Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-02
AN INCIDENT IN MILITARY WAR
FARE.


The following passage Is taken from
Percy Blake" a work which has Just
issued from the pen of Capt. Rafer:-
While lying in the trenches before
Flushing, about an hour before daybreak,
one of our advanced sentinels having dis
charged his musket and retired, as usual
in such cases, informed Capt. Tomkins
that three huge. dark-looking objects
were seen advancing from the town. The
matter, indeed, appeared of such serious
and pressing emergency that Tomkins,
without waiting to sift the accuracy of
his information, instantly sent a report to
the division headquarters that three
heavy columns of infantry were advanc.
ing in sortie, and the whole line was con-
sequently turned out, immediate and
general action being considered ineyit-
able.
Fortunately, however, for us poor souls,
who would have been the first victims OF
this ''untOward events" it proved to be
a false alarm upon which Gen. Acland,
who was brigadier of the day, rode out
to the advanced posts in towering pas
sion. He Instantly ordered Capt. Tom
kins to parade his picquet in front of
their position, careless of their exposure
to the enemy, fordaylight was then some
what advanced, and Ioundshot from the
ramparts Of Flushing were flying about
US, too thick to be pleasant, attracted, no
doubt, by the glitlering of the muske!s,
which, in those days, were not "done
brown" as at present.
My readers are aware, from what
have already said, that it is sharp work
for The eyes on outlying picquet, in front
of an active enemy; and that the appari-
ton even of a single individual is apt to
draw dozen shots about his ears. Ii
must, therefore, have been a matter CT
great moment that could induce general
officer to expose both himself and whole
platoon TO The risk of murderous fire.
-aensfins accordingly felt the critical ma.
tIre of his position, and even had some
misgivings about drum-head court
martial on the spot, for his false alarm.
Judge, then, his astonishment, when the
General addressed him with the utmost
coolness and deliberation, in the following
manner:
Captain TOmkins, did you ever hear
the story of the three crows ?"
Good gracious, sir !" replied the be.
wildered Tomkins, 81 never did"
Then, sir, Ill tell it to you." said
the General, taking pinch of snuff,
with all the nonchalance of hackeyed
racontsar. "Once upon time, Captain
Tomkins. sick man dreamt that he had
swallowed black crow
Here an eighteen pound shot from the
ramparts tore uf the earth at the heels of
the Generals charger, and went ricoc-
AetiRg over the beads of the picquet; but
he proceeded undiSturbed as follows:
STEADY, men ! no movement in the
ranks. Though round shot generally
kill, it isn't always sure to hit. This sick
man, Captain Tomkins. having told hi-
dream to friend, that friend told it to
another with this improvement, how
ever, that this poor, dear, sick friend had
swallowed black crow %
A shell, which followed the eighteen
FOUNDER, at this moment lodged midway
between me and the General and part.
ly burying itself in the earth, exploded
with a loud crash. scattering rocks and
rubbish around in all directions.
GOOD heavens, sir!'' cried Tomkins,
to interrupt the story teller,
''there'S man struck down in the ranksi' |
"Well, sir! " exclaimed the imper-
General, 'did you never see
a man struck down in the ranks before?
Let him be carried to the rear, sir aud |
listen, if you please, to the sequel of my |
story. The sick mans friend, who may /
be compared to your sentry, Captain
TOmkins, having told the marvellous tale
Of the black crow to a greater fool thln
himself, who may be likened, Captain /
romkins, 10 you, the latter Immediately /
the wonder into three black |
crows, with which he Mortified every one
hat would listen 10 him. Now, had you
Captain Tomkins, had the GOODNESS to in
Iuire into this matter before You had re-
course to so serious measure as turning
'ut the whole line, you would discovered
hat the three weighty columns, or black
;iows which haunted your imagination,
we're nothing more than two drunken
men and pig The men were made
prisoners, and the pig was shot by a
hungry riaeman. You may now turn in
your picquet, Captain Tomkins and l
sincerely hope l may never have the
pleasure of being on duty with you again,
,ir.
RlGHrLY ExPREssED.-Afr A friend Of a