davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
Slept with johnny Reb Ghost.

Editor National Tribune: When in
front of Atlanta Il short time before
its capture by SherInan's army, the
rifle pits of the two armies facing each
other were rather too close to be very
healthy for careless folk on either
side. Our line was manned by two men,
who were, changed every four hours.
One day when my comrade and j went
on duty the men we relieved told us
to ''doop' down quickly, or we might
get shot, as the Johnny in front of
us was shooting very close. After we
got under cover they told us how the
Johnny would wave a signal to draw
their fire and then step out in plain
sight and take a shot at them, and
shoot very close, too. I said, I'm fix
him." more in Boosting than with any
thought that / could fix him. / had
short Enfield rifle that | thought /
could do some good shooting with; SO,
after we were left to ourselves, / in
vestigated the situation. / saw that
there was a bare place right to the
left of Johnnys pit, and concluded
that / would get his distance by shoot
ing at that mark. Thinking it might
be 400 yards away, / raised the
sight of the rifle TO carry that dis
lance and fired, but did not touch the
mark. / then put the sight down to
normal, 900 yards, and fired again,
with the same result. The third
time / elevated the gun slightly and
knocked the dust right where l want
ed to- / then had his distance and
was ready for business. Likely, the
Johnny thought that Yank was a
very poor shot. / did not care TO
quarrel with him on that point, Cor
as far as he could see it looked very
much that way. ! did not have a
very long time to wait for the signal
our comrades had told US Of. Some
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
THE STEAMER PLANTER.

usual saiutes with her whistle. After
getting beyond theurangelof3 the last
gun, she quickly hauled down the Con-
federate flags and hoisted a white one.
The first ship that she came to was
the Onward, which was preparing to
fire upon her, when the white flag was
recognized. She had a 32pound gun
on pivot, and five other guns, one be-
ing seven-inch rifle. Smalls, who
afterwards became a politica! leader
in South Carolina and a member of
Congress. was a highly intelligent man.
and brought much information. He
brought with him seven men, five
women, and three children. Smalls
afterwards rendered good service to
the feet as pilot for the inland waters.
with which he was well acquainted.
The Planter was regarded as a very
valuable acquisition TO the squadron, on
account of her good machinery and
light draft. The steamer was appraised
at $4,000, with s16S for the loose guns,
making altogether s9,16S, of which one
half was divided between Robert
Smalls and his associates, Smalls get
ting $500 and the engineer and 9TH
ers $3.50 each, with 500 to the women
of the party. AS the Planter only
burned wood, she was in September
| 1862. transferred to the Army, and
used by the Quartermaster's Depart
ment. A very good picture of the
Planter appears in Vol. XII of the
/ Official Records of the Union and
! Confederate Navies."-Editor National
Tribune
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
shermnn,s Runners.

Editor National Tribune: Please let
me answer thru The National Tribune
"OId hummer Aaron Clark. Co. F,
129th Ill? Yes, conrade. glad to
know Eou are still living. My Captain,
p. S. Carson. Co. G., 10Th Ind, de-
tached myself as Corporal with eight
men, to forage. Ny eyesC were dis
eased;n4, could, not see, anything after
night smaller than a..heni or hog.
That was thescause of nay. being detail
ed pGSXasstarted out afo9t. but soon
were all mounted. N.Y. animal was a
little mule, but very much mule.
He was very small, ansiII tried to name
him "Possum,'' but after II got the
saddle on him there was ITO room for
sum" and / had tDi just call him
Pos" One morning We started south
of the command, 20 or3 05men in full
gallop About a mile from the camp
Pos struck a hole in the road and went
in to his breast, reversing lends as he
went II threw flis rider, about 80 feet
in advance, marching end up5 with a
cart load of camp equipage, besides
saddle, blankets, tents. etc, upon and
around him. The boys as they passed
wanted to know If / was going to
camp there. When l got up, Pos was
up and inspecting the invoice of fur
niture he had uTioaded. He was en-
tirely undressed, except the bride and
some sand on his bosom. If / had not
belonged to a Westinghouse, 1 fear /
should then have said cuss words
That fwas but one, incident of the day
! for a Sherman Bummer.-Dick Scan
land, Co. G, 10th Ind, Terre Haute,
! ina. 0t..4.. Ht,@y4 .ss... E4..
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

Editor National Tribune: In a recent
number of The National Tribune Clark
Keilison. Buckeye, w. Va, gives the
composition of the 9Th w. Va. Cav,
which is not quite correct as to the
names of the regiments. The regiments
were the I'd Va. and the Sd Va. (not
West Virginia infantry), organized as
regiments in July, 1851, and brigaded
together under Brig Gen. Robert H.
Milroy. in the Spring ofs1s62. In June,
1863, they We're brigaded Jas mounted
infantry under Brighten. ". Waiver
ell, receiving their horses Chat month.
On Jan. %. 1864, General Order No. 80
of the War Department changed the
two regiments to the 18th ". Va. Cav.
and the 9Th w. Va. Cav. respectively.
In September, 1864. tIiesre-enlisted men
of the 5th w. Va. CaI were consolid;et-
ed with the 9Th w. Va. Cav, taking the
name OF the latter. This is not a criti-
cism of Mr.. Kellison'4 facts, which are
all right, but simply a statement of the
names of the regiments. The change
in the arms of these two regiments has
created a good deal of confusion since
in the mention of either of them in the
public press.-F'rancis S. Reader His
torian, 5th w. Va. GAYS New Brighton,
Pa.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
There's Lack of Gratitude.

Editor National Tribune: | wish to
protest against this discrimination
against our wives in case our death
makes them our widows. The discrim-
ination would leave our dear ones with
out any support or help from Uncle
Sam. Now, while | served four years
that seemed hard and long in support
of the Government-not in time of
peace, like our Congressman, who have
fought so hard for the limitation bill
that denies our poor old helpmates pen
sions in case we leave them widowed
our fight during the civil war was not
against widows, but against the enc
mics of our glorious Union, and by our
warfare we saved il. To this day I can
hear the booming Of the cannon and
the rattle of musketry, groans of the
wounded and means of the dying.
Would such memories or such expert
ences shatter the nerves of those brave
congressman who let petty jealousy
come in to destroy the rights of an old
soldiers widow just because she was
not, his wife before June 81, 1890?
followed Bragg from Corinth, Miss, to
Louisville, Ky; went with Sherman to
the sea; came around by Richmond
Va, to Washington, D. c.. in 1865, to
the Grand Review My wife and 1 are
in the sos, neither able to work to sup
port ourselves; we get the small sum
of S12 per month from Uncle Sam, and
we are thankful for that but / think
we ought to have $50 a month. The
Republican Party is not grateful
was member of Co. b, 14th Ohio
Frederick McElliott, Forest Grove
Ore, r. /, Box 81
"REsTREAT" AT FORT LOGAN.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
THE STEAMER PLANTER.


Editor National Tribune: Can you
give me any information regarding the
steamer Planter. which was captured
in the early part of the war. from the
Confederates? / was a member of
the crew when she was used by the
Quartermasters in 1852, between Bal
timore and Washington. | have heard
there was a picture of her. which L
would like very much to have. w.
Ferguson, Commander. Lincoln Post,
Newark. n. j.
The tug Planter was an armed dis
patch and transportation steamer, at
tached to the Engineer Department, at
Charleston, S. c. Watching his oppof-
funity, Robert Smalls, the pilot of the
boat, gathered some of his friends
aboard. and in the absence of the Off
GERS started out from the dock at 4
o'clock in the morning for the blockad
ing fleet. She had the Confederate and
Palmetto flags FLYING, and as she passed
the forts and batteries she gave the
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

n. H. / remember the precise words
he used when he ordered our brigade
forward: Gen. Caldwell, you will for
ward your brigade at once. The Irish
Brigade is suffering severely" In
your issue of Jan. 80, 1903, George
that splendid old /. y. Richardson, OF
Michigan, did not command his divi-
sion on the day of the battle of Antie-
tam, but that he was struck in the
shoulder by piece of shell Sept. 10,
1862; that he helped put him into an
ambulance and that he died soon after.
On the morning of Sept. II, 1862, Gen.
Richardson's Division lay in the vicini-
ty of the Frye house, Gen. McCielian's
headquarters. Between 8 and 10 a. m.
the First Division of Summers Corps
crossed Antietam Creek, Gen. Richard
son in command. At 1915 the divi-
sion was sharply engaged near the
Bloody Lane. Gen. I. 3. Richardson
was there and inquired of Col. Cross
where Gen. Caldwell was. Soon after
Gen. Richardson, while directing the
fire of Graham's Battery, was struck
in the breast by piece of shell; was
carried to the Frye house, where he
died same days later.
In Edward 3. Eaton's album of civil
war photographs, appears photo of
the Grapevine bridge over the ChiclSa-
hominy River. In the description OF
the same, the credit of building the
bridge is given to the Fifteenth Engi-
neer Corps. The 5th n. Il, Col
Cross. commanding, with a detail OF
$50 men from the Gath n. Y. and $50
from the Irish Brigade, built the
bridge. commencing May %, 1852
completing same May 29.--John II
McCrillis. Co. e, 5th n. H., 142 Pleas
ant St, Marlboro, Mass.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
By Hattie Horner Louthan.)

(The Fort is conspicuously situated
near Denver on a prominent foothill,
around the base of which curve the
tracks of the great transcontinnetal
railways.) -5
Comes pause. IT'S Natures vesper
Swallowed valleys warn "'Tis
= r. late.''
Turn expectant toward the foothills,
toward the mountains western
= gate.
Zen the sun, as once at Gideon, de-
scending seems to wait
And the throbbing tracks of commerce,
wheel on ceaseless, whirring
wheel,
Coast with utmost coast firm-grapplng
by the strength of steam and
STEEL
Fen the mighty pulse of traffic seems
that vesper peace to feel.
Then one fort-topped foothill, studded
thick with barracks-ranks of
brown.
Stands Attention." proud, self-con-
scious in the gaze of plain and
While her sunset gun, deep-booming,
brings Old Glory drifting down.
To the lannon's call, the heart of an
cient mountain shouts reply;
Strives in vain the gale to snatch it;
faints the torrents mimic cry.
AS that banner fails, all Nature seeks
those colors to supply:
Spendthrift sun filings stripes of GRIM
son, peaks unsparing spread their
snow,
Heaven lays bare her breast of azure,
rival stars begin to glow
Vain, how vaini Unto the loyal, all
lie quenched and hid below.
There's no red within the sunset
there's no white on peak i'm.
pearled,
There's no blue in all the heaven, never
star above the world, -
For the old Forts gun has spoken, and
that Flag of Flags is furled!
At that signal bow the loyal, brave
blue ranks with heads all bare,
In each heart a lingering echo, the
retreat of bugles' blare,
In each soldier-heart an answer tC
that lannon's thrilling dare.
'Tis the closing chord, far-reaching, OF
Authority's stern lay;
Ills the final booming base-note to the
treble of the day;
| 'Tis the last command unquestioned
where they move but to obey.
| This the sign and the assumption Of
thine undisputed crown,
| This the deep "Amenl'' My country, Of
thy Godlike powers renown;
Only thus retreat thine armies, only
thus thy Flag comes down!
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
Reunion Of the .eth N. Y.

The 4Oth Annual Reunion of the 10th
N. Y. Veteran Association will be held
at Cortland, n. Y, "Wednesday and
Thursday, Aug. and 6, 1908. 1t IS
Cortland County Centennial "Old Home
Week" Round-trip tickets at reduced
rates can be had by.way of D., l.. & w
and Lehigh Valley Railroads. BY re-
Quest of comrades two days are set
apart for this Reunion, as one day was
too short All come for good visit
for Reunions cannot long continue
Those who cannot come should notify
Secretary, and note change of address
U. A. Burnham, President, Scarsdale,
n. Y; VIM. j. Mantanye, Secretary,
Cortland, N. Y.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
such, Saved The Country.

Editor National Tribune: On the
morning of June 3, 1864, while the
First Brigade, First Division, Second
Corps. were standing in line waiting
for the Aids TO charge the rebel posi-
ton, / was approached by soldier,
mere boy, who said: Orderly, 1
have lost my regiment and company;
| do not want to lose this fight; can
go in with you? 2" / said Yes; fall
in on the left of the company" which
he did. We soon received the order
to move forward. which we did, going
TO and over the rebel breastWorks,
capturing several pieces of artillery,
and then moved on to their second
line. Not being supported, and re-
ceiving an enfilading fire on both
TANKS and direct fire from the front,
we were forced to retire. In my
opinion, if we had been properly sup
ported, Gen. Grant, in his Memoirs,
page 276, would not have had to say:
Il have regretted that the last assault
at Cold Harbor was ever made" After
we fell back TO the position from
which we started on the charge, the
young soldier referred to came to me
and said: Orderly, | want you Ia
give me a writing to show to my. Off
GERS, where / was during the battle."
u wrote the statement and signed ii
and II was countersigned by Col. Hap
good. The officer of my company had
been wounded in the charge. ] made
memorandum of the lads company
and regiment. which, with other
papers. was lost from my blouse jacket
while being carried off the field al
Ream's Station, Va, Aug. 25, 1864
Il being badly wounded. 1 have al
ways regretted loss of that memoran-
DUN. as ! never have been able to re-
call of what organization the soldier
was member. / hope he is living and
will read this. and that I may hear
from him. He and such as he saved
the country and Old Glory.
| In your issue of Feb. 6, 1908, Com
rade MeElroy, in his account of the
battle of Fredericksburg, Va, Dec. ID
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
A Council of War mt charlottesville.

Editor National Tribune: A COM
rade, musician, on duty in the woods
on the eve of the battle of Chancel-
louisville. May 2, 1868. overheard the
conversation of a number of officers.
who We're in a hot dispute on some
plans for the disposition of their troops
The meeting disbanded without an
agreement. The spot, as I recall it,
was behind the slashed trees in the
line of Won elias Brigade. on the ex-
treme right of the Eleventh Corps. For
historic purposes the writer asks for
a reply from any man who either par
ticipated in or heard the discussion
above referred to.-W. r. Kiefer, 1881
Pa, Ramsey, N. j.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
Stories Eminenty Worth Telling OF Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle

ton was put in battery and opened on
them. They opened on us with full
battery; our other four guns unlimber-
ed and we soon did them up. There
they had us in bad fix. A high fence
was on each side OF the road and we
could not get our limbers and caissons
in rear of our guns until Gen. Double
day came with his brigade and tore the
fence away. We had two men killed,
John Smith and John VanZant, and
three wounded. and some horses killed.
Now, comrade. give us square deal.
Thomas Keene. Sergeant, BatteryL.
LIST n. Y. Art, 437 w. 59th ST, Chicago,
m
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

1862, says: "Meagher's gallant Irish
Brigade, was the first to rush to the
assistance of French's men. Hancock
leading it on foot" The lines Of battle
tbrigade 'front.' that charked the sunk
en- road were as follows: Frcnch's
Division. first line; Kimbalis Brigade,
second line; Andrews's, third line,
Palmer's (Hancock's Division);
fourth line. looks; fifth line, Meagh-
er's; sixth line, Caldweli's. While
Meagher's Brigade was engaged Gen.
w. S. Hancock sat on his horse in the
immediate front of our regiment, 9TH
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
Mother, Au RevOir!


There, I hear the bugle sounding; tits
the signal for the frayi
Guess I'll get behind some cover; then
I'll be O.. K.
For bareback and salt horse,
These are not the meat to make one
brave,
And, | really have no present ambi-
To fill an early, cen tho an honored
grave.
Farewell, but not for long, dear Ma;
You'll never read my name among
the SLANT
Your son prefers skedaddle; and I'll
come home again.
You've often heard me say
He who loves to live won't fight if he
can run away.
And he should run and live to run
another day.
I'd rather be homeguard private,
whole,
Than be a Brigadier filled with nasty
lead shot into my diaphram.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
Perpetuatiag the Order.

George Perkins, Commander, A L.
Brown Post, Chillicothe, o., wants the
G.. A. R. continued, and is in favor or
a committee to be appointed to respm-
mend to the National EncampmeHt q
revision of the Constitution and BY
laws to admit to full membership sur
viyors of the Mexican and Indian wars,
Sons of Veterans, Spanish War Veter-
ans and all who have proved their 10y
atty to the country by service III the
army.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
ARexo1ntionary Marker.

June 81 a marker was unyailed on
the site of the fertilization of the battle
of Newtown, n. Y, fought Aug. 10.
1879. The battle of Newtown was one
of the most important engagements OF
the Revolution. 1t cut off the supplies
which the British had expected to re-
ceive from the Chemuns Valley. me
patriot forces were commanded by Gen
John Sullivan and the British Tories
and Indians were under the coinnahe
of Joseph Brant-
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
THE NATIONAL TR1BuNE WASHINGTON THURSDAY

thing was held out aS. tliac right end
of Johnny's pit, seemingly from be-
hind a bush. 1t looked like it nigh;
be held in his left hand. - He waved
it up and down forfsrs tn shoot at.
The signal was doing no harm: it was
not to blame for being there, so why
shoot at it? 1 did shoot, however; not
at the signal but at the bpsh. as near
as l could Judge the, lengtA of John
ny's arm from the signal Instantly he
jumped up from his coyfr ma ran
back over the hill put Of sight.
knew | had not killed him. or he could
| not have run so lively. After short
running from over the hill and lodged
into the rifle pit. !. waited for the
signal, which was soon, seen in motion
in { I same place and manner as be-
fore. / fired again with the same re-
suit. The fellow did not drop dead,
but ran over the hill for safer quar-
tiers. third time the place was filed,
whether by the same person or not,
could not say. but he tried the same
tactics. with the same results. In the
four hours ] was on duty / emptied
that rifle pit three times, and J did not
have to stay under cover either. for
the Johnny had quit shooting so close.
OF course. I had no way of telling
whether / hit anyone or not, but there
WAS very SDoU tNiutItt liidt L ulu liOt
kill anyone. for.i never saw dead man
run as fast as those Johnnies did to
get over the hill. / have always want
ed to know whether it was the same
Johnny every time or not. This hap
pened about A. years ago, and If the
Comrade who was with me on duty at
that time is still living i would like to
'loar, from him. L would also like to
hear from the man or men who waved
ha eli H.. i ha-i S or thpv still liy-
ing and should chance to see this. If
l did kill him 1 q not want to know
it. But as proof that | did not, lei me
tell you how strangely met him after
these long Al. years. One night last
| week / found myself in bed with a
strange man. How it happened 1 need
not tell here. He proved to be one of
| the old Johnnies. He said he was on
the picket line in front of Atlanta, and
that some Yank had shot him while
he was waving signal to draw fheir
fire. He said he had some Yanks, shoot
| ing at the signal but this one did not
shoot at, the signal, but at him. and
spoiled his game. why. johnny. said
l, Il am the Yank that shot you. Give
| me hold of your old hand, old fellow. 2
And we shook hands and talked OF old
wartimes ard our experiences as We
gay in bed, and were enjoying ourselves
| greatly when
Loud crew the cock, the shadows fed;
No more of Johnny did J. see,"
| and l found the meeting with my
| friend from the enemy's picket line
was only dream; but if he is still
| living / would like very much to hear
| from him.--John w. Hartley, Co. III,
| Sth Kan, 30S Third Ave. North, Nash
| vile, Tenn.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02
Reunion Of the 1soth Ohio.

The Annual Reunion of the 15Oth
Ohio will be held in the log cabin at
Euclid Beach Park, Cleveland. o., Mon
day, July 10. Let all comrades come
or send greetings by mail. ]. G. Cannon,
1854 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, o.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

and l found the meeting with my
friend from the enemy's picket line
was only a dream; but If he is still
living / would like very much to hear
from him.--John W. Hartley, Co. Fl,
Sth Kan, 306 Third Ave. North, Nash
Vile Tenn. ..
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

Loud crew the cock, the shadows fled;
No more of Johnny did ]. see"
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

To keen iron sinks and iron kettles
smooth and free from rust, never use
soap in cleaning them. Wash them In
the water in which potatoes have been
boiled. using a well-boiled potato to rub
any spot which may have become roagh
or rusted, afterward rinsing clean with
yery hot, clear water. BY cleaning III
this way they will always be smooth
and free from rust.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-02

Place pulverized pumice stone be.
tween the layers of a folded piece or
soft muslin and stitch around the edge
to keep the powder from splitting. wipe
lamp chimneys or window panes with
this dry cloth, and they will be clean
and sparkle almost instantly; enough
powder will remain in the cloth to be
used many times.