The National tribune., 1907-10-31
stcr, Freny Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
IN the Great National Struggle
A CLOSE CALL.
Receiving the Fire Of Six JOhnnies nj
Close Range.

|
Editor National Tribune: Some time
ago there appeared in The Nationa
Tribune a sketch by n. b. Easton, en-.
titled "A Close Cali Now, I think
! can so him one better, as / had abou
as close personal call as there wa.
during the war. OF course, in a way
everyone who stood up" to the enemy
when the bullets We're flying and came
out alive experienced a "cloSe CALL" but
that was in a general sense. On the
morning of Feb. 5, 1865, our regiment
the 24th n. Y. Cav, went on the Skir-
mish line at Hatcher's Run, Va, and
dismounted. We were on the edge OF
a piece of heavy oak timber, while the
enemy were similarly deployed on the
opposite side of the woods. Co. A, tC
which / belonged. occupied a position
| to the right of some Jack pines, while
the other companies of the regiment
were deployed TO the left, distance OF
about 800 yards. The men had dis
| tributed themselves around the large
oak trees, and were lying back of the
huge roots that branched away from
the trees, five or six men to n tree, and
from these comparatively safe positions
Were pumping away at the Johnnies
with their Spencer carbines. While ]
was busy shooting at anything that
looked like a Johnny, Col. w. c. New
berry, of Chicago), said to me: Ser
geant. proceed to the extreme left OF
the line, present my compliments to the
company commanders, and say that ii
is my order that their lines connect, one
with the other. SO that there are no
gaps between companies" This neces-
STATED getting out into the open, which
was no picnic. but kept a move on me,
and what balls were fired at me passed
to my rear, SO ] made the ground in
safety. When reached the above-men-
toned jack pines on my return, and
was about to pass to the rear, / saw a
group of several men about 20 rods to
the front and little to the right. AS
there were a number of blue coats
among them, / supposed they were men
of my company who had advanced to
that point, while was making my trip
to the left of the line, so instead Of
passing to the rear of the pines struck
off thru the woods towards the pines.
When within about 100 feet of the men
discovered, to my surprise and dismay,
that they were JOhnnies waiting for me
to come up to them. My first thought
was to surrender, but in a flash the hor-
rors of Andersonville passed before me,
and resolved to take the chances of
escape, altho / knew l would in all
probability either be wounded or killed.
don't know why l did it, but just be-
fore started to run / said, Excuse
me: it's my mistake" No sooner had
begun to run than they yelled for me
to halt and come back / heard the
word Yankee" coupled with something
about dog-not exactly dog, either
but l wasn't resenting anything of that
kind just then. What worried me the
most was the dread of a bullet, and
didn't have TO wait long, for just as
started six shots were fired at me, one
Of the balls striking between my feet.
while the other five sang their little
songs on all sides of me. Marvellous to
tell. none of them touched me. and by
the time the Johnnfes had reloaded
their pieces was back of the pines and
soon rejoined my company.
If any of you fellows think that was
an easy game, Just go out and step off
about 40 PAGES, then in imagination set
up six men, experienced in tine use of
firearms. before you. and let them shoot
at you while you try to get away. II
there is any old coffee cooler who can
truthfully outrank my personal "close
CALL" l will gladly take off my hat to
him.-S. E. Chandler. Quartermaster-
Sergeant. Co. A, oath N. Y. Cav, Mime
apolis. MINI.