The National tribune., 1909-10-07
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the
Whole Line.
Was Provost Marshal of Gettysburg.

Was Marshal of Gettysburg.
Capt. J. P. Thompson, SD Mass, Sol
dierS' Home, Chelsea, Mass, says that
he was in the battle of Gettysburg on
all three days as Aid and Provost Mar
shall for Gen. o. o. Howard. The first
days battle was fought north of the
town, and in it Gen. Francis c. Barlow
was severely wounded and left in the
hands of the Johnnies. Thinking that
he was dying, they allowed his wife to
take him away, and by careful nursing
she saved his life, and he afterward be-
came Attorney-General of the State OF
New York and died some / 8 years ago
Mrs. Barlow died from disease contract
ed in the hospital. After the battle
Comrade Thompson was appointed
Provost Marshal of the town. and
picked up Is of our boys who had been
shot down by rebel lead and buried them
near the church.. The good ladies OF
the town had taken vacant building
and filled it with our wounded and gave
them the best of care. This was during
the first days battle j. II. Stailey
editor of the Gettysburg Compiler, q
|Copperhead paper that was printed
there. took rebel officer when the
|ConfederateS came in and pointed out
'Confederates was sent 70 take them
prisoners, and they were carried away
when the rebel army retreated. When
we recovered possession of the town
Comrade Thompson went to Stalley's
house and brought him a prisoner to
Howard's headquarters, from which he
was sent to the guard house and then
to Fort Independence, Boston Harbor
where he was kept q prisoner nine
months. The event was chronicled in
the Copperhead papers in this lam
guage: 'Lincolns hireling arrested and
Imprisoned an inoffensive citizen
The Col Streight Raid.
w. f Gilbert, 51st Ind, Parsons
Kan, replies to an inquiry of Comrade
Nesmith as to what had become of Col
streight's men. Comrade Gilbert was
with the 51st Ind. from start to finish
and differs from Comrade Nesmith on
some things. He states that the Ala
bama boys were rear guard from Days
Gap until the surrender on May g
Comrade Gilbert says that the battle
of Days Gap was fought on the morn
ing of April 80, the second battle was
fought May l at Crooked Creek, and
the third battle was fought on May .
at Blunt's Farm, in which Col. Hatha-
way was killed. The enemy was de-
feated in all three battles. The battle
Of Blunt's Farm was in the afternoon.
They were in line of battle until dark,
when a barn was fired and the COM
mand resumed their march. with Co. C
of the 51st Ind. as rear guard. They
next morning halted inside of an old
field. and began to prepare breakfast
when FORESTS men fired On them. Only
few shots We're fired when the flag of
truce came in and was sent up to Col.
Streight Comrade Nesmith says that
they laid down their arms in the old
field. but Comrade Gilbert's recollection
is that they marched several miles, car
rying their arms, guarded by Gen For
rests men, and stacked arms at Cedar
Bluff. about 15 miles from Rome, Ga,
where they were paroled. He still has
his parole.
Hard Service.
Mike O'Farreil, Quincy, ILL.,, has been
reading so much about the hard times
and marches Of Sherinang army and
the Army of the Potomac that hs thinks
it time to call attention to What was
done on the Vicksbdrg campaign. lie
wonders If there was anybody hurt
from the time FRA ats ar!ny left AuIli-
cans Bend, La, until July 4, 1863 He
thinks that. was one oe the mos. desrer-
ate ventures made during the war, when
the army plunged right into the heart
of the enemys country. with two big
armies in front of it and the river cut
ting off its retreat II Johnston and
Pemberton had been allowed to go to-
gether, it would have been serious bysi-
ness for the Army of the Tennessee. At
Jackson Comrade O'Farrelrs company
was mounted on what they could find.
and started on the road where there
was another cavalry company. 1t was
called. part of the Sd i'll. Cav. They
were headed for Pearl River, and got
there all right, but found no enemy.
They rummaSed the post Office, and set
fire to two locomotives that had lust
come in. Joe Johnston supposed the
command was the advance Of fanl
move to get behind Them, and took
time by the forelock to get away.
Death of Gen. Richardson.
Editor National Tribune: Time again
and again l have read oe various state
ments relative to the death OF Gen.
Dick Richardson. Here are facts. rot
theories or dreams: On Sept. II. 1852
after the charge of The battle of An ie-
tam. our division, the First Cf .he Sec
ond Corps, was fiankci. The order was
given to reform the ra 1kS While ;:.is
was being done the nnenv S batter les
opened fire on our ranks. One OF the
shells exploded near Richardson. 1 can
in my imagination see him now. He
held up his right hand, called his Or
derly, who answered in military preci-
sion, saluted, received his orGers, turned
on his heel and deplc..d. shortly
afterwards Gen. Hancock appeared AMI
relieved Gen. Richardson, assiim ipg
command of the First Division OF the;
Second Corps. History or no history,
here are facts from one who stood a
few PAGES from Gen. Ricn,r.Is IN wh.n
he was wounded.-T. II. DNiall, 60. II.
66th N. Y, First Bri ,ade, First iJivi.
sion, Second Corps, Jersey City. N. J.
58th Ind
w. J. Baldwin, Fort Dodge. Kan
writes that he was very much Interested
in the story of the Atlanta Campaign.
His regiment built pontoon bridges
from Chattanooga to Washington, D.
C., and without these the army could
not have moved as rapidly, but he does
not think that 1t received the credit
due 1t. When there was a river to
cross this regiment had to be the first
to cross and among the last to get away.
and many times had to stack guns and
go to work under fire. The first bridge
was laid across the Chattahoochee Riv-
er, and Gen. Thomas walked over fiI:n
the other side and said to our Colonel.
1T has just been 4S minutes since your
first wagon got to the river, Col. mel.
and Il have walked over your bridge. y
II the 5Sth Ind. boys are not all dead.
Comrade Baldwin would like to hear
from some of them, as he has seen
none of thLm since 1866. lie hored Ia
meet some of them at Salt Lake City,
but was disappointed.
An AndersOnville Survivor.
VIM. w. Rodgers, 1853 N. Colorado
street. PhtIadelDhia pa apSu,ar. O..