Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-10-23
His FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE
Rather Hot Initiation of New York
Boy at Eatcheider's creek-Car-
ried Supplies to Front.

On February I, 1864, I did my first
duty as a soldier, the detail being a
corporal and three men OF the 18th
n. Y Cavalry in swampy pine for
est bordering the Trent and Neuse
rivers in North Carolina. The duties
OF the cavalry at that point-Batchel-
der's Greek, about nine miles from
Newbern-were Of the easiest kind,
writes Frank Salter OF Oak Hill,
Kan, in the National Tribune At
night We we're Withdrawn to the east
side of the creek, leaving a corporal
and three infantTymen on the west
side OF the bridge-the planks of
which were all removed save one
to give the alarm should the enemy
make his appearance.
The squad consisted of about 80
men of the 132nd n. Y. and the de-
tail Of cavalry already mentioned.
About 3 o'clock In the morning the
rebels came in in a hurry, and their
ear-splitting yell brought every man
to his post-30 men to 10000, and
only narrow strip of water be-
tween
True, the creek was deep, the
banks steep and the night dark. I
have always felt surprised that the
rebels did not know of some point
along the creek that would afford
easy passage. However, these few
men, strengthened by two or three
companies, held these thousands at
bay till the sun was many hours high.
Soon after daylight our captain ar
rived. and for a time we were kept
waiting for orders about half a mile
| in the rear of the fighting, but the
| hot work they were engaged in soon
exhausted their ammunition, and us
the enemy were telling trees to effect
a passage it was not deemed wise to
drive an ammunition wagon nearer
| the scene of action, so about half a
dozen Of US were detailed to carry
! supplies to the front AS each box
| contained about LOCO cartridges, and
the sand was ankle-deep, it was 10
| light task, and my comrades fell be
hind, some dropping their loads and
sitting on them as if the occasion was
not urgent.
l pushed ahead and soon came to
bend in the road about so yards
| from the bridge AS | turned into the
| bend-my load was getting heavy
could see men on my right clinging
very close to the ground and facing
west, and on my left the branches
dropped from a grove OF saplings,
In vi Of JaE
my ear, for it was my first time under
| fire
AS I approached the breastworks
| Lieutenant Zenetti Of the 132nd walk
! ed from behind them and came to.
ward me, and when about three yards
separated US he was struck in the
head, not moving muscle after he
! fell My load was soon in possession
| Of the gallant infantrymen. and, hav-
! ing no further orders, I joined the
string Of men who were trying to dis,
cover the other fellows" on the op,
! posite side of the creek.
But we were not allowed to stay
there long. Fifteen minutes after
wards a rebel yell told US that they
had succeeded in telling trees to form
a bridge a little north OF US, in spite
! Of the fierce resistance, and that il
was time for US to be moving. The
obstinate defense of the gallant New
! York boys gave the authorities time
to get achievements from Morehead
City and Beaufort, but the numerous
little mounds in a small space Oppo
site the temporary bridge bore NUTS
testimony at what cost 1t was done.