Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-05
Army Anecdotes, by an ex-Private.


Thomas Stackpole was hummer, but he did
not become one until he had been in the servi e
over year. He enlisted first at Camp Denni.
son, in a three months regiment. When the
regiment became 4 little demOrazed by the
three years question, and the organization did
not know whether it was : regiment or not
Tom departed without asking leave, and enlist.
ed in three years regiment at Camp Clay. He
went to West Virginia in love with a "femac
Sojer," who escaped detection until after the
regiment had made its first long march against
Wise. Tom believed in this woman implicitly,
and when the not over sentimental soldiers were
sneering at her and sandering her, Tom was
her dauntless defender. He admitted that he
had followed her to the regiment and when she
was arrested he put a note in her hand which
she read, and then as the officer in charge made
an effort to take it, she put it into her mouth
and swallowed it. Result: Tom was arrested
and while the woman was hurried off to
steamboat that was to take her to Cincinnati,
Tom was locked in the Jail at RayenswoOd He
came out a Sullen man, with a tendency to sneer
at the cause, and with an inclination to laugh at
the authority of officers. Toms sullenness de-
VelOped into reckleSSneSs. He wandered off
from the regiment at first, simply because he
thoguht it would provoke his officers. One dav
he was gobbled up by a scouting party of rebel
cavalry and compelled to walk to their camp
This made him indignant, and he broke guard
and escaped. lie came into camp with oreV-
duCG anu HuluGu Il NGIdCumtUI 10 the feDel rear,
and though they accomplished but little they
frightened the rebels from their outpost camp
At Shiloh, Tom was scouting round far in adj
vance Of his regiment, looking for rebel swords
Gen. Nelson, riding hurriedly from one part of
the line TO another, discovered him prOwling
about and ordered him back. Tom didn't 90,
and the general, riding up to him as he stopped
over dead horse, intent on securing pistols,
spanked him severely with the fiat of his sword
Tom howled with pain, while the regiment
roared with laughter. This little ceremony
knghted Thomas of Stackpole a hummer, in
the army sense. He turned his fearlessness and
recElessneSs to good account. He had a great
regard Tor the general who had spanked him,
and became better soldier, always volunteer
ing in scouting parties and fororn hopes.
He hardly ever marched with his company,
but every one knew he was in front, and not
behind. He always knew where springs and
streams were to be found knew whether there
were any hogs in the vicinity or not; knew
where straw piles were and knew what COWS
could be MIXED with impuuity He got ac-
quainted readily with people, and had no dread
OF the picket lines Of the rebels, or of the terri
tory that lay in their immediate vicinity. Tom
was always first across a river that he could
wade or swim, and long before the march to the
sea commenced he had demonstrated that he
was useful man, and without knowing it the
officers and men learned to like him. One day
a cavalryman coming from the front, asked for
uCSullOfN
beyond the hill for two hours, and the men were
Longing about or playing cards.
There was a little fellow of yours picked off
just now, over by the bridge. He's h 1T pretty
bad, and wants some of the boys"
Some of the boys went on the double quick
They knew it was Tom. They brought him to
the company instead of taking him to the am
bulance, and he held, as he termed it, recep-
ton. When forward movement was ordered
with emphatic suddennesS Tom asked to be car
ried across the bridge. He had been hit while
attempting to cross that bridge, and he wanted
to be on the other side before he took the back
track. And beyond the bridge the good byes
were said. The men never saw Tom again, as
he was discharged from hospital; but they made
him one Of their heroes, and held him up dur.
ing the few months they remained in the SER
vice. as their model hummer
THE MAJORS MOTIVE.
Major Davis was a cool man when he had a
motive. The major was proud of his motives,
but few other people could understand them. In
the first fight he dlsmounted aud sent his horse
to the rear. He didn't want to lose reputation
by being on frightened horse. ole didn't
want TO have that boss shot, that's what was
the matter with him." The major never made
any special reputation in battle, but he was
famous as tOrager and lived remark
ably well. He was once in command
of foraging detachment that was lit.
orally driven into the entrenched camp.
The wagons came across the bridge commanded
by the artillery with mules at full run, and
the guard made more than double quick time.
The major was well to the rear. He didn't swing
his sword or encourage his men, but he set then
IL good example as to retiring. He was almost
the last one to cross the bridge, and during the
whole run had kept his horse down to an easy
pace Now pacing horse in time of battle,
when you look for furious galop, does not
make good picture. The major sat drawn up
like boy in rain storm, needing nothing, say
ing nothing. AL last he rode into camp, cheered
by the men. The colonel complimentcd him tor
his GOODNESS. 81 had a motive, by criminy |
had" said the major. 81 had near four dozen
nice fresh eggs about me, and my old PAGER saved
them. timed the old boss at the start and |
knew he could 90 as fast as the mules. He dis
appointed me n little on the home stretch, but a
pretty mess I'd been in it bad let him gallop.
No, sir, kept cool, and saved my eggs" Tie
major had thought little of men or wagons, but
ba a