Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-10-05
ARMY ANEcDoTEs

regiment belonging to Gen. Holmes brigade On so'
Greek, Va gets off batch of good anecdoto. Hua
correspondence to the Nashville Ghristian a.. lis
The following incidents will be read with .O0"s
Our North. Carolina readers will be especially ints
ested in the facts brought out in reference 70
Holmes 0eh.
wednesday, July 24th three DAYS after tbo 49,,
OF Manassas we left the field of blood and rot "e
towards Aqua Greek. 1t was splendid n'". urned
ana very imposing vas the spectacle presented y
our orlgaoe. zen. Holmes, with his staff, rode I;
the van then the cavalry next the a. .GTe IN
followed by three regiments of infantry v,hIy,
amoulances and baggage wagons brought nm az e
rear The whole line was nearly three n;lolP 'he
Two line brass bands enliyened our march oJ 1'ls
sun shone gloriously on musket and havon ".u Inc
the host winding along over hill and VALLEY ana
like some vast Boa, destined to enfold and crrS M
Yankee despotism uSn Inc
The last saw of Manassas was soldier owe,
mud puddle, washing the skillet in which bo Ia
just cooked his breakfast; while conrad. u" &c Iaa
elbow was just putting pair of socks thronrh us
similar process; and within few feet on tbo e.
side OF him, walowed SOW with her fam; U'ie[
asked him if he thought the skillet wonId bo 49,.
cleaner after the operation '' any
Perhaps not" he replied, "but it will he -. ds
ferent sort of dirt" I'LL
LES, crieu tue SOCK washer, sand Virpn;,
mua Is oetter than this cussed Yankee blood on INV
socks" "" my
And the SOW solemnly grunted her assent
rode up to farm house for drink of wator
Some twenty of our hungry boys were there befo,.
me. An old lady, with large bucket of Ind;ae
batter by her side, was baking griddle cakos sl
them while little negro girl faithfully nnrohos
and fed the fire. 1t was fine illustration Of ,So
Need and Supply, and most diligently did the gnn
erous matron toll to obtain the equilibrium. Soon
however, reinforcement from our ranks and tbo
prospective exhaustion of the ammunition seemed
likely to put an end to the contest. Just tbcn
spray footed wench putting like locomotive pntor
ed, eXclaiming:
Here, old Missus, here's 'nudder bucket.fnIIr
The ladle now changed hands and was apnIipd
more nlmbly than ever; while the good woman
taking her seat, and wping the perspiration from
her faee with her apron, said:
Eat young men, there's plenty!"
asked her about her family, and she replied:
My two sons are in the army, and am left
alone, and must do what l can for my countrr,-
Eat, young gentlemen, God bless you, it's real
pleasure to feed you'll"
And the young gentlemen" did eat, and having
emptied the second bucket, they left the old ladyS
door with three as hearty cheers as were ever offer
ed by Tennessee soldiers.
AT our next location we enjoyed brief visit from
Brother Purdy McFerrin 1t is very pleasant to see
ones nearest neighbor so far from home His pres
ence at our prayer meeting especially, refresh
ing, and hope some of the soldiers will not forget
the excellent counsel given at the close.
We have frequently been annoyed by unlicensed
whisky vendors. 1t was pitiful to see an old man,
after the confscaton of his liquor marching several
hours up and down the parade ground at the
point of the bayonet, as the penalty of his contra
band trade, and watering his steps with tears. One
day the Colonel captured huge demjohn, brought
into camp for distribution. The next morning bis
negro man accidently broke it, and flooded the tent
with this precious beverage. An Irishman passing
at the moment cried out:
"Och, me hearty, what pityl Have We niver
bucket-a bucket-a bucket
A bucket was handed him in which he saved
about gallon.
"Ap have ye niver cup, nor yet glass in the
tint?" he inquired.
After waiting some endless seconds in vain he
seized the cover of tin bucket and dipped it full,
saying:
al shall be afther taking a few dhraps of this
same"
The few dhraps" seemed to me nearly quart :;
which having TRANQUILITY imbbed, he smacked his
lips, and walked away, exclaiming:
An now Misther Lencoln, it's that am ready
for vel"
The other day visited Gen. Holmes, at his quar-
tiers. Seeing pistol in my belt he said:
What! are You a soldier as well as chaplain ?"
"a soldier of Christ, General" replied
"Ah," said he, "that is the nobest soldiership
Follow him closely, serve him faithfully; there is
no way in which you can do so much for your coun-
try. We have plenty of men to fight but not half
enough to pray. May we never forget our Deepen
dence upon Divine succor."
The remarks were characteristic. The General is
godly man, and frequently adverts to these mat
tiers in conversation with his officers. On the field
of Manassas, the chaplain of one of his regiments
approached him in dress which he deemed rather
too military for clergyman.
go back, sir" said be; this is no place for you
take off that sash, retire to the grove and besege
Throne of Grace!"
Last week visited the batteries at Acquia Greek.
At the point where the railway terminates is sever
al immense Dahlgreens, looking grimly out on the
Potomac. Just behind these, en- bartlett, on hill,
are three or four columbiads, of large calibre. A
little distance down, on another HILL is powerful
battery of rfed cannon. Back of this batteries
of flying artillery, beautiful brass howitzers, and
other thunder factories in plenty. saw five or six
war steamers a little farther up the river hugging
the Maryland Shore They have learned not to ven
ture with range of our guns.
Captain Lynch, of Dead Sea celebrity, commands
these works. He is meek and humble Christian
and it is said that, during the battle here he was
several times on his knees