The National tribune., 1908-01-09
PICKET SHOTS
Frem Alert Comrades AIsns ths Whole
Line.
The Drafted Brigade.

John Hemminger, Harrisburg, Pa
says that he belonged to the drafted
brigade, the Pennsylvania Keystone Bri'
Eade, commanded by Gen. B. +. Spinola
His regiment was the 15Sth Pa, Col
McKibben. He would like to hear from
any of them, especially from Maj. M
G. Hale, If he is yet alive. Comrade
Hemminger incloses a worn copy oi
Gen. Spinola's farewell address to the
brigade, dated May %, 1863, Washing
ton, N. C. He recalls that the brigade
was put under his command at the
time when its members were fresh from
home and entirely unacquainted with
war and discipline. 1t marched direct
~ to the front, and performed every
duty in a manner rejecting credit upon
itself. The brigade made some splendi
marches and was everywhere Jealous
in the discharge of its duties. In the
fights at Blount's Creek, New Hope
School House and Swift Creek Village
the brigade behaved like veterans.
How They Were Drowned.
Comrade Martin, Co. G, Cd Ohio Cav.
Mansfield, O., relative to the drowning
of the regiment at the time of the fight
at Monticello, says that it was the 9th
N. ]. The troops were one-year mer
whose time had expired, and while
crossing the Cumberland River their
boat was capsiZed and they were
drowned. Comrade Theodore Orner
Co. A, 27th N. J., Port Jervis, N. Y,
adds to this by explaining that there
were two ropes across the Cumberland
the lower for artillery and the upper
for the infantry. BY some means the
men let go the upper rope, and when
the boat floated to the lower one they
grabbed it and capsized the boat, q
being drowned. The Lieutenant-Colo-
ners little negro floated down stream
on a blanket, and was either picked ur
or washed ashore. Comrade Orner was
waiting on shore to cross, and saw the
accident Comrade F. v. Wolfe, First
Lieutenant, Co. c, 27th N. j., Dover, N
j., says that there were 33 drowned
among whom were one Captain, one
Sergeant and one Corporal. Seven OF
the number were members of his COM
pany, and had he not been at the time
Acting Adjutant of the 9th would have
been himself in the fatal boat. There
were about so in the boat, a Second
Lieutenant and about Is others saved
Among the "UnaccOunted For"
Comrade 1. N. Stanford, Co. A. 18th
o. s., Shelbyville, Tenn, sends news
paper clipping stating that in a secluded
spot on Mountain Creek, about mile
from Dibrell, Tenn, a skull and other
a loaded army rifle, soldiers belt, etc
AS there was no battle or skirmish neal
this place, Comrade Stanford thinks
that possibly the bones belonged to &
loyal man who was captured by guer-
rillas and murdered. He could not hell
thinking of a comrade, VIM. Griffith, OF
Co. F, who went into the battle OF
Chickamauga and was never seen after
No one ever knew whether he was kill.
ed in Lattle or not He was engaged tt
marry a lovely girl, who never heard Of
him after that fight, her brave lover
being among the "unaccounted for"
Opening the Battle of Gettysburg.
S. NJ. Ackerman, 9Th N. Y. Cav, Am
herst, n. H, takes exceptions to the
statement that CANDLES Brigade o.
Cavalry opened the battle of Gettys
burg. He recollects that that distinc.
ton belonged TO Devin's Brigade, which
consisted of the 9Th and 9Th N. Y. Cav
and 18th Pa. Cav. The 9Th was OF
picket, and fired the first shot at $50
July 1, 1863. 1t is SO recorded on theil