The National tribune., 1906-10-18
Stories Eminenty Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle
The 11th PA. Cav.

Editor National Tribune: I was a
member IF the Gray Horse Cavalry
Co. /, 11th Pa, Spears Cavalry. And
when l saw THE 11th Pa. Cav. the
time 1t did not go into Richmond" by
Comrade Stab, il most brought me to
my feet. l said, Listen here wife, /
must read this" The raid to Bottoms
Bridge was made in the month 1 en-
listed. Before 1 got to the regiment !
heard the boys talk of it after 1 ar
rived. Co. 1 may have been credited
t. Lancaster Co, Pa. as Comrade
Stab says. but many of them were
Philadelphia draymen. and 1 was from
| Venango Co, Pa. And we had Tioga,
Lycoming, LuZern and Berks, at least,
| to boot
/ agree with Comrade Stab that by
reports in the beginning the rule was
| the rebels ran from the 1Ith. But if
he continued with the regiment to the
| close of the war / want to cite him 4
few exceptions to the rule to close up
this article ere it gets too long. First,
| on our return from the Wilson Raid at
Ream's Station 1 called it run" But
had good example set me, for Gen.
KautZ and Col. Spear started through
the thicket and swamp within three or
four rods of me and the command Civ
en- was Come on, boys" Second,
when Gen. Hancock fought at Ream's S
Station the 11th walked pretty fast to
the rear when the Second Corps fell
back. Co. / stayed at the front on
that occasion because our Captain was
full of spirits. which made him cour-
ageous, and we stayed with him. as the
rebS only came to the abandoned
breastworks and went into camp.
About midnight We We're ordered by
Gen. Gregg to fall back and find the
army if we could. I was on picket at
the fork roads when the order came.
1t had rained and was extremely dark
could distinctly hear the means of
our wounded up in the woods to my
right and could see the rebels camp
fires plainly, possibly $50 yards dis
tant. My instructions were, Let moth
ing approach YOU down either road.
Do not halt it, but fire on it." In a
short time 1 heard a splash, splash in
the mud coming down from the woods
to my right. / heard there was only
two feet and with my revolver in readi-
ness 1 waited till I could see the bulk
in the darkness, when I said, Halt,
who comes there" He hesitated,
muttered and said. ITS nobody that
wants to hurt you" l said sharply,
who are you? What army do you be-
long to?" He hesitated again. fearing
was a reb, till I said Speak" He
saw it was all up either way and said,
81 belong to the 1st D. c." They We're
in our brigade, and I said, "All right
advance" He came to the side of my
horse and said in low tone. my Cap
tain is up there in the woods, shot
through both hips, and begged me for
Gods sake to get him away. Can't
You do something for him." I said
NO, No. The army has all fallen back
but one company of the 18th Pa. Cav.
We will soon get orders from Gen.
Gregg to fall back. If you can keep
along on foot you will get out, other
wise you will be captured" I said,
Remain here; l dare not send you to
the rear" "Oh," he said, my Lieu
tenant is wounded, too. I wish you
could do something for them to save
them from being captured" 1 said,
Impossible"
Just then the Orderly-sergeant
with another Sergeant or Corpo-
raj, came to relieve me and mani
tested great surprise to find my 1st
D. c. man. "Who is this with you?"
"a man from the 1st d. c." Where
did he come FROM" Down that
right hand road" How did he ap-
proach youo" Il halted him and found
out who he was and let him advance"
''That was contrary to your orders"
"I know it was, but by his talk / con-
cluded he did not purpose mischief.
A. ]. Weaver, Mars, Pa.