks his claim to distinction beats that
of the oldest, youngest or bravest SOL
dier claim. He is an invalid, unable to
dress or undress himself, although he
has the use of his hands. AS he sits in
his invalid chair, he puts in the time by
doing fancy work, and has made q.
A. r. crazy" quilt six feet long by hve
wide, of silk pieces, with the G. A. r..
badge in the center, three feet long by
16 inches wide. On the star are the let
ters &c. A. R." and dates "1S61-'65.
In each corner is a star, one red, one
white. one blue and the other yellow.
He has also used other designs, such as
the rising sun, etc. The silk is all new,
and the pieces are of different sizes, put
together with fancy stitches in different
colored embroidery silks. There are
over $4,000 different stitches in 1t, and
all as even as if made by machinery.
He is going to send it to the Indiana
and Lancaster Fairs If any other COM
rade has anything like this guilt he
would like to hear from him.
A New Jersey Comrades Views.
James s. Morrow, Co. c. Sd N. J.,
Shamokin, Pa, is quite indignant at
what Comrade Haycock, of Calais. Me-,
says about no difference being made
between the pensions of the men who
went out in 81 and those who went out
I'm 's4 and '65. The men who went out
in '61, went for the love Of their coun-
try, not knowing what pay they would
get, if indeed they got any. Most of
the men wh1 enlisted after July, 1863,
did so on account of the big bounties.
were drafted, or went as substitutes,
and they all got more or less big money
to do what the men of 81 were doing
for $13 north. 1t is all rot to say
that the men of ga and '65 saw more
fighting and had harder time than the
men of 81. Comrade Morrow was in
the Army of the Potomac from the first
Bull Run till the surrender at Apo
mattox, and thinks he has right to
ho, fniv nd hfc
after Lee surrendered who had been
paid as much as $500 to $4,000 to en-
list, and the only service they saw was
to march to Danville, Va. and back 20
Washington, take part ip the Grand
Review, and then were mustered out.
To say that these men are entitled to
as much pension as the 81 men is all
bosh, and no comrade could possibly
see the matter in any other light ex-
cept the short-term men. The Govern
ment has never done right by the men
of 81, who, above all other soldiers,
should be literally treated. The Nc
Cumber bill is the best and most just
enc yet proposed, and Comrade Morrow
hopes and prays it may pass. He hopes
Comrade Haycock will not take offense
at what he has said. He is perfectly
willing he should take all he is entitled
to, but no more.
Comrade Justice Hall, of Watson.
Mo, writes that he enjoyed the Ma
tional Encampment at Minneapolis very
much, but was glad TO get home. While
visiting the Soldiers Home at Fort
Smelling he saw an old vet who, OBJ,
serving his Grand Army button. said
II am entitled to that button; could
make a good thing out of my prison
experience. Gen. Win6er offered me 81
in gold If would work for him. and
admired my pluck when I refused
Comrade Hall thinks this good story
to tell, but not to believe. He thinks
there wasn't 81 in gold or silver in all
the Southern States put together at
that time.
An Error in Greeley.
F. J. Davies. Lieutenant, 45th Pa,
calls attention to an important error in
Greeley's account of the battle of South
Mountain, where the part taken by the
45th Pa. is credited to the 45th n. Y.
This is gross injustice to the 45th Pa,
as the 45th y. Y. was not present al
South Mountain. They were in Schurz's
Division of the Eleventh Corps. AID in
northern Virginia in front of Washing
ton. The loss of the 45th Pa. at South
Mountain was AZ killed and mortally
wounded and 81 wounded, making 4
total of 1874 Comrade Davies carries a
lifelong reminder in his body of that
sharp battle. He has never heard that
the 45th n. Y. claimed to be there, and
from all he can learn they We're a fine
body of soldiers. Justice to the dead
~ Do