The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-01-07

riolism and with the expectation OF be-
inv called into active service to the in
glorious inaction and obscurity of win
ter quarters. The rank and file are bet
ter disciplined than the raw recruits
which Napoleon led on the boodly field
Of Austerltz, or brought across the rug
ged heig hts Of the Alps, TO the fertile
plains of The Pc. The malaria OF the
South. during the summer months. is
more 10 be dreaded than the enemys
bullets. And If ever decisive blow is
to be struck. ii should be done now, be-
fore the army becomes dispiriled or en-
erva,ed bv sickness, and while govern
inert has credit and a rich treasury al
It's disposal Company E.. is AT present
quarlered in large brick block, nearly
in the centre Of the city, and may prop
erly be said, ITO be monarchs of all
they survey" Nearly all OF us would
like to be home spending the Christmas
holidays. The morning of the 25lh
dawned bright clear and cold, the boys
were all excused from duty for that day,
with the privilege of going where they
pleased Some roamed the streets. few
got gloriously drunk, others patronized
the daguerrean artist, while the majorr-
ty stayed within doors and wrote letters.
As Tor M, had the feliciious pleasure
OF standing guard on lonely beat, a
short distance from the entertainments
Fell little out of patience when | re-
flect-d that AT home they were having a
big lime generally, eating roast turk les,
hugging the girls. and telling Christmas
stories. In my emotion | drew out the
last letter from my sweetheart. and com
menced reading il bv The ftful light of
The moon. when noise AS of something
in distress al tie lower end of the beat
altraried nv attention Now sccesh
Nigh, be around We had heard that a
squad were seen making tracks below
Fl Sumter and this fellow had probably
come on ahead TO gel a good shot aud
pick my porkers. The thought filled
me with Indignation. bu resol, ed Ia be
F prudent | looked around and selected
u good place TO run. for didn'; want
him to come il over me as they did A.
L"cehurg. | wrote briefly with a Pen
Gil ON my love letter, who was, where
. | was siarpn"d and how | came to ~
uu,;m'lv end, provided ii happened. !
then pinned il 10 tree and prepared
for action Cooking the old mueket and
bringing it To my shoulder. | cried our
in iuui voice Who comes there. \,
/ rtlpv A gain the demaad vas repeated
bul with similar success. aud all tins
line the mysterious sou 4ds were goin2
ON. 'Look here" cried |. don't shoot. |
you want anything ju>t name il. know
YOU are in want Of clothes. ard III civ.
/ You my coat boots. YES shirt. everything
only don't shoot Al this moment the
something appeared to be moving off
and rs there was prospect OF It's run
ming, grew boldrr. Halt, there. {
speak very commanding when danger il
far otf) II you don't I'll pitch more sho
into you han BRAGG and all his bauere'
did into Forr Pickens. All of no avail
away it was soing,and grasping my piec,
couvul,ively, with half muttered prayer
fired. aud then sunk back into uncon
ciousness.
How long | lay know not. but felt
: strange creeping sensations arounl my
! wais'coat packets. Suddenly came to
and there situng by my side. oomposedly
smoking one Of my choicest cigars, and
reading oh, furies-thal love letter, 81
the Sergeant Of the guard. About TWEEN
ly feet from m, lay my musker, Will,
pack of darling cards wers scattered
between. felt in my pockets all WA
an empty void Tn being by my sid,
nowspoke. Youth let the occurrence o
this night sink ierp into Thy soul
You've shot Mr. ARasrR 'Na's best sou
and Wounded n couple Of sucking pigs
This letter Is ~ell written, your lobacc,
aud cigars are good BY the laws oi lh
army sentinel who fires eh lis bea
without, cause forfeits his property. For
tune has decreed that | should take il
Til, change will come handy to an'
with on poker Lr' Us take he oath b
a coup de caHieen, and re- urn to camp.
) haven't st"d guard since. The rrnown
+ ed Sergeant PECK went out with pa,ro
squad the other night, aad had marrow
escape from being mnrlally wounded, a
; also the rest OF The parry Having sur
rounded a suspicious looking fellow, the
, demanded oil him Ia surrender when 4
| ,heir amaza mrnt he drew gu long com