Connecticut western news., 1911-08-10
WAR "REMINISCENCES
WHEN SOLDIERS DESTROYED
 | MILES OF RAILROAD
Sickening Stench from Miles of Dead Dead Horses of Sheridan's Army StraggIers Punished by being Made to Garry Heavy Rails.
BY E. s. ROBERTS


 Dear Comrades Sometimes you had mounoed skirmishes opposing you, then for better protection you rallied by fours," so they could not ride on to you. For four men backs to backs with fixed bayonets could keep back horsemen. On the following morning, May 90, DOT tion of the 9th corps including the 2d O. V. H. A, left the rifie-pit, moving off to the right and front aud destroyed DOT tion of the Virginia Central Railroad and the depot at "Noels," also cars, making the franchise of little use to reb- eldom for some little time.
 Then your regiment and the 9th New York went into the woods on picket for the night, and you know that the snap of 0 twig would draw a shot. The latter part of the night it rained hard for two hours. In the morning you drew one days rations You were relieved from picket and at 9 a. m. the 26th of May, the 1st division of your corps (the 6thl recrossed the North Anna river and marched about five miles and halted for dinner, hardtack and coffee. You rested in the woods till s:S0 when you began what proved to be the hardest march of your army life. You were told that hard march was before you. Orders were given to have coffee cups and canteens tied so that they would make no noise and conversation must be low, if at all. for the enemy could be distinctly heard to our right The sta tion at Chesterfield was burned, q wish to note that this was May 26, 1864, and just one year from this day May %. 1885, those of you who were alive halted for the night at the station, the war over and you were on your way homeland oh, how it rained D 4&
 You moved on in silence and oh, tho stenoh A few days before Sheridan's cavalry had beeR over this route and the dead horses along the roads and fields. filled the air with the stench that miles of dead animals would make.
 This was hot, dry and suItry night, and long to be remembered as one in which some comrades slept while march ing. The writer certainly knows that he did. After marching ga miles you halted one and one. half hours, this, the morning of the 27th. then went on un- til p. m., when you reached the Pam unky River, which you crossed on pom toon bridges, to Harristown, where you halted for she night. Let's see, you left North Anna at a, m, the 26th marched this day and all the night and till p. m. on the 27th, travelling ss miles. (What would induce you to take that march again?) Struggling? Yes. lots of it and as they, the poor fellows. came into camp they were made to carry rail most of the afternoon around cir ole. This was tough punishment, but it is facts just the same. And still, when some people hear the matter of pensions mentioned they will say, You was paid for it, weren't you?" Let any man with these words on his lips go from Fredricksburgh to Appomattox with you and you would hear no more about your being paid for it.,
 The 25rh of May you were alert early and waiting for what might come up. The 9th corps passed by on your left i'm to positions. About p. Ill. you were orde@ed out and went over hill about three miles distant, Into position and lay Un your arms for the night.
 Sunday, May 29, at about 10 0. ID. you were sent forward to reconnoitre and skirmish, and destroyed the railroad near Hanover court house.
 You will remember that you were on the battlefield where Mcclellan fought and the various mounds where the dead were buried. One mound had marked on 1t with this inscription Twenty five North Carolinians buried hore."
 Picket firing was the rule. You lay down for the night and got what rest you could, which was very little for you had to be on the alert.
 The march just completed, this 27th of May. has been set down as the hard. est march of the 2d c. Y. H. A. during the war-33 to B miles Is quite sufficient for days march, which ill fact covered the greater part of two days and one whole night. And this march, on the heels of the march of 35 miles from Spottsylvania, which you then thought capped the climax. You remember that the dust in the roads along the valley of the Pamunkey was very deep, in many places ankle deep, and every time you put down your foot it displaced a Tolume of old Virginia soil sufficient to keep the air thoroughly filled and your unps. eyes. ears-infact if was oFt.n a;e