, 1864-12-25

u
downs, Jim Crows and Bob Ridlcys Tor the
diversions Of the weary regiment never
eaw him finch when under lire. and L have
seen him under The hottest. Lie had pen
chant for obtaining trophies OIL the field Of
battle; md carried 80 many knives and PTS
tells upon his person that he was quite
walking arsenal. More than once he WIS
seen 10 use his fire arms, and If at long
range, It was nevertheless, with the best Of
Intentions.
II is true be had his foibles, aud grave ones.
He was natural born thief, and my most
vince him Of the gravity Of lis fault. He
seemed to consider himself naturally depray-
cd, and was therefore philosophically compla-
cent with lis sin, meeting my admonftfons
with hts usual 1'se awful cuss, mass'r,
is." In my heart, search MS would, could
thought Of the criminal neglect which must
have attended his bringing: up, With that Of
the rest Of his wrongcd and unfortunate race.
Besides, the material effects Of his thIeyinS
were not considerable. There was not much
to eteol In the first place, and when any one
clutch upon Starlightfs windplpe, and few
pteposterous threats would generally cause
him. TO shell out'' the missing article, if it
was really In his possession. And it seemed
generally conceded that bis virtues more than
connterbalanccd his foibles. For his hand
ambulance as it was at rihing the pockets Of
fallen foe.
There was one thing alone which almost
redeemed him In INF eyes, and that was his
passionate desire for ffecdom-hfs enthuslas-
tic devotion to the cause under whose banner,
he served.
aly dntiea rs chaplain were in sad demand
IN those bloody battle-days, when ministra-
tions to the dying and prayers for the dead
were 60 frequently required !; but L found
some time, nevertheless, to devote to Star
light The little heather always listened
said, hut with q pcrceptible stolid1ty which
often discouraged me, except when spoke
Of the future Of his race, Of their prospects for
freedom md improvement. His eyes would
light up at this-his expressivef features would
lalr1y glow with enthusiasm.
feels it IL my bones. TIN come roun' one day
OF 'nothcf, knows I'll be free!"
You are SO already" said !. "The Prcsi-
dents Proelamation hiss made you 50. You
have nothing 10 fear.'
'Jis SO, mass'r," he replied; "De Peesst-
dem he am nice man, he am. But doesn't
feel It IN de Done. yit 7 nebber will tili Fit
only oncel''
"On to de Ole Man-Cunnel Billy. Jis'
1cmme eit onto him. den I'll be frec"
You surely would not kill your old mas-
"Wouldn't II Yah! yah ~ and hcrcat
! Starlight began to tumble aulong the various
| knives and pistols which adorned hts person
tory. s'Trus' dis chicken" be continued. ~
keeps on de lookout In ebery fight. I seed
| him lick my ole muddcr till de- blood few.
Jis' 1emme cit on 10 him, mass'r +, and yon'llsec
de deb nloq !. tly Sourse'f Yah! sah' rse lawful
Upon a brI, fer acquaintance with Starlight
I should have smiled at the serio-comic
manner 5u which these sentiments were
cnunciatcd; but, as 1t was, shud1ered at
thc intensity OF passion which lurkcd in bis
tones.
And through all those terrible battles, and
rapid marches and counter-marchcs, with
! which Gen. Grant terrified and confused the
rebel foe, and3from the Rapidan to the walls
Of Richmond, Little Starlight conducted
himself with sterling credit, winning golden
opinions from MI, and, upon one one occasion
"a hearty hand.shake fiom the General Of our
division.
| It was. however, at the severe skirmish on
our LEFT, Immediately following our general
rc2ulse from the rebel works, and shortly be-
| fore the transfer Of our army to the south bank
ofthe James, that the part which Starlight
played in the great drama Was to assume a
truly tragic phase.
The enemy's skirmishcrs and ours were hot
IL engaged, and the fight bade fair to be
bloody, II brief. I was Immediately in the
rear Of a portion Of our regiment, which was
in reserve. brsy with the wounded and star-
light wxs hopping about nc, doing what he
could to assist, hut now and then looking up
and throwing curious g?nnccs toward the
fight, which was not distant.
Suddenly IN exclamation from him caused
me to tarn, when saw him gnzing tntcntly.
where the skirmish was progressing.
! t1fopravt hoOrny! Dcte he fSt dcre he
isr he shouted
uo succeeded in directing my attention to
a fine looking rebel officer, who Was cheering
on his men In charge they were making up
on our position.
"Datsa him dat's him ~ cried Starlight, al
the eame time freeing himself from his drum
and casting It on one side, while his voice
was wild md strange with fierce Joy.
! And before could arrest him, or exnctly
understand his intention, he snatched mus
like deer after oT column, which was I'D
vnncing to rcrel the threatened assault.
From my position could see the whole af
fair. The smoke Of the nusketry fire va:
thick, but western gale was blowing, ans
the opposing columns were plainly discerni
meet In the shock Of steel to steel. Th'
| ranks of the rebels were broken, nnd they
t scattered back toward their atattis and tht
thick woods on their right but the officer:
retaIned their ground, endeavsfing to inspir!
. | their men By their own examples, and fight
!. Ing bravely. Isaw Little Starlight rush head
long at the man to whom he had directed my
attention, and cou1d hear his shrill cheer com
| floating to me On the wind. He seemed to b.
but half the size Of bis antagonist, yet they me
| with shock which seemed eQual on boil
sides. The officer eyaded the havonet Of hi
puny foe, and struck out sharply with hi
sword, and saw the blood spring up htsl
| from the nesro's neck. But the next instan
they closed, the rushing hay>net gorcd th
breast Of the officer, and be rolled to the plain
| Twice-th1ice I saw the flashing bayone
leap into the mir, and fash down again upo
The PROSTATE man and then, with whoo
louder than before, Starlight sprang on ful
r ther into the fight; and the whole scene PA
shut from my view By the gathering snok
The feht vas soon over. : The rebels wcr
driven iar back Into the woods, their abattl
CAPTURED and held, and We In possession {
: the field. Ny interest in Whas1 had VII
messed was so intense that I immediatel
3 hsstened to the ground.
: ROur loss had been considerable; but that
the enemy was large. Their dead and wonns
7 ed Law In all directions. I found the Office
with whom had seen Starlight engaged
+ He wore the insignia Of rebel captain, IN
! was stone dead, with his breast pierced man
Ssside sss Z sbe eisSHs1 Sody, se4geant % eoapan
. c. cn.no up to me With troubled look.r
"Little Starlight Is dying, sir" was
, greeting, "and he wishes to see you vel
much.'S
i. "star1ight dying. 1mpossibler' ! cjacul
I ted. at the same time hurrylng to the poi1
Indicated / '+c .-
It was but too true.
Little Starlight lay at the edge of It
- Gnemy's works, With a flightihi Ennsht
wound il the back of his head, and as mar
= as twenty brave fellows wero clustertu
around hin with sympathixing looks an
fearful eyes. You may not believe me. hs
nevertheless speak the truth when s.
that the braye boy grinned jQsorsly whs
I | he saw me.
: "Ya1i :! Yah Mass'r Chaplain !'' he cried,
knelt by his side and took his hand, ID
a nig's done for, he Is. But did yer see me
;. de fight, masstr9- Did ger zee me tackle i
!; Ole coon, Cunn.l Billy Yah yah. rae g
!! 1t at last, massr! Tsf lawful cuss, but Z
;. so.t so.Got M xhat, my POOR boy s'' I wbispcse
,e with trembling voice.
"FnEEDoN cried Starlight, spFinsing
+ u II saw az thas'xild, strange eleam of pas5I
leap into his rude features, and then lie 4
n back into my arms =. ..~,.' IT,.
d ). ait am = :ubly day, .unass'r,n y he coutfnu,
4. speaking with great difficulty. :" It an ebt
~ Inv ncY: Nns de sIin am 8ettfnS, ma8s'r,