Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-12
An Army Anecdote.
BY a FIRST DRAooooN.


When the Virginia regiment of volunl
teers arrived at Gen. Taylor's camp, at
Walnut Springs near Monterey, their arms
were rather the worse for their long march
from Camargo, being somewhat rusty and
dusty. A certain Lieutenant from that
corps, who prided Himself on belonging to
one of the f. +. V's--"6rst families of
Virginia on the next day after their ar
rival was strolling throughout the camp,
trying to get peep at the old general
when he espied a stout fellow in his shirt
sleeves, seated on thesground beneath
shady bower, hard at work on a sword hilt.
The lieutenant, with pompous air, walk
cd up to the old chap and addressed him
as follows
81 say, Old Eel, which is General Tayf.
or's tent?"
Old Eel, hard at work rubbing the sword
hilt-that one there.
al wonder if could see the great hero?"
"Well colonel, you might and then again
might not" Putting on an extra share of
dignity, the oficerssaid
"Come my old Trump, you must show
me how can get to see him. Whose sword
is that which you are cleaning2"
"What this cheese knife?" That's old
Zach's-I'm cleaning it for him"
"Then you work for the general, do
you?"-
"Well, my weapon is little rusty, and
if you will clean it up handsomely, will
give you dollar"
"Well, leave your toad sticker here, and
drop around this way tomorrow, and I
will have it ready for you. If you don't
find me here just call over to the Generals
tent, and I'll be there
The lieutenant left his sword with the
old chap, and after taking turn or two
about the generals quarters and an occa-
sional peep through the door way of the
tent, went his way. The day following he
called at the bowe where he had seen tho
man at work, but found nc one--He then
went over to the Generals tent and the
sentry, seeing that he was an officer passed
him in. He found the old feP walking uT
and down the outer tent in which wask
small table covered with newspapers, and
a compile of camp stools. The 'old trump
handed the officer his sword all clean and
bright as when it first came from Amos
Factory on the banks of the Connecticut.
Upon receiving it, the lieutenant very
kindly informed 'Old Eel of the startling
fact that he belongs to one of the first
families of Virginia, and then playfully
punching the old trump in the ribs he
said
"Come now old Fatty, can't you show
US the General?"
cat this odd Fatty. drew himself up,
and in voice of thunder, while his eyes
flashed fire, boy am General Taylorl'
Overwhelmed with confusion, the young
scion of the +. +. VS. could not say word
but with staring eyes, and open mouth
bowed himself out of the tent. He then
made bee line through the woods, Old
Zack shouting after him.
"I say Young Fel have you forgot that
dollar"
But the lieutenant did not stop until he
reached the Virginia encampment where
he buried himself in his tent, in momen-
tary apprehension of an order for his ar
rest. No such order came, however; but
the story at length got out, and many
sharp quiz was put upon the young gem
tleman by his brother officers, as to him
employing Gen. Taylor to clean his sword
hilt, and how many inches Old Fatty had
upon his ribs.