Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-28
NUMBER II.
From the Virginia Sentinel, Alexandria,
SATURDAY NIGHT.

SATURDAY NIGHT.
The war talk" of old soldiers is not general.
ly interesting except to themselves. Yet there
are unwritten histories licked up in the men,
ories OF many, nay, of all of US who partlcipa-
ted in the late war. either as combatants or look
ers- on, which. if told would arrest the SYM
patbies, and rivet The attention. A word, a
sound, the sight of passing countenauce, g
llne IN newspaper will often furnish the key,
and with spring the portals of the mind fly
oren, sbd reveal its Rarnered treasures
The recollec ion of an incident which as an
illustration of the last day of the Coniederacy,
and 10 Its pleasant sequel seems to him of inter-
est, was brought vividly to the mind Of this
writer by an announcement which he sd dur
ing the week now closing and which forms
pleasant subject of musing his Saturday night.
| In the month of March, 1854 a cavalry re-
| giment bivouacked 10 the county of H, en-
route to the lines below Petersburg. Their her
ses were pickeed among the tall pines that
sighed above them, their blankets were spread,
| tires kiDded and the men we're soon stretched
| out around them. rejoicing in the prospect ofa
three days rest, which they were to enjoy while
TWO other regiments we're marching to join
them, to make up brigade fer the gallant
DeeIing, whom they were to follow through
brief career of hard fighting and disis,er from
Five Forks through Sailors Greek, and Amelia
U H., TO TIE bridge near Farmvie, where he
foremost fighting fell" The first thing was
to procure feed for their horses, and the quar-
'ernaster-sergeant struck out 10 search. Grim
and gr'ZZ'y OF beard was he. stern 10 uanuor
and hard of heart, In his business, as fiue
f9rsger and pltiless distrdiner as ever fasten-
ell on a u oion mans CRIB. He soon return
ed With beanlng couuteoaDce aud twinkliDg
eye. but with weight upon bis mind wirhal.
He had discovered corn lots Of it but (so he
reported to the commanding oficer) 1t wa' we'll
deteDded-too well for him TO take it. Aa old
genteman, his wife and tao fair daughters all
armed, were standing by that corn, swearing to
annihae the f'st nan who put his hand upon
the door that led to it.
An order had then recently been issued re-
quirlog officers in The field to leave so much
provision tor each member o. family, but al
lowing them to take, forcihly if necessary, sliin
excess of that amounr. This corn was IN q re-
'red neighborhnod and concealed. and thus
far protected II exceeded largely the except
ed amount, and the serseaut was ordered TO
take detail of men and furnish the camp. He
went, and TO the surprise OF the whole regiment
-oou returned. with empty sacks. "Coonel, "
he remarked, in explanation, Its serious
thing i can't do it, As for the old man. he's
nothlng; | would soon fix him, though be
stands with his gun c1cked, and swears his
grandfather fought in he Revolution, and he's
got the bravest blood in his body that ever was
split, and he'll shed it all be ore he will submit
to be robbed But it's the girls, Colonel
They're pretty as pinks, and they stand there
all red as roses, holding their old shoiguns just
like would hold baby, and trembling tit to
fall to pieces; aud every time 20 towards the
door they raise the guns and shut their eyes,
and the old Tuckahoe tells them to stand up to
it and shoot-and blame me If they don't shoot,
too. and ,hongh their eyes are shut, there's no
telling where them old blunder busses II scat
ter to. There's c1rn there, more than the law
allows, and we ought 10 have it, but cans take
it under the circnnlstdnctsF
When the laugh at the Sergcant's account
vas over, leue enant. known for his c,oness
and courage, was ordered to take the party
Thioking over the matter further, after the
party had started, the Colonel turned to youth
who was doing duty as courier at his headquar-
ters. He was ono on whom in hours OF danger
his eye had often rested admringly. and who,
on one memorable occasion, by his great cool-
ness aud wiz. 10 the.gery fury of hot barls, had
saved. perhaps, the honor Of his regiment,
MAX well. he said, SADDLE your horse and
90 after the party. Tell Lieutenant l.
sent you to see what you can do with those
girls Your suggestion saved my bacon oEco
sec if you cannet save the corn" The young
man obeyed. with slac'ity, but with no mani
ies.ation OF delight, Yet he now treasures that
order as the fiat Of his fortune. He did invent
the way. He found matters no less serious
than Represented by the Sergeant; he explain
ed the law aod the necessity he captivated the
daughter, aud through her soothed the father,
and eontrived to have himself quarered at the
house for those three days as guard oyer the
remaining proyender!
A few words will complete thestory. About
81, -,atyo lafo o. ha
bivouac-at night But there was no corn now
to be foraged for, aud the jaded horses stood
with hanging heads and saddles unremoVed,
and the men hreg themselves weariy on the
ground, with bridle-rein over arm, and snatch
ed few moments sleep, while By them + led,
with rumbling and subdued sound. 10 the damp
and dreary air. the remnao!s OF the retreating
army. Around Q little FIRE on which some eof.
fee and q small piece of bacon, (Ril their sup
pcr) we're smmering. sat the colonel, his ad-
ju'ant and courier. They were all sad, for they
had met the enemy's horse that day aud at
the house few rods off, lay the stark bodies of
several OF their comrades, and a noble young
captain of the regiment-dylog. Yet Maxweli's
thoughts were not of them. How long do
YOU thiak it will be before we get back to
swer. fourteen Then she will be old
eaouga 10 marry, before you see her again."
The 40 ic, taat attracted the writer's atten-
ton was that Of the marriage of the young
cuur!er With the gIrl VINO deteDded the corn.
ii Nv the promise vi her girlhoJd has rpened
zoe kno " not, but if the brave deserve the fair
IN proportion 10 their courage and gentleness,
then ought she to be queen rose In the rose bud
garden Of giIls this Saturday night.
Quoting too Much.