The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1865-05-03

neck ready 10 strike up the tune with
Long Jim Allen. who looked down upon
him 10 the lnost patronising and benig-
nant manner imaginable. His sister bsde
him an atectionate good bye. and told
him to remember that when he came back
he would find her still there.
Thus il was that the regiment picked
up drummer boy. II was wonderful
with what cheerfulness and alacrity they
started oil that morning Rank and file
seemed TO have new life infused in them,
Jim Aliens fife whistled merrier tune
than il had done since he enlisted, while
the drumsticks Of the little boy ratified on
the sheepskin as if they loved to be ham
died by those small fair hands.
Thereafter, Adolph Kepler, or Dolly"
as be was familiarly called, was the pet
Of the regiment. His comrades We'd with
each other in attention to him, and the
choicest share of the mess kettle was al
ways sure to be his. If anything partic-
ularly nice or tempting to the palate was
begged or bought by the wayside, or OBJ
tanned upon foraging expeditions, Dolly
was the first served with the delicacy.--
Long Jim Allen, whose heart had not
warmed TO anything since bis connection
with the regiment, could hardly bear To-
have him out of his sight. It is difficult
to say whether he looked upon him as n
brother or son; though from bis manner
of treating him, it might well be mix
ture Of the two imaginary relations. Bot
Old Butz, the Sergeant-Major, called him
his property, as she had found him first"
and constituted himself his special pro-
tector. Dolly shared his tent, his blan-
ket, the contents of his haversack, and
whatever was his. Old Butz and Jim
Allen would both have died for him, and
would never have suffered him to be aa-
noyed or imposed upon, even if any one
in the regiment had shown the slightest
disposition to treat him i'll, which was far
from being the case. Dolly was well de-
serving of all his kindness and attention
for he was always cheerful, good humor-
ed, and loving, always attentive to bis du-
ties, and endeavored to repay this good
ness of bis friends BY thousand words
and acts of affection.
| But this is not 10 be a long story. On
the morning of the 9th of April, 1862
an eventful day in the annals Of OUT
countryside brigade to which Dolly's
regiment was attached received orders to
hasten 10 Savannah, Tennessee, on the
Cumberland. Arriving there in the eve
ming of that same day, they were embark
ed on transports after some delay, and
reached Piitsburg Landing the mex.
morning. At this place, it will be re-
membered, the Union troops had been
fearfully worried the day before by the
rebel army under Beauregard. Hardly
had they landed when they were ordered
to cross a rayine and attack superior
force Of the enemy. Il strong line oi
skirmishers was thrown,.out, and the fight
commenced Immediately. The rebels at
tackled 10 force and with vigor-the fir.
ing being as sharp and continuous as was
possible-but were repulsed by the steady
vaIor of the Union troops, and pursued
nearly mile. Here they received rein.
forcements of infantry and artillery, and
made determined stand.
Dolly had been kept in the rear, thus far
as much as possible, and had vented his
impatience and enthusiasm, by beating
bis drum as loud as possible. The at.
tack of the enemy at this point was very
desperate, and the whole line wayered.--
The enemy had two guns in position,
which, well served as they were, were
thinning out our men most mercilessly.-
The Colonel of Dolly's regiment rode
along the line, and pointed out the guns
J Boys" said he, "those guns we must
and shall havep
A cheer was the answer, and every
cartridge was rammed down with will
while determination shone in the faces oi
the honest Kentuckians.
Dolly rushed 10 the 'front.' followed by
Long jim Allen, who was anxious to
bring him back out of danger, but the at.
tempt was useless, and he saw nothing
for il but to join him. Accordingly the
drum ratified, and the file sounded the
charge, and away went the Keutuckians
with yell, and with an impetuous rush
that nothing could stand. The enemy
J hardly waited TO fire yolley, but broke
and ran, like frightened sheep, and The
guns were ours. There was no stopping
to keep the guns, as there was no danger
of their running away, so the men rush
! ed on after the retreating foe. DoIly's
drum and Jim Aliens fife were heard