Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-21
(Fr0m the National Republican,
A CAMPFIRE STORY.

Doing guard duty on these clear, frosty
nights, is what call big thing" Stand
ing before a huge fire. whose gmmering rays
shoot into Gense pine forest which surrounds
you aS if they, too, had partaken OF the spirit
of vigilance, aud were searching for some lid
den foe, ones mind naturally is affected and
every shadow aud tree has an association which
awakens the soldier to tuil appreciation of
his sentinel duties But such IA night as last
nIght-dark dreary, wet. and di>agrceablc in
the eXtreme--has an entirely different effect,
and we clustered around the fire, piled high
with S.ceSh rails, which at times seemed to eX
ert its best light and most genial rays to spread
humOr and life among those who stood SmOk-
ing around it, Then, as if eXasperaled at the
failure, it would Splutter and crack cOntendiug
lUrUusly with every drop of rain, and hiss out
a strong reproof at the element which was
making the sentiuels 50 uncomfortable But
the guard must be vigiIantly maintained tho
the night, and dare not sleep for YOU must
know, Mr. Editor that sleep courts the soldiers
eyeids as sweetiy under the dropping rain as it
does IN his tent, if pcrChance he has a gum
blIaket Ior a bed, aud his knapsack for pill
low
proposed a song, but the only music that
could be raised, was made 10y corporal, who
doled out in a most melancholy style,
Some days must be dark and dreary.'
This seemed to he the Ouly sung that the
corporal knew, aud the only one of that kind
which we wanted to hear. Under these aus
pices, proposed a story, and the sergeant Of
the guard, an Old Mexican soldier "up and
tOd' the Following story, which | quote, as
nearly as | can recolect, in his own words =
Seated IN my tent, one evening, just before
the batte of the city of Mexico the captain
came to me with, Corporal, have been re
uUested TO send truSty nOu-cOmmSSOued Of
/ hcer to the general council tonight as a mes
Seuger Will you goE | replied in the at
frmative, thanking the captain for his conf.
deuce Our company was, at that time dc
tached from its regiment, AMI was dol Spe-
ciaI duty at Gen. Scott's headquarters. In the
discharge of that duty, had made pint OF
being specially attentive, aud thereby gained
! the confidence of our captain, and ouce or
twice was commanded by old Fuss and Frath-
ers" himself | brushed up my old clothes, aud
frightened my shoes and bEa>S plates in the
neatest manner possible that evening, and pre-
Sented myself at the Adintant General for in.
StructiouS. / found that the council a1out TO
meet for the consideration Of Gen Scotts plans
of taking the city, was to be composed of all
the ColoueIS in the division, aud that lny duty
would be to go errands, aud attend to bring
ing charts, paper, or whatever might be re-
quired.
Well, the council met and was at my post
1t was the finest body Of military men | had
ever seen together, aud when they assembled
around that table, and the old general stood
towering high above the rest | could not help
but admire him more than ever After the
customary salutatOn aud organization, they
sat down in regard to lauk, beginning with
General Wool, aud succeeded each other in
seats, us seniority of rank gave them privilege.
1t was no time for delay, aud the General
spoke rapidly and with earneStneSS occasional
Iy referring 10 some one on the right or left for
information or cOrroporaton Thus carefully
aud explicitly were the movements aud march
eS, thu SaIlIes, and SOrtIeS the whole plan de-
veloprd so that all seemed to understand -
But presently plan was discOyed, something
was wrong, AMI | saw y the perpleXed look
of those around tue table that n very serious
mistake had Ueen made, tut from what cause
nv knowledge OF military affairs did no enable
me 10 Judge \ dispute arose between some
colonel aud the englneer.in ch ef, in regard to
The post on and strength of some battery, and
the topography of the surrounding country
The colonel said that frequent reconnaissance
of the ground, from the fact of his being en-,
camped near the place in question: led him,
even in direct opposition to the chart of the
engineer, TO protest against its truthfnlneSS,
and he would urge upon the general to make
! himself snre of the condition of affairs before
he fully completed his plan Bnt this would
not do it was neeessery that very important
vigorous movements should take place up
on that very section of the defence, aud with
out correct knowledge of the place no action
could bs carried on with safety or certainty,