Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-02-27


up for the swiItest runner this was won
by an "Allen Guard" Martin M. Skin
ner from Craftsbury. A purse was then
offered for the fastest runner, with his
feet tied up in "wooly bag" VIM. W.
Tenney came very near winning this, but
be got his foot through the bag which
caused him fall. One Soper of Co.
was the winner. Other things were done
too terrifying to tell,
In the evening the heel shakers of the
several companies met together in front
of company F barracks. John Bagley
tuned up his old drum George Cotton
sounded the flute Leonard Fields tuned
lis fiddle; member of company Z
brought in his violin, and we had music
enough to "soothe the savage breast. -
Then came the dance. The leader OF
the figure chose his manly lady love, mi
nus good deal of boomer, crinoIine and
"alapacca Bingham" The acting lady
very gracefully took his place at the head
of the dance. A smile, grin, dimple
in the chin, as much as to say "'Tis
merry Christmas ring in ! On with the
dance" During the evening several
shoulder straps were seen 10 mix in the
private man dance. AT eight o'clock the
drums beat for roll call, and they shook
their last heel for "merry Christmas, y
1862.
l have been off duty seven weeks
You see the night before Christmas l was
on guard it was cold windy night !;
about two o'clock l began to doze so
put myself down in the bottom of the
tent, cross ways of two other fellows, with
my head upon block-a "blockhead"
surely. | was soon in the land of no.
where; when I awoke the wind was
whistlng through my nostrils and down
my throat, making strange noises, as it
does when it comes down an old fashion
ed chimney. A few days after my eyes
were swollen beyond their usual bigni-
tude, and | complained of hard cold
One ear was deaf, and tea kettle hum
med in the other. / grew no better pref
ty fast for several days. Upon the 9Th
ult was brought hereto Dwight How
ard's-where | have had a good room,
good stove, with plenty of wood, good
bed, good parle cous nurse, good every
thing. Mr.. and Mrs. Howard were as
good to me as father and mother l
had everything l wished for in the line
Of luxury. After my appetite got high
wished for more than a considerable.-I
Mr.. Howard got me oranges, figs, ap-
pies, &c. The captains wife sent me
several dishes of delicious things. Lieut..
Austin gave me bunch of dried rasp-
berries. David Gilman sent me some
dried strawberries, and / "lived like a
pig in clover" But must speak good
word for my "queer little man" who
showed himself good nurse. His name
is Frank Tatro from North Troy. He
is not Of mammoth size, say few inches
taller than Tom Thumb and few short
er than myself; he has a children and
several wife drinks tea and wears glass
es, can read, write, and talk parles uous,
and use the handsaw; has keen black
eye and moustache as big as your eye
brow is man of truth and veracity-I
at any rate he is a shoemaker. He is now
nurse IN the hospital.
l was surprised one day by seeing A.
NJ. Crane of the Cavalry. was still
more surprised on the 18th ult. by the
entrance of my brother from the 10Th
regiment. Imagine my feelings when
upon the 18th my father came suddenly
in. According to my calculations l want
sorry to see him. If ! had had a fiddle
and known how to use it, l presume
could have played tune with some force
From the time saw Crane / began to
gain; when l saw my brother gained
faster and when father came I gained
like the -; "indeed'' l gained. l
shall soon be so that / can take the dou-
bic quick "right smart" Here, ''indeed,"
"right smart, and Isreckon," are the
PRINCIPAL "big words" of .he ponulace -