The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-17
meet General Watson, of Lancaster, com
mander Of our division"
tIIow were Won uniformed, Sir ~


arms stamped upon them. | Iengrayed the
impression for those stocks in type-metal
for our company, and proud days work
1t was. Every man found his own uni
form; and Of the many thousand Pennsyl-
vnnians ! have seen march from Camp
Curtin within these last ten years, none
felt bolder to protect our country than we,
When We reached York, where General
Watson was to meet us with new Harper's
Ferry mlskcts and tents, he was not on
hand, so we were Quartered at first in the
courthouse. Hearing our camp equipagc
was Mt the Carlisle Barracks, a squad Of us
got wagons, went after 1t, and brought II
to the York Jail, whence each man drew
bis musket, cross-bclt, and cartridge-box,
We were on duty there several weeks be-
fore the division Of five thousand men was
organized. We grew drcadfhlly impatient.
Telegrams were not dreamed OF those days,
and daily newspapers were almost as scarce
as roses In winter. One morning some of
our guard went out to gather wood, and
hearing dull, rumbling noise, they laid
their ears to the ground and listened. The
sound Of cannon was distinctly heard, and
they hurried to camp with the news.
Soon wagons outwardly filled with hay,
but containing the specie from the banks
in Baltimore, came In Tor protection, FOL
lowed by every kind of vehicle, packed
with flying Baltmorcans. Then, in trc-
mendOus haste, we were illed into ranks
and marched to the seat Of war, three days
after the battle had been fought. General
Armstrong had m Irish brothCr-in.law,
Kennedy, who was appointed colonel Of
our regiment. lie knew as much about
military tactics rs bear does Of mathc-
MATES. An old-iashioned country school.
master, with scarcely an idea above the
common spelling-bocR Of that period, and
vain and tyrannical in proportion as he was
ignorant, he was lily fitted to control rs
spirited and independent a set of Pennsyl.
yania Dutchmen rs ever trod American
soil. lie rode an immense fat black horse,
with back nearly rs broad as an elc-
plants; and the only change he had made
for the occasion from his usual citizens
dress was cockadc stuck in his hat, and n
short sword buckled around his thick
waist.
"The captain of our company, Mr.. Wal
ker, who was every inch man, and who,
by reason Of his superiority, should have
been our colonel, needed to exercise all his
influence with the regiment to preserve
any kind of discipline. 1t was long three
days march to baltimore. We were four.
teen thousand strong, and eager to meet
and punish our British invaders but a
Of heavy thunder-storms aud
the fatigue of long marches through the
mud almost exhausted us. 'Push along,
men; ye'rc wnlkin' dreadful Slow was the
coloncl's command, issued every fifteen
minutes. The second day some Of themen
,Sintcd from the heat and fatigue. Near
ing u pump along the roadside, We halted
to drink, but the colonel angrily urged US
An orchard near by hanging full
Of harvest apples, tempted some Of the
thirsticr ones, who broke ranks and rushed
for the fruit. This excited the colonel
greatly. Riding up to the rails and ban
ishing his sword, he shouted, 'Ye black
guardsl would ye We afther lNving the
ranks for the paltry sum Of an apple q
"This expression of his indignation grew
into by-worl, thanks to the powers Of
mimicry of two OF our company, Charles
and Ferdinand Duang. They, with their
father, were stroling play-actors (natiyes
of Lancaster, | Think, who, when their
winter engagements in city theatres were
over, would entertain us in town and coun-
try with their varied accomplishments.
The brothers were such genial, brave fel-
lows, and mirthlal, so full Of rollicking fun,
they kept us alive, soul and body, by com.
pelling us to laugh. Well, when we reached
an old encampment near Baltimore, on the
York Road, Just alongside what was known
MS Towards Woods, the citizens came to
meet us, hauling drays on which were
hogsheads Of hot coffee, most delicious. |
eau never forget that coilee, nor how 1t
revived us. The city was IN blaze Of
excitement still, and news came that the
British were lowering about, and we must
go to Elkridge's landing to oppose them.
As we marched through the streets they
wcfo crowded with women, weeping, and
crying, "0h, those poor fellows will never
all come back NgJnp But We did for the
very next day, as we were drawn into line
ready to march ih;o Bladcnsburg, an officer
came dashing uh his horse covered with
foam, with the order for our immediate
return to the city, as an hourly attack was
expected from tie fleet, still lying in the
bay. We were not sorry for Colonel
Kennedy having failed to furnish us pro-
vision, and tho Elkridge people all being
Quakers, who would neither sell nor give
us food to eat nor straw to lie upon, we
were compelld to do without either, or
buy for ourselves from the only one little
grocery in theplace.
1.-THE occasion Of our return was also that
Of the colopl's first compliment to us.
Boys he sad, brandiShing bis littlosword,
'ye behayedlike retadns?'
1--WE goi back that evening, and en-
camped ulbn Gallows Hill, near rope
walk, whtc three months we remained,
daily waiting for an enemy that never
came. Tien, for tho first since leaving
York, wetook bteathing.tim and looked
about fol amusement.
"'lIa,e you heard Francis Key'spoem y
said one Of our mess, coming in one even
Ing, as We lay scattered ever the green
hill nenr tho captains marquee. II was n
rude copy, and written in d scrawl which
Horace Greedy might have mistaken for
his own. He read II aloud, once, twice,
three times, until the entire division seemed
electrified by It's pathetic eloduencc. An
idea seized Fcrd Durang. Hunting up q
volume Of old flute music, which was In
somebody's tent, he impatIently whistlel
snatchcs Of tuno after tune, lust as they
caught bis quick eye. One, called Ana.
ereon In Heaven 4 have played IL often,
for 1t was In nv book that Lc Inund m