Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-01-26
NUMBER 3.
Old Burns,
THE HERO OF GETTYSBURG.

In the town of Gettysburg lives an old couple
by the name of Burns. The old man was in the
war of 1872, and is now nearly seventy years of
age, yet the frosts of many winters have not
chilled his patriotism diminished his love for
the old flag under which he fought in his early
days. When the rebels invaded the beautiful
Cumberland Valley, and were marching on Get
tysburg, Old Burns concluded that it was time
for every loyal man, young or old, to be up and
doing all in his power to beat back the rebel foe,
and, if possible, give them quiet resting-place
beneath the sod they were polluting with their
unhallowed feet. Taking down an old State
musket he had III the house, he commenced run
ming bullets. The old lady, seeing him engaged
in this work, inquired what in the world be was
going to do ? ''Ah, was the reply, q" thought
some of the boys might want the old gun, and
am getting it ready for them The rebels
came on. The old man kept on the lookout un-
til he saw the stars and stripes coming in, car
ried by our brave boys. This was more than he
could stand his patriotism got the better of his
age and inhrmity, and siezing his musket away
he went, the old lady calling after him &C Burns,
where are you gong?'' ''Oh ~ was the reply,
'' Only to see what is going on" He immedi-
| atey went to Wisconsin regiment and asked if
they would take him in. They said they would
and gave him three rousing cheers. The musket
was soon thrown aside, and frst-rate rife CIV
en- him, with twenty-five rounds of cartridges.
The engagement betw cen the two armies soon
came on, and the old man fired eighteen Of his
twenty-five rounds, and says he killed three
rebs to his certain knowledge. Our forces were
compelled to fall back, leaving the dead and
wounded on the field, and our hero, having
three wounds, was left among the rest There
he lay in citizens clothing, and knowing that if
the enemy found him in that condition death
would be his portion, so he concluded to try
| strategy as his only hope. Soon the rebels came
up and approached him, saying cold man,
what are you doing here?' 81 am lying here
wounded, as you see" he replied "Well, but
what business have you to be here? and who
wounded you our troops or yours?' &C don't
know who wounded me, | only know that l am
wounded and in bad fix" Well, what was
you doing here-what was your businessP' "lf
you will hear my story, will tell you. My old
woman's health is very poor, and was over
across the country to get girl to help her, and
coming back, before ! knew where | was had
got right into this fix and here am" "Where
do you live?' inquired the rebels. I" Over in
town IN such small house." They then picked
him up and carried him home and left him. But
they soon returned, as if suspecting he had been
lying to them and made him answer a great
many questions but he stuck to his old story
and failing to learn anything more they left him
for good. He says he shall always feel indebted
to of his copperhead neighbors for the last
call for he believes some one had informed them
of him. Soon after they left bullet came into
his room and struck into the wall six inches
above where he lay on the sofa. His wounds
proved to be only flesh wounds from which he
recovered with his patriotism not whit abated.