The National tribune., 1910-06-16

asked if there was any difference be-
tween the ''r9bel yell" and the battle
cry of the Union soldiers. After he
reads this installment of answers there
will be little room to doubt that there
was a decided difference.
Sounded Like Stampeded Geese.
John c. Powell. Co. E, Sth Pa. Re-
serve Corps, 1920 Richmond street, San
Diego, Cal, writes:
I'm recent issue of The National
Tribune a comrade expresses the belief
that there was no particular difference
between the cheering of the Union and
Confederate soldiers. While there may
not have been so marked contrast in
other parts of the vast field of opera
tons, where the writer was, in the
East, there was a very marked diStinc-
ton, so much SO that l never was in
doubt as to who were making the mu-
sic. The rebel yell invariably was
pitched in a high key and more or less
scattering, while the Union soldiers
cheered together and with a hearty
hurrah. In fact, meaning no disrespect
to our intrepid old foe, the Johnn!es,
their cheering always reminds me of a
flock of greese on a stampede. l would
very much like to hear from some of
my old comrades Of the Pennsylvania
Reserve Corps on this and other topics"
The "YeiI'' at the Wilderness.
o. NJ. Bossert, Co. A, 1st Pa Cav,
Oakmont. Pa, writes:
II would like to give my experience
and observation on the difference be-
tween the Union cheer and the rebel
yell / would say most emphatically
that there was a difference and with
a marked distinction. On May 26, 1864,
at the battle OF the Wilderness, 1 had
a splendid opportunity to hear it, and
/ have frequently spoken about ii In
exchanging "reminiscences with COM
rades. The regiment to which / be-
longed, 1st Pa. Cav, was that day on
the videt line on the left flank of our
line of battle, and as / sat on my horse
| only few rods away / could hear that
awfully grand and yet destructive con-
tinuous roll of musketry and the re-
peated cheers and charges on both sides.
could distinguish every time which
| line was charging by the yell. To me
, the rebel yell sounded like yi-yi-yi-yi'
in one key, while the Union boys went
in with full, round cheer, several keys
lower. To me that day was the most
Impressive of any OF my army expert
ences, and / never tire telling of and
can never forget the continuous roll of
musketry, the alternate cheers of those
engaged, the awful carnage and the
tale. 1t battles description. But there
certainly was a marked difference be-
tween the Union cheer and the rebel
yell"
The Yell at Gettysburg.
Almond E. Clark, 27th Conn, Mil
ford. Conn, writes:
THE battle cheers of the Northern
and Southern armies were distinctly
different. A. the battle of Gettysburg
we of the 27th Conn. Brooks Bri-
gade) were on the left of the line of
| the Second Corps the third day, when
Pickett's charge was made on the line
of our corps When the fight was the
hottest and the rebels had reached our
| line at or near Governs Battery we
heard the rebel yell, and thought they
had broken thru our lines, but the next
minute there came a loud hurrah from
our men, which gave assurance of VIC
tory for US"
The Yell Was Never Mistaken.
Charles Porter, Co. E, 11th Vt, Grim
nell. Iowa, writes:
so the father of F. White, of Port
land, Ore, thinks that there was no
difference in the yeIIs, rebel or Union
One of the readers of The National
Tribune is OF the belief that no one