| Ian Pawn and myself arrived in the company of comrades Dan Wambaugh, Phill Odren, and Duane Getzmeyer somewhat late in the eve, as the sun was setting behind the trees.� Our good friends in the 2nd S.S. had a bully little camp-site under the fly of their Lieutenant's wall-tent, which they were guarding whilst the good shoulder-straps was off with his mess.� The tent described was up near a little run, swollen with rains from days previous; the brush sprouting from the banks of the run hid our pickets, some blue-bellies who crouched down from the sight of the rebels on the far side.� Comrades Odren and Wambaogh and myself were in a pitched abd heated battle over methods of gun maintenance when we heard several shouts thrown from out pickets to the rebels. Some of us listened to their loud conversation of politics until some pound-cake pulled on a man and let fly a leaden ball into the rebel picket line. Their call went un-answered. We ive men, having only the best of intentions possible, and feeling the need to preserve our own health from any flying lead coming our way, called a Council of War and voted to float a small wooden slab laden with coffee and crackers down-stream to the rebels, as to halt any future shooting on part of the rebels. A scattered hail of lead and more inflamed yelling from our pickets changed out minds. We thought perhaps our good men needed some assistance in their dilemma, or, they needed to be taught a lesson in kindness. All hands whento construction of a wooden monitor; the vessel was a wooden slab, the magazine a pile of hay and straw. Duane steadied the little vessel in the water with the "magazine" was let. With the slightest push and a rowdy hurrah the monitor dubbed the "CSS Virginia" was off! Down the creek it went, pulled by the current to where it could be seen by all! Comrade Wambaugh and I followed the flaming craft down to the point where our pickets were posted. I could hardly contain my feelings any more and called out in a loud voice, "let out boys, here comes the Virginia!" This roused the rebels like maddened bees from a staved-in hive. Wambaugh called out to the maddened rebels as well, makingcertain that they had gotten an ear-full. Let the reader know that the rebels were as a bull, but their officer heard the commotion and had his men leave the post. I was nearly in our picket post and one of the men, The Seargent of the Guard, I believe, stepped up to me and with a strong shove said they did not want any trouble from us sharpshooters. I stepped back and left the man standing with no resistance, and returned to camp with the others. A good laugh was had, and after congratulating ourselves for the five-man scuttling of a rebel monitor, we had the double pleasure of seeing our pickes withdrawn from the banks of the run and replaced with fresh men. After this we were ordered away from our little camp; later along in the evening, we heard that all the new pickets had a good friendly trade and smoke with the rebels, |