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

a1u DOU hiuleys. iOT VIC oiSSisiou VI 'uc
weary regiment. never saw him finch
when under Gre, and | have seed him
under the hottest. He lad penehdntI
for obtaining trophies on the field of bat
tie aud carried so many knives aud pis-
tolls upon his person that he was quite
waking arsenal. More than once he was
seen to use bis fre-a arms, aud if at long
range, it was, nevertheless, with the best
of intentions.
Ii is true he had bis foibles, and grave
ones. He was natural born thief, and
my most impressive sermoniving totally
failed to convince him of the gravity OF
his fault. He seemed to consider him.
self naturally depraved, and was there
fore philosophically complacent with his
sin, meeting my admonitions with his
usual Use a awful euss, mass'r, is."-.
10 my heart, search as would, / could
find less of blame than pity for him when
I thought of the criminal neglect which
must have attended his bringing up, with
that of the rest of his wronged and M
fortunate race. Besides, the material
effects of his thieving were not consider
able. There was not much to steal in the.
6rst place, and when any one did miss
any thing worth retaining, tight clutch
upon Starlights windpipe aud few pre-
posteaous threats would generally cause
him to 'tshell out" the missing article, il
it was really in his possession. And it
seemed generally couceded that his vir-
tues more than counterbalanced his fol,
bIes. For his hand was as ready to sup
port wounded man to an ambulance as
it was to rife the pockets of fallen foe.
There was one thing alone which almost
redeemed him in my eyes and that was
bis passionate desire for freedom-his
enthusiastic devotion to the cause under
whose banner he served.
Ny duties as chaplain we're in sad de-
naud iu those bloody battle days, when
uinistrations to the dying and prayers
for the dead were SO frequently required
but found some time, nevertheless, to
devote to Starlight. The little heather
always Isteeed with the profoundest
gravity to every thing I said, but with
perceptible stohdity which often discour-
aged me, except Rhe1 | spoke of the fu-
ture of his race, of their prospects for
freedom and improvement. His eyes
would light up at this. his expressive
features would fairly glow with enthu-
siasm.
"Yes, mass'r," he one day exclaimed,
Il feels it in my bones. It'll come roun
one day or mother. knows I'll be free p
"You are so already" said /, 1.-The
Presidents Proclamation has made you
so. You have nothing to fear"
"Jis' Sc, nass'r," he replied. "De
Presiden' he am a nice uau, he am. But
I doesn't feel itia de bones yit; I nebber
will till I git on to him, yer know. Jis'
lcmme Git onto htm-only once"
"On to whom!" | asked.
"Un to de Ole Man-Cunnel Billy
Jis' lenme git on to hin, den I'll be
free!'
"You srrely would not kin your old
master?'
Wouldn't l? Yah! yah J. And
thereat Starlight began to tumble among
the various krives and pistols which
adorned lis person in manner that was
anything but conciliatory. "Trus' dis
lie continued. 81 keeps on de
look out in e5ery fight. 1 seed him lick
my ole mudder ill dc blood few. Jis'
Iemme on to him, mass'r and yoa'll see
de blood fy yourself. Yah! yah! Use
a awful cuss, | is"
Upon briefer acquaintance with Star
light should have smiled at the serio
comic manner iu which these sentiments
we're enunciated; but as it was, shud
iered at the intensity of passion which
urked in his tones.
And through all those terrible battles,
md rapid marches and counter-marches,
With which General Grant terrified and
confused the rebel foe, from the Rapidan
o the walls of Richmond, Little Star
light conducted himself with credit, win.
hing golden opinions from all, and upon
,ne occasion, hearty hand shake from
he General of our divisioR.
1t was, however, at the severe skirglish
10 our left, Immediately following Our
general repulse from the rebel Werks, and
hortly before the traesfer of our army 10
he south bank of the James, that the
,art which Starlight played in the great
lrama was teIassume truly tragic phase.
The enemy sklrmishers aud ours were
lotly engaged, and she fight bade fair to
,e bloody. if brief. / was Immediately
q the rear of a portioa of our regiment,
which was in reserve, busy with the
rounded and Starlight vas hopping
bout me, doiug what he could to assist,
,ut now and then looking up, and thros.
ng curious glauces toward the fight.
yhich was not distant. 1