Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-02-21
Gelcfte0 AlisfeIlanD.
Corporal Smiths Love Adventure.

In one of those gigantic raids OR fora
cling parties which constituted one of the
principal features of General Sherman's
passage from Atlanta to Savannah, was
a young corporal of exquisite proportions
and the possessor of magnificent nous
tache and imperial objects of long and
careful cultivation. We will call him
Smith. IT'S good name to assume, as
there is no danger of being confounded
with any other. Smith-John Smith.
John was brave soldier, conscien-
tious and true, but he had one falling
vanity. The single bar upon his blouse
sleeve was of more Importance and sig
nifcance in his estimation than were the
stars upon the shoulder of Major Cen
eral. He was usually quick witted,
shrewd and calculating, and though often
the subject of severe jokes, he almost
invariably managed to come out ahead,
turning the fun into some channel which
cleared his own skirts, and no other man
in the mess enjoyed the complete dis
comfture Of defeated 'chum' more than
he.
This foraging party, under the imme-
diate command of Gen. B, a not
over strict MISUNDERSTANDING made
a detour some distance to the right of the
main army, were in one of the most
beautiful sections OF country that could
be imagined. Here, without any fixed
principles of equity, and with total dis
regard to the Golden Rulc--'' Do unto
ath or L.,
you, this body of mon, ten thousand
strong, pitched their tents in the park
attached to a spacious mansion, the house
of one of the most wealthy and infuen-
tial men of the South.
At this time the proprietor was Brig
adler General in the Confederate army,
and in Richmond with his command
His family, wife and daughter, with a
few colored domestics. were the sole oc-
cupants of the princely abode, and with
out any ceremony whatever, Gen. B
took possession of the front parlor as
Headquarters.
The mother, one of those large, gen.
erous souls, found so often in the South,
with self-sacrifcing spirit which should
have received corresponding response,
threw open the doors of her house, I'M
locked her granaries, and babe the inva-
ders welcome. The daughter-sweet,
confding, unsuspicious-to whom love
and confidence was a part of her nature,
seemed to vie with her parent in acts of
true hospitality She was q beautiful
girl, the very picture of loyeliness, and |
altogether dangerous accompaniment to
SO large collection of Sherman's bum
mers.'
Corporal Smith, having been detailed
for duty at headquarters, very soon OBJ
tanned sight of the angel of the house,
as he called her, and by dint of close
manevering, succeeded in gaining an in
terview, which passed as an introduction
in default of more direct presentation. |
Here was a chance for 'ten-strike,' |
and the corporal trimmed himself for the |
siege. In his minds eye he saw the war
at close-the North and South again |
united-and himself, John Smith, of |
Smithville, Indiana, citizen of Geor- |
gia, the possessor of an angelic wife, the |
owner Of a splendid plantation, with ne
groes to work it at half price, and hap |
piness knee-deep all around.
This arrangement once settled, the |
successful termination of it, with him,
was merely matter Of time; and one
day, nearly week later, he surprised
the General, whom he met at brother
officers tent, by exhibiting two young
'contrabands,' asserting that they were
given him by the daughter, and intima-
ted desire to take them North and ed
ucate them for special duties against the