The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-11-09

III was soon alter the hrSt or those ter.
tribe Wilderness battles of last spring
that Little Starlight made his 6rst ap-
pearance among US. rg f dJrcag
Now haze YOU any idea who Little
Starlight vas? Very probably. from, his
romantic name, you picture him to your
self as pretty boF-a beau ideal Young
America, with clustering eurls, and the
relevant blooming precocity Of face and
furm:g Nothing ofthe kind Our Little
Storlght was negro urchiu, extremely
small for MS age-which might have
been fifteen could we have bad date TO
reckon from-and as black az the ace OF
spades, when the ace of spades is exces-
siveiy black aud shiny.
Where he came from, who he belonged
to, how he came among US, we never
exactly knew. He was a sort of mascu-
line Topsy, and probably merely "g!owed"
somewhere in the vicinity of our bivouac.
On the morning after the battle he bad
been found in our lines, strutting about
the camp in very nonea2leat way, with
a quick Observing eye for everything he
saw. HIS appearance was comical in the
extreme. Upon his ebon head, and
entirely couceaiing hie ensp wool, was
jauntIly placed span new artillery cap,
which he had probably picked up from
the field. He had fastened to the right
shoulder of his ragged coat-a swallow
tailed blue of unkno~a antiquity-au
immense epaalette, probaSay plundered
from the baggage of some rebel stiicer;
while silken sash of faring crimson was
twined round his waist 10 a manuer at
once striking and barharic, Eith long
end that trailed behind like the gaudy
tail of sone variegated troric bird. His
trowsers-we will skip them let it suffice
10 say that they were unmentionables 10
the last degree. saa.. a-I1a7
No one could tell Row the little fellow
got into the camp. and he wouldn't tell
himself. The pickers and sentries swcre
prodigioasly that he had not passed them
So we were compelled to let the mystery
eff his APPEARANCE remain xusol@ed.
" 1t was shortly after sunrise when the
corporal cf the guard brought him before
me, with -l# ~ ri T-4as a,l-. z Il
"Here's a prisoner, or coDtraband, or
something of the kind, chaplain. just
picked him up, and don't know what to
do with him." -ef .a'1r.tL e aga
i1alnost exploded with laughter at
seeing the individual in question, but
Immediately sat down on a stump aad
to Investigate. Captain Allen
came along at the same time, aud pres.
e2fly the Major also dropped ia. So we
formed ourselves into an informal court
martial ara1nd the object of our attention.
with the view of having sere amusement
for the hungry half hour that would eIspsel
before breakfast. The 'brass" of the lad
was surprising; for he never changed
during the whole of this
ceremony, which we made as imposing as
We could by word and lock. All eyes
we're turned on me expectantly, so / |
,peued the proceedings. a
"What is your pame, my boy 2F ST.
Dunno, mass'r. 'Spect I isn't got
none" was the reply, accompanied by a
sparkling grin Of extraordinary breadth,
as though this anonymous condition was
a matter of much self satisfaction.
"Oh, YOU must have some name" I
said. "What did they call you at home?'
81 alters came wi'out calm. But wen
shianed along kinder slow, sometime
iey'd sing out, mig = sometime 'Littie
NigF an den sgiu, 'Hysr, you ID,