The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-01-26

was found asleep on post. No one
would claim It. You then asked me
| II the gun was mine My reply to
you was that guessed ! had the gun
l went ON guard with. You then
turned to little man that belonged
to the same company with me, nasaed
e. r. Lockett, better known in the
regiment as lobe DOckett, and asked
him If 1t was his gun. He told you
very plainly that he had his own gun.
You remarked that you found some
one asleep on post and took his gun,
but you saw that all had guns.
After the old guard was dismissed
went to my tent and leaving my
gun and accouterments in the tent, ]
went to my Captain, R. l.. Beckham,
and asked permission TO go to Bar
rem river to wash my clothes. He
passed me through the lines and
while / was gone Sergeant Bush. of
Company e, went to the Colonel and
requested him to have the regiment
searched for his gun by Companies,
commencing at the head of the regi-
ment. He examined every gun that
could be found In the tents, as well as
those exhibited by their owners. He
said that he knew his gun among
thousand and he finally found gun
in Company H belonging to Wills
Gillstrap that he claimed, but Willis
proved by comrades that he drew the
gun and marked 1t like Bush had
marked his gun, but In making the
search had disfigured his mark un-
til he could not recognize his prop
erty when he saw 1t.
Now, dear comrade, 1t would require
toe much time to tell 1t like would
like to tell you in person. l would
like for you to write me about the
old boys who are still living. Tell
me where Fordsville is located and
what county II is in. Have you att
tended the reunions Of the 18th KY?
was notified to meet the boys at
Beaver Dam the 4th Of July last, but I
could not go. Have you heard how
many Of the old boys were permitted
to meet? Our ranks are growing very
thin. / hope to meet many Of our
old comrades I'm THE Sweet By and
By" II you consider this impcr-
feet scroll worthy Of an answer we
would all appreciate 1t. With love
and best wishes l will close.
Your friend and old comrade,
RUFUS LYNN,
Co. C, 18th KY,
p. o. Campbell, Mo.
NOTE--Comrade Lynn is mistaken
about leaning his gun against the
fence before he fell asleep. At the
time found him asleep on duty he
was sitting in a chair with his gun
across his hap with both hands
around his musket and as he fell
asleep his hands had apparently re-
laUed Just enough to allow the gun
to be raised from his hands without
disturbing him. had command of
the entire camp guard on that night
and though worn out with long
marches and loss of sleep, the string
ent orders of the general of the army
nerved me to see that every guard was
vigilant at his post. l knew at that
time that the failure of the guards
to perform the orders given them
meant the severest condemnation OF
me as we'll. as the guards. This l
knew by the orders that Major Clag-
gett, of the 18th KY. gave the Pa
troll Guard in addressing them a few
days before on our march to Bowling
Green. There had been some light
infringements on some of the citizens
property by some of the army which
had been reported to Gen. Buell. and
the Major concluded his address by
ordering them to shoot all trespas-
sers on private property; that 1t was
Gen. Buell's orders and that If they
did not obey orders they had as well
have a stick in their hands as a
gun.
l have always believed had / re-
ported this boy for sleeping on guard
time, he would have been shot and
thus young life would have been
sacrificed to the harsh decision of a
military tribunal.
EDWIN FORBES.
Serg. Co. A, 18th KY, V. |.
Officer of the Guard-Acting.