The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-05-18
THE SHIRT TAIL FIGHT.

SAID my grandfather one evening
About fifty OF us had been engaged for sever
al days in performing a secret duty. and were
returning. We had Ia pass very near to the
British lines, and 10 avoid being taken, and also
TO save a wide circuit Of milrs, we resolved to
encainp in secret place we knew Of, through
the day, and uudrr the shadows Of the night
pass unseen on the direct c0nrSe TO Gen. Nor
gan'S camp. The day was beautiful, and the
spot we had chosen Tor our resting place was
one OF those grassy hooks, shut out from the rest
OF the world by lines Of hills, impenetrable un-
dprbuSh, and gigantic forest: small, bot clear
and deep stream ran by it, and the sun was at
such dtclHaion as 10 throw half of the little spot
in the shade. We laid down our arms, relieved
ourselves Of our kuapsacks, and spreading the
Scanty store on the grass, atp with good appe-
tte, refreshed ourselves from the. iifnpd waters
ofthe stream, and then each amused himself as
he could
After resting awhile some went in to bathr
and one by one, as the pleasure seemed 10 in
crease, follow ed until the whole party were in
the stream This lasted for about an hour, and
most ofus had returned 10 the shore and were
dressing, when a new feature given 10 the
scene bv one of The number saying that hr was
gong to wash his shirt Now, most Of us had
worn these peculiar garments two, three and
four weeks, and some even longer, without their
having them once washed, ard there is no doubt
of their nrrding il very much, for. mind YOU,
the man those days who could afford two shirts
whole shirts-was curiosity. The idea
therefore, was good one, and many immedi-
ately began diSrobing themselves again, and soon
We're busy washer-womrn, rubbing away ike
inIling-mllS. As the pieces We're finished, thty
were hung in the sun on the limbs OF trees. or
spread out on The gtass. Many were still en-
gagged in ther washing some We're stretched on
the ground in deep sleep, some were wrestling,
some Jumping, some collecting in knots. telling
stories; marty all naked as the day they were
born in fact, as happy as fellows could be with
onr shirt, and that drying in the sun, and bat
morsrl in the knapSaek when we were star
tIed-yes indeed, really frightened-hy volley
of mnskary, the balls OF which whistled by US,
fortunately only making few flesh wounds.
Thesound of muSkrtry, although il surprised
us at first, we were too much accustomed TO
hearing TO remain long under panic so thp
mex moment found each man of us in possession
of lis muSket, and himself covered BY tree.
We bad not long to wait before large BODY of
british broke through the underhush, which had
frlore Generated them, and rushed with fixed
5ayonets upon us. Bot their progress was sud-
denly checked by our FIRE, which laid large
number OF them dead before US. We had NOT
tame TO reload, when the enemy again charged
down upon US, and we were forced to give way.
We ran Some distance, and rploadng, stood our
ground. Up TO this time we had not thought of
the condition we We're in, when one of the of
hcerS, all at once, cried out, 'sBoys, will you
lose yours shirts 2" then casting our eyes around
quickly, We gave shout "Now for our shirts ~
and rushed forward like so many naked devils.
AS soon as the British came to our view, we
poured in a we'll directed FIRE, and immediately
charged with the bayonet. So suddenly bad
this movement been made, having supposed that
we We're still running the other way, they were
completely surprised, and then came their turn
TO run After them we shouted still with our
new watchword s'Shirts! The officers of the
enemy having al length succeeded in securing