Connecticut western news., 1911-07-27
WAR "REMINISCENCES
SHARP ENCOUNTER
 WITH REBEL SCOUTS
Company F Acting as ,FIankers on All Night and All Day March-TwO Dollars Offered for One Hardtack- Severe Food Shortage.
BY K. s. ROBERTS


 BY E. S. ROBERTS
 Dear Comrades After crossing the river you marched on for Meade's head quarters, i6 miles away, which was reached about o'clock p. m. without incident of note, save the meeting of sev- eral hundred captured rebels being es- corted back Go a place of safety, who commented on your soldierly appearance, remarkinR that "there was plenty of trouble ahead for you," which proved to be only too true.
 Reaching headquarters, you were as- signed to the 2d Brigade, lst Division of the 9th corps and immediately marched lntoih with your new comrades. and were not long in waiting to smell pow der; for your first business was to sup port Maine battery, which was located in a small works on what appeared to be the extreme right of the army. The 9th corps (Burnside's) had filed to the rear, starting for one of Grants swings to tho left. You remember that grey line, plainly visible on the ridge, about a mile to the west It proved to be an effort on the part of the oonfederates to feel, or see what your side were trying to do. And they found out, for they ran into your picket lines, thrown out to look out for breakers, and, too, the battery that you were supporting opened it's guns and checked the advance with a few killed and wounded. "
 In your immediate front the rebels ad vanced nearly to your works. but the grape and canister checked thelr ad- vance A little later as tbe twilight be- gins you see that dingy grey line as it moves out of the pines and advances up through the brush feeling the way, driv- ing your picket line slowly back until under cover of your guns, where they opened with shell which drove the enemy to cover, in the woods and seemed to satisfy them that you were there. You lay down in the trenches by the side of the artillery and got what sleep you could, although you were disturbed by the repeated firing of the artillery to pre- vent any surprises. It was rather poor lodging for you to begin with. But you soon learned to sleep notwithstanding the roar of artillery and picket firing.
 This you know was your first expert. enoe in the real arts of war, and you were kept busy, very busy. After the "JohnnIes" got quiet you were ordered into line, and right in front to the. rear," you followed after Burnside in the 2nd left flank movement. This, on the night of the 2lst of May, was your first night march with the army of the Potomac, and 1t was an all night march, and the following day and until 10 o'clock the following night, making about 80 miles continuously, Go. F. act- iug as fankers, which was new business to them and consisted in being deployed about twenty paces apart and about 90 rods from the main line and parallel to the main line of march of the army. This is a usual mode of procedure to protect the Hanks from sudden attacks This march was no pleasure fete, as you know. The morning of the 22d dawned on you, tired and hungry from 1 an all nights march and no show of halt, but you continued on through the day. Do you see that long trailing line of blue about mile to your left, march ing parallel with your corps, which from che banners told you that the 2d corps (Hancocks) was moving for the same destination us yourselves, but which you then knew not of. You passed through | Fairfield near Guinea Station, passing the house where "Stonewall" Jackson Oreathed his last. You remember just now the old house looked, and you re- member too that you were out of bread aud had been all day, and beef cattle that had been driven along with you were butchered and dealt out to you and it was eaten before the animal heat was out and the consequence was many of the boys were made sick. saw com rade offer two dollars for ono ''nard tack" Some of you got into corn crib and found few ears of hard corn, which you carried along and picked off the kernels and chewed them down.
 The shortage of food very rarely oe. cured. It came about by changing base for supplies from Fredricksburgn GO White House Landing,
 You continued your march six miles farther to near Bowling Green, where you halted for the night, near General Meade's headquarters. To say that you were tired lot of boys is putting it very mildly. You had been with Grants vast army making the race in three col umns for the North Anna river But Lee,