The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-07-09


,se'9 From the New York Mercuryl
One fine morning, during the latter
days Of the occupancy of the Potomac
Hattefies by Southern troops, Col Ball.
of q Georgia regiment, at the Acquia
Greek works, was astonished.
t.As he was airing himself and inspecting
tie general condition of things about the
battery, he s;.w a boat, not very far from
shore, bearing a small american flag, and
manned by FIVE OF, six men, apparently in
nited States uniform.
This boat lay quietly on the sluggish
surface, e,of the Potomac, within short rifle
range, and seemed to await, at anchor, the
certain destruction OF It's fool hardy crew,
who had no visible motive for their move
ment other than to tempt the grim-lookmg
cannon that sardenically grinned at them
through the embrasures of the work.
COL Bell called his right hand man
Major Clements, and asked him ''what the
d-l he s'pose Il that melnt?"
Tae NJ .jor, who hi pernicio us habit
of taking a greit ded OF whisky quite
early in the dry. gazel vacantly in the di-
rertion 7inlie.tsl by his superior OH Ter $
flssr, AM repliel, with m 1ih solenlity:
ISL don't 'no'i''
sssI suppose it's a reconnaissance, said
Colonel Bell sShallwe give EN- SHELF
Il don't mo-, replied the Major.
Major. Clements, said the Colonel
severely, ssdo you know what time it is2'
s'levcn, bout"
"Very we'll, s:r. You are intoxicated
Now, sir, if [ herr of your being drunk
as early as this again, [ shlll have you
placed under arrest Do you hear, sir?
a AT this, the major, who WIS always
grayely tender -hearted when in his cups
threw his arms around Col Bells neck
burst into tears, and calling him ''dell
tieorgy," promised to lay down his life
for him. se. eif
ssSir,n growled the colonel, II don,
want you to lay dowa your life for me.
want you to keep sober-at least by day
light. Go to your quarters, sir, and sc
to bed. I will not be. made a spectacle
here, before all the men, sir. Col +
1.-The unfortunate major went, whimper
ing out something about ssthe cold eti
dnette of military life;" and Colonel Bel
resumed his examination of the mysteriou:
Reconnaissance.
a smart young Lieutenant now came
mincing along the parapet on which tn,
Colonel stood, and after saluting will
painful grace asked that officer if he hao
observed the beatcontaining, apparently
several of. the s.hirefng invaders. =
The Colonel vouchsafed no answer, bu
guffiy ordered the Lieutenant to send VI
few rifemen.
These soon. appeared, and were placed
in the embrasures, with orders to see i
they could not pick off the, occupants o
the boat, who had maintained profound
and moveless condition of tranquility evel
ssincet they were first observed.
From time to time, then, the sharp de
tonation of a. rife was heard from tn,
earthworks, and the very first shot strucl
The PROV of the boat. The distance wa
so, small that the ,splinters could plainl,
be8seen.s Not a. motion, however, betray
ed any fear, or even consciousness. on tn,
part of thedrecklessa fellows who thu
brayed AN almost certain death. The on
in the stern sat upright and immovabl
as a bronze statne, whife the others reStei
upon their oars Cor rather paddles, rudel
cut out Of pine. boards), maintaining Al
equal degree of stolidity. = ,,ess
isBys Jingolp amuttered Colonel Bell
ssI believe they're all as poor Clement:
Fherel that fellow in the bow must hav
beenthit that timel What the deuce doe
It al. mean2" st, s.fr
And in truth the last bullet fired ha
struck the water alta brief distance fror
the boat exactly in line with the bow
oarsman, and ricocheted, as nearly as coul
besjudged, so as to strike him.
Still, as he did not fall, and as none Q
the others moved, the Colonel concluded