Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-07

Z
leal'ns hy the hand ,la'p, .arsh,iy lros,
lns boy. apparently about iwelye or thrt.
cen years Cd. Her story was coon told,
She WAS liDm last Tennessee. whers Ler
husband Aid been sil!,d by ihe rthels and
all iheir q operiy destroyed. She had roms
to 81 Louis in search Of her sister, Lu. mol
finding her and b ing destitute cg money,
she tl.o'i sht woali prpeurc sIiaaiioh fos
l'r hoy as y drummer, icrlhe short tiHie sJ
had 70 rtiuiin il The ser, ice, she could find
emplomen, ivF herself and perhaps find her
sister by the time we were discharged.
During the rehearsal Of her story the liz.
Tie fellow kept his eyes intenIly fixed upon
the countenarce of the Captain, who was
about to express determination not 10 tako
so small boy, when he spoke out, saying.
J. Don't be afraid, Captain, can drum.'
This was spoken with so much confidence
that the Captain Immediately observed with
smile, "Well, well, Sergeant, bring tho
drum, and order our iifer to come forward"
! In few minutes the drum was procured,
and our ifer made his appearance, n tall,
round shouldered, good natured fellow, from
the Dubuque mines, who stood, VIXEN erect,
something over six feet in height.
Upon being introduced to his new com.
rada, he stopped downward, with his hands
resting upon his knees that were thrown for
ward into an acute angie, and after peering
into the little fellows face moment, he OBJ.
served, "My ii'tle man, can you drum ?"
yes, sir" he replied, Il drummed for
Caption Hill in Tennessee" Our fiier COM
menced strengthening himself upward, until
all the angles in his person had disappear
ed, when he placed his fife to his mouth and
played the 'Flowers of Edenborough," one
OF the most difficult tunes to follow with the
drum that could have been selected but
nobly did the little fellow follow him, shcw-
ing him to be q master OF the drum. When
the music ceased, our Captain turned to the
mother and observed, MADAM, will take
your boy. What is his name y edward
Lee she replied; and then placing her
hand upon the Captains arm, she continued
Captain, if he is not killed" here her
maternal feelings overcome her utterance,
and she bent down over her boy and kissed
\ him upon the forehead. As she arose, she
observed, captain you will bring him
back with you, won't you p YES yes" he
replied 1--WE will be certain TO bring him
back with US. We shall be discharged in
six weeks"
In an hour after, our company led the
Iowa First out of camp. cur drum and fife
playing THE girl left behind me-" Ed.
die, as we called him, soon became great
favofite with all the men in the company.
When any Of the boys had returned from a
horticultural excursion, Eddie's share Of the
peaches and melons was the first apportion-
ed out. During our heavy and fatiguing
march from Rolla 10 Springfield, it was Of
ten amusing to see our long-legged ffer
wading thro' the mud, with our little drum-
mcr mounted upou his back--and always
in that position when fording streams.
| During the fight of Wilson's creek, | was
stationed with part of our company on
the right Of Totten's battery, while the ball
ance of our company with part of the
Illinois regiment was ordered down into a
deep timbered ravine upon our left, in which
1t was known portion of the enemy was
concealed, with whom they were soon en-
gagged. The contest in the ravine contnu-
ind some time, lotion suddenly wheeled
his battery upon the enemy in that quarter.
when they soon reireated to tie background
behind their lines. In twenty minutes after
Iotten had driven the enemy from the raw
inc, the word passed from man 10 man
throughout the army, "Lyon is killed. and
soon after hostilities having ceased on both
SIDES, the order came for our main forces to
fall back upon Springfield, while party Of
the Iowa FIRST, and two companies of the
Missouri regiment were to camp upon the
ground and cover the retreat next morning.
]
That night / was detailed for guard, nv
turn of guard closing with the morning
CALL When | went out with the officer as
a relief, found that my post was upon
! high eminence that overlooked the deep
ravine in which our men had engaged the
enemy, until lotions battery came 10 their
assistance. 1t was dreary, lonesome beat.
The moon had gone down in the early part
of the night, while the stars twinkled dimly
through hasy atmosphere, lighting up inn
perfectly the surrounding objects. Occasions
ally l would place my ear near the ground
and listen for the sound Of footsteps, but all
was silent except the far of bowling of the
wolf, that seemed TO scent -upon the even.
ing air the bouquet that we had been pre-
pairing for him. The hours passed slowly
away, when at length the morning light be-
gan to streak along the eastern sky, max
ing surrounding objects more plainly visi-
ble- Presently heard drum beat up the
mornino call AT first / fhought Ii rama