The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-05-20
Camp FIRE Stories.

SuOHACSs
The stories below are copied from the Grand
Army Journal:
An officer Of New York regiment, who after
wards became famous as general, under Sher.
man, while riding over the field Of the first Bull
Run, came suddenly upon a man who had taken
refuge from shst and shell In a hole but Just
large enough to comfortably contain his body.
After demanding his name and regiment, the
officer Indignantly, and in rather forcible Ian
guage, ordered him to get out of there"
Placing his thumb to his nose and extending
the fingers in that expressive manner generally
SO we'll understood. he replied:
"No you don't, old fellow, you want this place
yourself
The following diologue took place on the
march to Alexandria, Immediately after the
second battle of Bull Run. Major j., who had
been severely censured for leaving the field at
Malvern Hill in rather hasty manner, and who
was afterwards the subject ct = court martial
for similar weakness thus accosted bugler of
the tender age of twelve years:
"Well, my lad, were you not very much fright.
ened during the fight?"
To which the intrepid little soldier promptly
replied:
ayes. sir, was badly scared, but Major, did
ut let my legs find it eut!'
The hit go pointed, and, withal, so Just,
that roar of laughter burst from the lips of all
who heard 1t, much 70 the discontinue of the
gallant @ Major, who put spurs to his horse and
rode to the front of the column.
During the organization of cslored troops in
Kentucky, considerable trouble was taken to
perfect them in tho knowledge of their duties as
seatinels, and to this end all kinds of expedients
were resorted to. Approaching one of the dusky
warriors, on camp guard, one bright moonlight
night, l was challenged and responded in due
form, but Il few moments afterwards, expressing
a desire to see if his musket not a rebel one
it was unhesitatingly handed to mt. Wishing
to impress upon his mind how indiscreet he had
been, and the necessity of caution, l stepped
quickly back, and, bringing the piece to a charge
the bayonet near his breast, said:
Now, sir suppose was a rebel, what would
you dor"
After scratching his he,d for moment in the
meantime evidently considering the question, he
replied:
''Well. Massa, I doesn't know, but spects I'd
run"
This was too much for my gravity, and need
hardly add for that time he got off scot free
The lesson was not lost on him, however, fol-
when, few nights afterward, a very stormy
one, by.the-by, Lieutenant L., Intentionally Civ.
ing the wrong countersign, he was ordered ia
"Mark time, dar !" and the order being complied
| WITH the sentinel unconcernedly resumed the
walking of his beat. Lieutenant L., soon tired
of his exercise, however and offered to give the
proper countersign, but it was of no use every
time the Lieutenant relaxed his exertiops down
would come that bayonet, aad with it the reply,
in tones not to be misunderstood Mark time,
dar, tell yer Mark time, dar! No such man
as you got de countersign."
This was kept up for fully half an hour. and
the relief was never more heartily welcomed by
weary sentinel than it was that night by Lieu
tenant L.