Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-07-11
The Night Surprise.

After the departure Of the two detach.
ments, which left us almost in opposite
directions, our camp settled down to the
dull and unexciting monotony Of waiting
patiently for the time when we should
welcome our comrades back again, and
to listen to such items Of news MS they
might bring to us.
Little did we imagine that the mono
tony of idleness was SO soon and so
abruptly to b. broken That night our
pickets were posted as usual; the horses
and mules, after being allowed to Craze
in the evening, brought in and securely
tethered close to our tents, and the 'sta-
BILE guards of the different troops had
been assigned to their station for the
night, At half.past eight the bugler at
| headquarters sounded the signal for
"taps," and before the last note bad
died away every light, in obedience to
this command. disappeared, and nothing
remained to the eye, except here and
there faint glimpse of white tent, to
indicate the presence Of our camp.
It was just that uncertain period be-
tween darkness and daylight on the
following morning, and ] was lying IN
my tent deep in the enjoyment of that
perfect repose which only camp life
offers, when the sharp clear crack of a
carbine near by brought me to my feet.
l knew in an instant that the shot came
from the picket posted not far from the
rear of my camp. At the same moment
my brother, Colonel Custer, who on that
occasion was officer of the day, and
whose duties required him to be particu'
larry ON the alert, rushed past my tent,
halting only long enough to show his
face through the opening and shout,
"They are hereH'
Now ! did not inquire who were refer,
red to. or how many were included in
the word " they" nor did my informant
seem to think it necessary to explain
"They" referred to Indians, knew full
well. Had / doubted, the brisk fusiladt
which opened the next moment, an6
the wild war-hoop, were convincing
evidences that in truth they were
here"
Ordinary ] must confess to having
suf1i cient regard for the c1stoms anc
courtesies of life to endeavor to appear
in sociey suitably and appropriated,
dressed. But when the alarm of In
dams" was given, and in such startling
manner as to show they were almost il
our midst, the question was not "Wha
,, shall wearP" but " What shall do?
1t has become so common-in fact, al
most law-to describe the costume
worn upon memorable occasions, that
, may be pardoned if | indulge in DIES
cription which | will endeaver to max
, as brief AZ the costume itself. A moderl
Jenkins, if desiring to tell the truth
would probably express himself as fol
lows: General Custer on this occasion
, appeared in beautiful crimson rob
o (red flannel robe de nujn, very becoming
; to his complexion. His hair was Won
t an matuet, and pei mitted to fall careless
ly over his shoulders. In his hand b
I carried gracefully handsome Spence
, rifle. II is unnecessary to add that h
became the observed Of all observers.
! My orderly. as was his custom, on m
retiring had securely tied all the fasten
ing to my tents, and it was usually tn
work of several minutes 10 undo thi
unnecessary labor. l had no time t
throw away in this manner. Leapin
S from my bed, grasped my trusty Sper
s Ger, which was always at my side whethe
a waking Or sleeping, and with singl
S dash burst open the tent. and hatles
+ as well as shoeless, ran to the poir
Y where the attack seemed to be conceI
r trated
;, 1t was sufficiently light to see our er
!. emies and be seen. The first shot ha
i brought every man of my command froI
his tent. armed and equipped for battle
l., The Indians, numbering hundreds, wei
all round the camp, evidently intendin
{, to surround us, while a party OF abor
o fifty of their best mounted warriors haC
i by taking advantage Of ravine, col
d trived to approach quite close before b.
). ing discovered. It was the intention {
V this party to dash through our caml
Il stampede all our horses, which were
# be caught up by the parties surroundin
e us, and then finish us at their leisure.
o The picket, however, discovered, I'll
e approach of this party, and by frin
gave timely warning, thus frustratir
!. their hopes of success upon etfecting
n surprise,
e My men opened on them such bris
y fire from their carbines that they wei
II glad to withdraw beyond range. TT
~ picket who gave the alarm was shot dow
It at bis post by the Indians, the entil
5, party galloping over his body, and beir
Y, prevented from scalping him only by Il
l. fire from his comrades, who dashed OF
,. and recovered him. He was found to
If badly though not mortally wounded t
~ a rifle ball through the body,
Y The Indians, seeing that their attemI
. to surprise us and to stampede our hors
rs had failed, then withdrew to point b1
is little over mile from us, where thu
1t congregated, and seemed to hold COME
N ence with each other. We did not fe
,d any further attack at this time, The
e. were satisfied with this attempt AZ
" would await another opportunity.
20 General CuStsy.
~, How THEY SHAVE IN CHINA fellc
y, who has been shaved in China says tn
r. his barber first stropped the razor {
~ his leg and then did the shaving witho
q any lather. The customer demonstrate
o ~ but was told that the lather was entire
Co useless and bad a tendency to make Il
y hair stiff and tough, and was, therefor
= never used by persons who had al
ne knowledge of the face and its appen
~. ages. After the beard had been TAX
:. off and it was done in very she
,io time-the barber took long, shar
he needIe-shaped spoon, and began to e