Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-10-04


1t was during the celebrated flank move
ment of Sherman from Atlanta 10 J0ncshoro.
The day before We got 10 Flint rIyor We had
been having right lively little cavalry fight
for about SIX miles, when the enemy got a
good position, formed line of battle. and
posted battery upon rise Of ground that
was annoying US considerably. Gen. Logan,
IN order 10 silence their guns, brought up a
light battery OF 24-pound brass NaPoleons,
which soon quletCd their clamor, and the
whole line moving forward, compelled the
rebels TO tall back toward the Flint. The
whole country here was thickly wooded. and
in many places a dense thicket, therefore the
only guide our gupners could get in order to
make their shots effective, was the flash and
smoke OF the enemy guns through the tim
Ter, and Of the course Of their prolectiles.
After the Johnnies mad fallen back and We
were pushing cur column forward, It was my
fortune that day to be riding with DR.. Wood
ward, Medical Inspector Of the 18th corps.
We passed in front Of the spot where our
battery had been stationed, and Just doubled
q point Of timber when we came suddenly
upon a small house, and for that country,
very neatly enclosed with "shake' fence,
but what attracted our attention was yell
low cloth hanging on one Of the shrubs in
the yard. l said to the doctor, ''ilalloa, there
Is an impT0yised hospital, let Us halt. There
Is possibly some wounded rebs there Upon
which We rode up to the cabin. Hearing the
tramIing OF horses, an elderly woman came
to the door. Recognizing Us as Yankees,
she retreatod. We called to hcT and asked if
she had any wounded Eebs in her house. On
being answered in the negative, We asked
why she had that yellow flag ont.
why yer see strangers, my darter is sick
and | sort O reckoned you ms wouldn't poster
he-yer If Ye seed that thar hag.
Nv hat Is the matter gith your daughter ??
ne asked. "he are surgeons and perhaps
we can DO something for her
"Wal now if ye are doctors jet ye come
long in an look.
We dismountcd and entered the cabin, the
woman went 10 the bed, which was posted
IN the centre Of the room, and turning down
the sheet, displayed TO our astOnished vision,
laying upon the clay-c0lOTed breast OF It's
clay-colored mrher. a small specimen hu-
manity, about foot and half long, eyld-
emily a stranger to the country Gndsurround-
ings, whose span of life could only be meas
ured by minutes, it having not yet lived an
hour +" Jist ye look thar stranger, see what
YOU ms all did with yer shellin' and shooting
right through the house, and pointing to
two shot holesiin the logs over the head OF
the bed, remarked, " right when my gal was
the sickest. them two OF you Ills cannon balls
come clar through the house, kiYering the
bed all over with splinters and pine knots.
| tell yer stranger, It was right skeery fer
spell"
The house completely hidden among the
thick growth of timber. happened 10 be in
direct range Of our battery, and the cabin IT
self, and the surrounding outbuildIngs, had
been hit no less than six times during the
short action, but fortunately no one was hurt
about the place.
In answer to our inquiries, the woman In
formed US that the young stranger belonged
10 the " sex divine So We asked her il
She would like to have it christened.
Which? " said she.
We explained as well as possible the sig
MITIGATION of the term Christcn.
q" Oh, veas reckon would like to have
it baptized if you ms got ahy preacher long
with yer"
So we sent an orderly back to one oil th'
Indiana regiments, which bOasted chaplain
and he was soon on the ground. we ex
planned to him what was expected; and he
! nothing 10th, commenced services. The Ten
eral commanding the brigade, getting WING
| of the matter, now came up, and, togethel
with some Cf his staff, were mustered a
witnesses. DR.. W. and TIE subscriber actin.
as sponsors.
The erandame remarked, q What ar ye
gwine to gin it for name! want suthin
right peart.
We told her she should be satisfied witt
the name. The chaplain squared himself
We (the sponsors) took our stations. Ih
old woman held the gei,rd, - the nearest W
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