John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[67] across the river. The suspected body was at once carefully scrutinized through field glasses, and declared by some to be Rebel cavalry, while this was doubted by others. At all events, a field officer of tile Tenth Vermont Infantry,¹ who was present, gave orders to fire upon the intruders, which was done, and they scattered with dispatch. Shortly after the occurrence, perhaps a day or two, the story was reported in camp that the shells had been directed at a negro funeral; that the mourners were just about to consign the deceased to his final resting-place when thus rudely interrupted. Whether this was or was not true still remains a mooted question, but, true or false, the author has thought it too good a story to be lost to the Company, and therefore has reproduced it in brief.

One incident more and we leave the Ferry. One day, in the absence of Lieut. Smith at the main camp, a cavalry picket came galloping at full speed to Capt. Closson's tent, informing him that a column of Rebel cavalry was approaching. He at once went to Serg. Fred Gould, in command of the guns, and ordered him to fire upon the advancing column. This time sergeant declined to do, not feeling quite so sure that it was a hostile party. Thereat the valiant Captain waxed quite late, and, laying his hand on his sabre, contemplated some deed of violence; but the sergeant's delay had warded off disaster, for just then the advance of the so-called enemy, which was no other than the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, appeared above the banks of the road which wound around up the hill into camp. How much life was wasted during the war on both sides by just such blundering as this might have been, will never be known.