The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-01

AT tho battle of Fredericksburg, he kept
close beside his officer until the regiment had
passed the brick-kiln. Here the awful car
mage was too much even for his goaded ambi-
ton, so to save himself he jumped into clay
pit fall of trick mud where he lay until night,
an unwilling spectator to that terrific battle.
He dared not move lest he should be killed.
After dark he rejoined the regiment which
had been relieved at P. M. Here gathering
around him the wondering contrabands, who
with eyes as big as sausers and wide open
mouths were drinking in his words, as he re-
lated his adventures. "Why," said he, ''you
niggers, don't know nothing about fighting.
You is towards, you is. Why when rs done
and got up dar, de little bullets kept agoin'
piss, piss, piss, all around like tightening,
and dem shells dey went yor-'r-er, zup,
bang an tore up de ground like de debbel,
an killed lots of we 'uns. But dar was one
big gun l seed dar-my soul, niggers-why
he jst opened his mouth dis way" Suiting
a. 't'on to the word he opened his own
tne az. 'th to its utmost extent and
voicelessly poured fortl :. III ~.
air vast volume of steamlns preatn. 40
hear him relate It, was the most wv uo-
scription of battle, | ever heard.
When on the march these colored boys
present a very amusing spectacle. They arc
covered all over with coffee-pots and fry pans,
corpuent haversacks and thick blankets
Pockets are full of knives, spoons, and stock
ings, and hard tack. AS soon as the regi-
ment comes to halt these heavily loaded
blacks, clumsily rush for fence rails. In some
way they manage to get one either on their
heads or under their arms, and reaching the
place Of bivouac, off comes their load aud in
stanter a fire is kindled, meat frying and
coffee boiling, while from out their capacious
haversncks issue soft bread and butter, and
cans of condensed milk. While their masters
are eating the boys are not idle-huge slices
of pork and bread disappear SO rapidly that
if we had not an excellent commissariat there
would speedily be famine among us. Long
altar the master has satisfied the cravings Of
hunger the servant continues his eating. Of
all food the Southern negro prefers pork and
corn meal. lie squats ON the ground, his
face radient with unalloyed pleasure, from
the corners Of his mouth the grease is drip
ping, each hand is full of relay for. the
next grist, under the glittering ivory. Supper
over their is always fun around the darkies
camp fire. After marching, heavily loaded
all day, they hardly ever sleep until they
have had wrestling match. Songs of the
peculiar ethiopian stamp follow, then stories.
The speaker is frequently interrupted with
the grunted ''humph herr expressive of as
sent or surprise,
Captain s. had until recently a huge
'boy" named John, perfect Tilan in strength.
His face was broad and round, with big
croaking eyes, thick lips and monstrously
protruding chin. His nostrlls looked like the
twin portfolios in the turrets Of Monitor
: But his feet cannot be forgotten, they were
clad in Government brogues, No. Is, and
at an angle of 60 degrees from each other
Besides he wasjay bird rugged with the lar
gest toe behind. On his head he constantly
Wore bright yellow handkerchief and white
!, felt hat. Ills thick nerveess skin and un-
gung movements accompanied with pecu.
liar grunt, reminded us torcibly OF hippo
potamous. Once upon time it is said John
was sorely afflicted with bOils. In trepoda,
= ton he sought relief from our kind hearted
= Doctor, who recommended birthstone and
molasses. John retired muttering and grunt
: ing to his tent, and beng no chemist h
= either thought soda and sulpher the same o.
:. mistook the one for the other. AT all event
he mixed up smart dose of bi. carl. of soda
9 with molasses and Immediately swallowed it
! The compound showing no little hostility a
/ first was no sooner lodged on his stomach
= than it began battle in good earnest. Tit
:; purgens fumes flew into his nose, and vas
Jets of carbonic acid gas kept putting iron
i his distended nostril Is like smoke from a loco
motive. Ills black sides were swelled almos
lo to bursting and his croaking protruded CLOS
sy and terrible, while biz beads of junction.
" Precipitation drifted from his brow Failing
upon the ground he roared and writhed lik
d. hippopotamops in agony, hinging his hug
lie Feet and hands high in the air A crowd wa
to soon collected. John was thought to be h,
ID drophobia. He kept roaring out, ooh Good
ne Lor', de debbel is in my belly. feels de fiji
re am birthstone, now rs in surdtion, (perd
m tion) o; Lor'."
ne The arrival of the Doctor speedily relieve
)" the poor fellow. But he declares that
to ''nebber'i ill take de debbles medisin as lon
as lie Ibis" BRUMLEY.
RS Headquarters I'd Regiment Delawal
u Volunteers, Dec. 2lst 1868.