The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-10-23
HIS FIRST TIME UNDER FIRE
Rather Hot Initiation Of a New York
Boy at 5atehelder's creek-car-
ried Supplies to Front.

On February 1, 1854, did my first
duty as a soldier, the detail being q
corporal and three men OF the l2th
N. Y. Cavalry in a swampy pine for
est bordering the Trent and Neuso
rivers in North Carolina. The duties
of the cavalry at that point-Batchel-
der's Creek, about nine miles from
Newbern-were Of the easiest Kind
writes Frank Salter Of Oak Hill.
Kan, In the National Tribune. AT
night we were withdrawn to the east
side OF the creek, leaving a corporal
and three infantrymen 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 81
men of the 132nd N. Y. and the de-
tail of cavalry already mentioned,
About 8 o'clock in the morning the
rebels came in in hurry, and their
ear.splitting yell brought every man
to his post-S0 men to 10000. and
only a narrow strip. Of water be-
| tween!
True, the creek was deep, the
banks steep and the night dark.
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 as
the enemy were Telling trees to efrec'
a passage it was not deemed wise tc
drive an ammunition wagon nearer
the scene of action, SO about half
dozen of us were detailed to carry
supplies to the front. AS each boz
contained about 1000 cartridges, anc
the sand was ankle-deep, 1t was NJ
light task, and my comrades fell be
hind, some dropping their loads ant
sitting on them as II the occasion wal
not urgent.
pushed ahead and soon came II
q bend in the road about so yards
from the bridge. AS turned into tn
} bend-my load was getting heavy
could see men on my right clinginl
J very close to the ground and facinI
west, and on my left the branches
dropped from a grove Of saplings
Strange sounds-"zip," "Zip"-strucI
my ear, for 1t was my first time unde
fire.
As l approached the breastwork
, Lieutenant Zenetti Of the 132nd walk
, ed from behind them and came tc
} ward me, and when about three yard
separated us he was struck In tn
, head, not moving muscle after h
fell. My load was soon in possession
OF the gallant infantrymen, and, haV
, ing no further orders, Joined tn
/ string of men who were trying to dis
| cover the "other fellows" on the OF
i. posite side of the creek.
: But we were not allowed to sta
! there long. Fifteen minutes aftel
1 wards a rebel yell told us that the
!. had succeeded in telling trees to forr
t a bridge a little north of US, in spit
}. of the fierce resistance, and that
y was time for us to be moving. Th
t obstinate defense Of the gallant Ne
d York boys gave the authorities tim
i to get reinforcements from Morehea
r City and Beaufort, but the numerou
Q little mounds in small space opp
g site the temporary bridge bore NUT
d testimony at what cost 1t was done.