The National tribune., 1908-01-23
PICKET SHOTS
Prom Alert Comrades Along The Whole
Line.
Burning Reeds Bridge.

| j. II. Homer, Corporal, Co. G, 69tf
Ohio. Louisville, Kan, says that jus,
before Col. Brigham died he received
a letter from him stating that the 69th
Ohio had burned Reeds Bridge on the
early morning of Sept. 10, 1863. The
bridge was destroyed beyond repair
Probably all of the old boys of the
regiment are of the same opinion, as
they helped carry fence rails to pile
on the floor and complete the destruc-
ton. They left the spot on double
quick time. and the enemy was at the
| burning bridge in less than two min
utes. He has read Hoods report, in
which he states that he led his troops
| across Reeds Bridge in the fore par,
of Sept. 10, which, if true, disputes the
statement of Col. Brigham. He would
| like to hear from some of the Johnny
rebs as to their memory of the matter
A Terror of the Seas.
Comrade Peter Shipper, Lesueur Gen.
ter, Mimi, sends us newspaper clip
ping from the Minneapolis Evening
Journal, describing a clever device of
Admiral Porter to draw the fire of the
l.enemy away from his main tactics dur
| ing the Winter of 1862. The Winter of
1852 was spent by the Union army in
| trying to gain foothold on the high
grounds in the vicinity of Vicksburg.
attempts had failed. At last it was
determined that the army should cross
the peninsula below the city, while the
vessels of the navy ran the batteries.
Two of Admiral POrter's vessels, the
Queen and the IndianOla, got by the
forts. only to be captured and turned
to Confederate use. The river curves
in S form, SO that any vessel must be
under the fire of the batteries for eight
miles Tho Adnoira1 in
cided to send down dummy monitor
to draw the fire away from his main
tactics. An old coal barge was select
ed, and in IL hours was transformed
into a formidable gunboat.
The Sth Mo. Cav.
Comrade w. Parish Campbell, sth
Mo. Cav, Floral Hights, Charity, Mo-,
writes that he il: anxious to resume the
old-time goodfellowship that existed
between A. III. Coward and himself in
early youth and as comrades in service.
Comrade Coward he last heard of in
California, probably near Los Angeles.
1t will be very great pleasure to Com
rade Campbell if anyone will send him
the present address of his old friend.
still held dear.
Widows Pensions.
George NJ. Swift, Mentor, Mimi, 50th
N. Y, thinks that the McCumber bill
has provided for the old soldiers fairly
well, and they are glad of what has
been done. When we look up at Old
Glory, we can say that only for us it
wouldn't have been half its size to-day.
Now their widows should be provided
for, whether they be first or later wives.
Any woman who will take it upon her
self to care for an old soldier deserves
a pension when he dies.
Scattering.
Comrade L. w. Miller, Co. NJ, 1st
Col Cav, Snyder, Okla, r. D. 2, writes
asking help of all comrades to get
Congress to grant an honorable dis
charge to Samuel c. Cole, Co. H, 65th
ILL.,, who is now 81 years old, blind of
one eye, almost blind of the other eye,
infirm and wholly disabled for any sort
of labor. His address is VIM. Cam
eron, Snyder, Okla, r. D. 3, Box Z.
Comrade Miller says Cameron served
and captured at Harper's Ferry, pa
rolled, went home so disabled that he
was not able to report for muster-out,
and therefore has never been paid, dis
charged or pensioned.
Comrade Dallas Garner, r. F. D.,
Romeo, Mich, asks for names and ad-
dresses of comrades of the 18th Tenn.
Cav.
Comrade Geo. W. Strong, Co. G., Sd
N. ]. Cav, whose post Office address isl
not given, was captured at Winchester,
Va, Aug. II, 1864. and confined in
Libby until paroled in February, 1865. |
He would like to hear from comrades |
who knew him while a prisoner.
Comrade George Kastler, SD Pa,
Pa, thinks it strange that
he never sees anything in The National
Tribune from any of his regimental
but he expects them to rally
on our columns when they see this sig
nal.