1st Lieutenant, Co. B, 88th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Mustered In: September 12, 1861

Promoted from Sergeant Major, April 10, 1863.
Captured at Gettysburg, July 1 1863.

Prisoner Richmond, Danville,Macon, Charleston, Columbia,
escaped to Sherman's Army discharged May 17, 1865



My course was along the graded embankment of the old Stephens Railroad, north side, and I came near running into the right flank of a Rebel skirmish line. I ran up, and crossed the embankment, and strange to say, I was not fired at, nor even challenged although I was only about 60 paces from the nearest skirmisher. The 11th Corps had been swept from our right, but I continued on my course into the town. I was delayed a few moments by the confederates firing from the Diamond at our soldiers
crossing Chambersburg St. A comrade ahead of me drew their fire, and thinking it my chance before they could load their pieces, I also crossed in safety.

I continued my retreat along alleys and bystreets until I reached thesouthern suburbs, where after crossing one fence of a lane, I fell into the lane, too exhausted to cross the other fence. After a short breathing spell, Inoticed that the lane ended up against a board fence, one of these upright boards having been removed. Here I was on high ground and could see eastward about a half square between houses to Baltimore St. (The principal street running North and South), and could see no movement
or life on this street of any kind, and concluded the coast was clear in this direction.

Gathering myself up, I ran down the lane, crept through the opening in the board fence, ran down through the garden of a house fronting on Baltimore St, and passed down along house to the pole, or picket fence running along Baltimore Street. An ominous silence seemed to pervade this locality. Upon opening the gate to step out on Baltimore street, I looked left to see if there was any danger in that direction, and lo and behold, when I
stuck my head beyond the corner of the house, I stood face to face with one of the most desperate soldiers in the Rebel Army—a "Louisiana Tiger". He was so close to me that he was obliged to jump away from me in order to level his piece at me. For an instant, we both stood transfixed,
neither of us knowing if we were the victor or the vanquished. It took but a minute for him to decide, as I had my sword sheathed, and was unprepared to meet him. With his finger on the trigger and with the black muzzle us
his gun pointed at my breast, ready to send me into eternity in an instant,he very excitedly ordered "Surrender". I was at his mercy. Throwing my
right hand up I also excitedly said "You've got the best of me".

I stepped toward him to show him I was not going to resist, when he ordered "Give me that sword". Coming to a left face to go up Baltimore St.
I raised my hands to my belt buckle to unbuckle it, when he again jumped away from me. He brought his piece to bear on me and demanded "have you got any pistols about?" This, I think was the most critical moment of my life; he thought I was reaching to my belt for a pistol. I again faced him to show him what I was doing, and threw the sword, belt and all on the pavement against the house saying "if you want it, you must pick it up for yourself." That was the last I ever saw of the sword and belting. As
he was no officer, I did not feel like handing him my sword.

First Lieutenant S. Boone, Co B, 88th PVI

Boone, Samuel, Unpublished memoirs, transcription of reminisces of 1LT Samuel Boone, Co B, 88th PVI, Carlisie: U.S. Army War College, Military History Institute, Reference Branch.