The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-08-21
Draftimg for the Army.

An amusing scene came off in small
town situated in the north eastern part of
Dutchess county few days ago.
1t appears that young man engaged
in peddling "Yankee Notions" happen
ed to stop for the night at tavern with
his wares, thought he would have some
sport with the rustics, before taking his
departure and accordingly adopted the
plan of representing himself in the en-
ploy of Uncle Sam"
Before retiring for the night, be had
the landlord Of the hotel "well posted y
as to his plans for the morrow, giving
him instructions to inform the "boys "
that there was drafting officer now stay
ing there.
In the morning he sailed forth into
the kar-room, and the first one he picked
out Of the crowd, was man pretty well
advanced towards forty-fve years of age,
and apparently a coward at heart.
The officer advanced towards him plac-
ing his hand upon his shoulder, at the
same time asking his name:
"Oh l cannot go!" exclaimed the
man.-"I cannot go! I'm not sound
man. I have lad my forefnger bruised,
three of my ribs have been broken and |
have lost the use of my right eye. I can
not gol-I tell you [ am not a sound
man"
The officer thinking the man had s96i
cjent reasons why he could not go, left
him and proceeded on to another man
somewhat younger than the first man ac-
costcd.
Come up here my man" said the
public functionary. "What's your name?''
"Oh shall die before I get there "
cried the second, somewhat encouraged
by the success of the Grst, in getting free
from being enrolled, IL never can go |
am so unwell."
Very well, my good fellow" careless,
ly replied Uncle Sam, [ will never re.
lease you on any pretense, unless you
will get the written certificate of the prac.
tising physician we'll known in this vi
cinity"
Accordingly off starts the "green un y
for the nearest physician. Arriving at
the house almost exhausted with fatigue.
he rushed into the Doctors Office and
cries out in a stammering manner:
Doc-Doctor, [ want you to give me
a certificate to tell that man what pulls
men off to join the army, that I am not
"a we'll man"
"Well," replied the doctor, " I don't
know tLat [ can do that for you. can't
say you are not we'll man. J. would
perjure myself if [ did"
"No! Now, dear doctor, you know it
would be the last time | would see Sal,
if they do take me of. Can't you jest
set it down for me Z"
While the second character was gone
for the doctors certificate, the drafting
officer had /" stuck on about twenty 9TH
ers congregated in the bar-room. Some
gave as plausible excuses Gin their own
estimation) that zone leg was shorter
than the other" phthysic," /" blind in
one ege," tumors," corns," &C., while
Others had been "subject to fits in their
infancy" or had finger broken"
1t soon became rumored around the
village what was going on at the hotel,
and both old and young, male and female,
rushed to the scene, the men begging to
be :" let off just this once," and the wo-
men crying and going into Mysteries,
upon the anticipated loss Of husbands
and lovers.
The officer, after having enrolled suf-
fcient number of men to satisfy his fun
loving characteristics, gave orders to them
to appear on the ground the next morning
to be in readiness to go to Albany the
next day following, to be armed and
equipped.
Many were the tears shed that night,
and many were the wills that were made
Lovers and husbands parted, as they
thought for the last time, and mothers
thought they could never let their Zach
arias 60 to be shot at by the tarnal rebels
The morning came and the crowd be-
gan to gather around the hotel. Every
thing was ready to start-when 10 the
peddlar had decamped for parts unknown.
The cry of "soId p "sold!" went up from
every mouth, and the men returned to
their work, declaring that they would
treat him to coat Of tar and feathers, if
he should ever appear that way again
One of the writer's schoolmates was