St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-03-17
Col. EHcclOch'S iUcfjOu.
BI REV. ALFRED c. ROE


of army life. In front our headquarters
overlooked level country dotted over
with camps and right below us was the
little hamlet of Mitchcll'S Station, crowd
ed with trains. 1t was the extreme
southern point held in force by the army
of the Potomac and on the hills which
rose on the other side Of the Rapidan,
some five or six miles away, we could
see the rebel camps, and watch with our
glasses the waving of their signal flags
against Tie sky. Back of us, far across
Il beautiful rolling region rose the fam
tasiic lovely chain Of the Blue Noun
tains, just streaked here and there with
SNOW. The forest WAS rapidly melting
away from around us; and the air soft
and warm even in mid-wintcr, was full
Of the ringing strokes Of the axe, the
shouts of the teamstcrs ur.ing on their
trains, and the voices of men.
1t WAS charming spot. We hoped
10 make our winter quarters there, and
planned and worked and made arrange
memt5 for weeks to come. Here | he
came acquainted with many friends
whose memories are still Green and pleas
ant. None of these do | rctolIcct with
greater pleasure than rood old Father
Wheelock, Colonel of the 91th y. Y
Volunteers. lie was from the central
part of the State, a very wealthy farmer
and had raised his regiment among hi>
friends and nei9hbOrs Gentle. easy in
temperament ;.ad IA noble, large hearted
man, lie was somewhat lax in discipline,
and nothing of Il martinct. 50 he had IL
chronic quarrel with his General officers,
which waXed and waned as his regiment
was forever showing mi>erabIy in re-
views, or winning laurcls ON tie battle
field. lie was Il large rortly man, he
tween 30 and 90 years OF age, but capa-
bic OF enduring any amount OF labor, and
prompt aS a flash to see aud use h- up-
portunity.
At the first dty's battle At Getty-hur"
he was surrounded and cut off with hi>
men. Taking advantage OF the ground
and his knowledge of the town, by an oh
stinate resistance with small part OF
his force, he secured the retreat of the
rest. The colonel was eau LIT, but WIS
too old and gray headed rat To propose
going to Libby Prison. IL did not in
tend the rebels should have his sword
even. ~ darling into the house OF Il
Union Lady of bis acquaintance, she
bucklcl it about her person under her
clothes, and the colonel fairly hullicd the
rebel officer of the grounh. ''IIc had
no sword for him." he said, land would
snontr break it over a stone, or throw it
down the first well tlan let it fall INTO
such dirty hands" "Wherc'- your
sword" rnarrl his rebel friend "S,lrch
! for il If on want it =" bad" said the
old man. And search they did, the
house over, but of course in vain
The nest thing WAS To take himself
oil. For some days he watched his
chance Ia no purpose. The beaten rrh-
els were now rctrcating over the noun
tain~ to the Potomac. Ni"ht was COM
ing on, rainy and very dark, AMI the
colonel began TO grow lame and fall be-
hind. The rehs had by this time learned
/ ~ ~ ''Aii ~ " il' ll''l llllI 'iN'N'IN
and yet had been Won, both Officers and
guard, 10y his dignity and "ool nature
50 they detailed 4 man 10 watch him
and let hun hohblc alon" IS lc could, a>
they had no transportation. This was
what the old man had been planning.
His lamcucsS was gotten up for the occa-
sion, and Selling his opportunity where
the road ran along the steep hillside, hc
sent the guard spinning down the noun
tain, with his mus kct clattcring after
him among the stones, while he dartcd
up the hill. \ lew minutes suiliecd TO
screen him from pursuit in the darkness,
and he stopped to learn il he WIS fol-
lowed, and could hear but the gruniS and
curses OF his unwclcomc companion who
was nursing his broken Sims and calling
for the sergeant Of the guard.
SO the old colonel wcarily worked his
way up the mountsin, lay quiet that
night, and the next day found his way
back to Gettysburg, rcjoincl his over
Ioyed regiment and regaincd his sword.
But, hold up, How my pen runs oil
with me! can't help it, however.
That's just the way old Father Whcclock
wonld run. away with everybody when
he sat down To tell Il story.
Let us see: | was to rive an account
OF his auction
'There was said he, among til,
drafted men sent me in the fail of 'G3,
Il poor fellow from Auburn, | piticd
him; for he was very destitute, and Lad
left Il large family. He fell sick, W nj
TO the Hospital, and died, | think quiiC
as much Of home sickness, as real disease
During the holidays | received Christ.
mas box for him, and must tell you how
| got lid of it last week Just after
dress parade | mounted stump AN,
shouted to the boys that | had somethin!
to tell them. They came running to
gcthcr, and when there was Il crowd say:
|, I'll drop for half an hour the dignity
of colonel and turn auciiuneer. thcr
told them about the box and The lcttcl
which accompanied it. 1t was mos
touching one praying God to keep heI
husband safe, and telling OF their slrug
giles and the love which had sent him ;
, little remembrance from home. Boys,
said /, I'VE do not know how soon oul
families may he Just there. This ap
pears Il good, true woman. We mus
do something TO comfort her Il little un
der the heavy news L must write. Thi
, box contains "a small fruit-cake, pal
of suspenders, a skein OF thread, ard 4;
| few needles. \ comrade of his compan,
offers me 50 for the box to help tn
f family but l think l can do better.
| stI iLrn chi the cake inln forty slices