The National tribune., 1910-03-24

the Johnnies running across fields seek
ing shelter. The infantry was close be-
hind US.
We were just out of range of their
guns and halted. They had four brass
guns out on a knoll. The rebels linn
bered up and left, and we were Or
dered to the left into the pine woods
and sand hills, so as to get in the rear
of the rebels. Our guide missed his
bearings, and we fioundered around
there all night. In the morning we got
out of the woods. and in going down
into gully got stuck in the mud. We
tried to haul the caissen up with the
horses. but couldn't, so we got a rope,
and the infantry gave US a lift. Another
section of the battery with brigade of
infantry found the rebels and captured
the whole bunch.
We started shortly after on the Red
River campaign, and learned the rebels
We're, crossing Cane River. We followed
them up pretty close. What cavalry
there was got ahead of the infantry, but
they kept pretty close TO us. When
the rebels got to a plantation where
there was a stock of cotton they would
form line in the woods if possible and
get us out in the open field, and when
the cotton got to burning they would
mount their horses and be off. They
would play that every time. We went
On. anu DdTllClpdItu III luliG d huIlDcl
of skirmishes until we got to Pleasant
Hill. We heard before we got there
that the rebels were going to make a
stand, but not a Johnny could be seem
We marched along until quite late.
It began to rain, and in that awful
shower / ate my supper sitting on my
feet, like frog, with my rubber blank
ct over my back.
The next morning we came to an
fall nd 10 raj on he
west side of st. Patrick's Bayou in a
thick woods. We fired quite a number
of rounds. This was about 6 a. m. Here
in the open field Lieut.-Col- Webb was
,nortslly wounded. In anEhour or SO
they fell back, and when We got ot-across
the bayou we found there had been a
large cavalry force encamped there.
I'VE marched or. thru the woods to a
plantation, and found the Johnnies just
over a ridge that ran across the high
way about half a mile in advance. Lieut..
Ball halted the battery alongside of the
road, and stopped there some time. The
Fourth Division of Infantry was in
front, and the Third Division was
marching up on quick time.
I remember we went to log barn,
and got some corn on the ear and filled
the nose-bags for the horses Serg't
SemmopdsH proposed to take down the
fence and put it in the gutter, so in
case we had to cross the gutter the
fence would be down. I don't remem-
ber one of the guns firing a shot from
where they were then. We went down
almost to the woods and also near the
highway. fell asleep after lunch. The
first l knew the wheel driver, Peter
Clokey, aroused me, saying we were go
ing to move. L jumped onto the caisson
and we filed into the WOODS toward
Pleasant Hill. AS we turned into the
road ] saw quite lot Of wagons that
were coming along. The wagons would
Just halt right in rhe road and wait Un-
til the skirmisniny was over, then sc
again. The road vas pretty wei! filed
Sergt Semmouds was chief of caisson
and after getting into the woods he
halted and waited until he saw our line
had broken ami some of the men haC
thrown away their arms.
The rebels were not firing on then
then, but were trying to get arounC
them 10 capture them, and they sue
ceeded.
A cavalryman sent to the rear for
box, of infantry ammunition came III
and found the line had broken, and III
came very near running into the rebe
line. He dropped the box and put spur
to his horse and galloped away. Whei
Serg't Semmonds saw that he gave tn,
order: Forward We were going a
q brisk trot when the rebels began fir
ing up the road. The teamSter of tn
caisson would oblique a little 10 tn
side of the road and dismount and sisip
We tried TO go between two wagons, an
Were caught and locked between them
Another man and ] were riding on tn
cafsson We jumped off and got tn
key out, but could not get the lune
over the pintlehook. ! looked up. an
there was not man on their horses
Just then Gen. Stoneman. Bapks's Chic
of staff. came gallopirg along and san
out: Every man look out for himself.
The wheel driver was shot in the hi
and fell from his horse He lay ther
all night, was taken to Camp Tyler
Tex, and got back to the battery b
July.
After passing Briggs I got TO the sid
of the road in a path and some bushe
between the path and road. and / rar
was challenged to stop. but didn't
went about half a mile, and came to a
opening and quite Il little hill. / locke
and saw our boys forming. / got to tn
top Gf the hill, and found Gen. Stone
man at the roadside, giving the orde
for every man with arms to fall in tn