The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-07
An Incident Of the War.

Jacob drummer, q Dutchman, very
light-hearted chap, having enlisted in
the United States Volunteer Artillery,
was sent to the barracks at Trenton,
New Jersey, in the winter Of 1864, to
wait there till sufficient number of re-
cruits were enrolled in the same regi-
ment with him, to be then sent to Wash
ington. He took one of the upper hunks
in the barracks assigned to him together
with friend, and they spent their time
the best way they could with smoking,
and drinking lager-beer, which could be
obtained of sutler within the palli-
sades of the camp. Things went on we'll
enough till their money gave out, when
one evening Drummer sold his shoes to
one of the numerous peddlers about the
camp, and with the money procured ths
drinks for himself and his friend. But
when the lager was gone the idea press
ed upon Brummer's mind what account
he should give next morning of his
boots-though he was not studying long
when an idea struck him.
In the next bunk to him, Teddy, an
Irishman, had put up his quarters, who
had already received part OF his bounty
and bought two pairs of boots he had
one pair on his feet, and the other pair
with his shoes strapped on his knapsack.
Teddy had that same day been visited
by his wife, and having after her de-
parture drained the contents of an inno-
cent-looking soda-water bottle, was fast
asleep, sticking his feet over the inter
vening plank into our hero's bunk,
whose eyes began to look brighter and
brighter the longer they looked at the
intruders of his home. The temptation
seemed strong he drew out his knife
and began, to the astonishment of his
friend (who did not seem to see the
point, to cut deliberately the initials of
his name, j. B., under both soles of his
neighbours boots, filling up the fresh cuts
with dirt.
The next morning at roll-call he took
his place in front of his bunk, but minus
boots and the attention of the officer
of the day was soon called to the fact
by the tittering of the boys near him,
and sternly looking at him, asked
"What has become of your boots?
"They were stolen last night )" and the
officer Immediately instituted search.
His attention was soon called by one OF
the searching party to the boots lying
in Teddy's bunk, and calling for the
owner, Teddy stepped forward and claim
ed them. The officer then asked Brum-
mer if these were the boots he had lost,
to which he answered No; but pointing
at his adversary's feet, exclaimed i:
"Those boots look nightly like mine,
and if you only let me look at the bot
tom of them, where my name is cut in,
can make surew Teddy's wrath was
great when he heard himself thus ac-
eused of theft. He finally pulled off his
boots-but 10 there were the letters ].
B. plainly cut in both soles. Teddy,
now dumb with astonishment, had to
give up the boots, and showing strong
inclinations to fight, was marched off to
the guard-house. The boots were now
handed to Drummer, and he hastened
to put them on, but tried in vain. The
boots were worn by man measuring
five feet five inches-were No. :; and
the smallest that Brummer-who meas
ured six feet one inch-could get on was
No. IL.
The whole proceeding was observed
by the officer, who now began to view
the case in different light. Drummer
was closely questioned and seeing him.
self detected pleaded guilty, and &C.
knowledged how he had done the trick
Drummer only escaped punishment by
being that day sent to the front.