The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-25


Rescued in Nick of Time.
1t is the purpose Of the writer to
relate a little personal experience,
which will wildly illustrate the horrors
OF war and show how many a gallant
soldier lost his life, and his name
comes up and now glistens on the army
records of the War Department as
missing. This might have been the
fate of him who now pens these lines
to the Press had not Providence inter-
fered, and had not what came near
being a tragedy turned out to be a
miracle.
He enlisted as a recruit in the Sec
ond New York Harris light cavalry, a
regiment that had among its first colo
nels that noted cavalry leader, General
Judson Fitzpatrick, during the valley
campaign Of General Sheridan in 1864.
When he with hundreds of other re-
cruits reached the command then en-
camped near Shepherdstown, Nd, it
became his lot to be assigned to Com
pany NJ Of that regiment, commanded
at that time by an orderly sergeant,
very good fellow and splendid soldier
named Ives S. Calkins.
Soon after assignment to this COM
pany detail was made among the
different regiments of the division for
two men to serve as provost guard and
escort to be attached to the Third Di-
vision headquarters, becoming thus the
body guard of the already famous
young cavalry general. After the brill
liant victories of Berryville, Opequan
Greek, Winchester, Fishers Hill, Mount
Olives and Cedar Greek the army fell
back and took position from the Blue
Ridge to the Alleghanies and remained
there until what is known in history
now as the Sheridan Raid.
After the battle of Cedar Creek the
writer was detailed as safeguard to
residence of a family named Ander-
son, two women coming to General
Clusters headquarters and telling him
they were afraid of our soldiers. They
begged him to send them guard. l
went with them, with orders to allow
no officers or men to come into their
premises.
Cultivating an acquaintance with the
family, l soon learned all the male
members, with the exception of an old
man, were in the then opposing forces
under old Jubal A. Early. l passed the
night in the parlor. where l was aston
ished to find a valuable COW was being
kept, to insure her safety from the
troops Of both armies
On leaving the next morning a prom
ise was made that upon coming back
again l would bring from Winchester
some good coffee along for this family.
In the course of time, when this move
ment began. obtained several pounds
Of this coveted article, then worth sew
eral dollars pound in the Confed-
eracy.
AS soon as the command reached
Woodstock, late at night, left the es-
cort ranks, and rode up to the man.
sion. where l was welcomed and re-
manned for the night.
Arising early in the morning I saw
q column OF troops passing through the
town, and recognized them as the First
Division, under General Wesley Mer-
rift. Thinking that the Third Division
which was mine, would soon follow,
expected to get breakfast out Of some
of that coffee and milk for which 1
yearned- Noticing that the meal was
tardy, looked into the street. No blue
coats could be seen. Finally 1 break
tasted with the air of an epicure.
mounted and-rode away on gallop.
1 could see the rear column away in
the distance, crossing a hill, and made
up my mind it could soon be reached.
Suddenly l heard the noise of clatter-
ing hoofs from galloping steeds Look
Ing around ! saw upward OF two hun
dred rebels coming at full speed in
front and rear and before / could real
lie anything two young rebels were
alongside of me. pointing revolvers.
young man, said one, "your
armsi'
The other remarked, drawing his
six-shooter: Il think you had better
hand them over" I was taken so sud-
denly by surprise that l fairly wilted
In my saddle The Johnnie on the
right took possession of my Spencer
carbine,. while the one opposite took
my saber. By this time the whole COM
mand had got up, and the officer in
command began this colloquy:
ITO what regiment do you belong?"
Second New York cavalry"
"Whose division?"
Knowing that the rebels had threat
ened to retaliate on all Of Clusters
command for making some rebel SOL
diers run the gantlet at Front Royal,
while the whole of the third division
Of cavalry was drawn up in line Of
battle, and the men ordered to fire on
the unfortunate prisoners doomed that
way to die, l thought a while.
When the intelligence reached the
rebel generals they determined to have
revenge on all Of Clusters command
they could get hold Of. I.knew this,
so to the last query replied, "Gen-
eral Merritt's." ut is a damned lie
you are one of Clusters thieves" he
said. How many troops are on this
raid?" IL do not know" ''That is also
a damned lie. Is General Sheridan
alongY told him l did not know
whether General Sheridan was along
or not, as 1 had not seen him, to which
be added that l was an adroit liar.
10 acc1lcad Of q tha1lSaxad thix,crs.