The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-12-18

ster. I'm a fine suit. | had worn my best,
showing it would be lost if left at school
but almost barefooted, and YEARLY ln-glng
4 carpet-bag, plodding into their mi list, in
the 1renching rain. saw l had walked in
70 a dilemma cal dc sac, "a it were -
but happily | had heard an officer at the
War Department telling a comrade that
Gen. McCalIs division OF Pennsylvania
militia. known As the Reserves, had
marched the previous day To take post at
Tennallvtown-somewhere up the river.
Accordingly on being stopped by the squad
ofpickets, In front of the Commanding Oil
GERS quarters, | endeavored to look self
possessed, as | inquired-''ls this the camp
Of the Pennsylvania Reserves" NO.
Ohio battery, | think well, do you
know where McCall's men are camped?'
Cover at Tennalvtown, they say" How
far is that" Nigh on to six miles, they
say" Good Heavens. [ ought to have
gotten a horse and buggy. But | must get
there tonight somehow And after re-
cciving many directions how to proceed, |
climbed the steep bluffs, and turned off
through the fields in the designated direc-
ton. Looking far across to the \ irglnla
end of the bridge, / could see two men sit
ting on horseback. with oil cloths over Their
shoulders, and carbines across their knees,
who were. Of course. Confederate pickets
and my soul ached to think that | mus 90
dismally on into all manner of perlls, while
lust over yonaer, Il thousand yards distant,
were safety. and friends and country
But l did not have long to brood over
these matters, for presently a soldier yelled
after me-"H41o, mister, hotd 0R!' The
shout made every nerve tinglc, and as he
came running forward my impulse was to
take to my heels, leaving my baggage as his
1.I- I sloll -. - 81 - L. 800
up he said-'The major sent me over to
Tennally. and I'll keep you company
This was better than | feared, yet it did not
altogether relieve my alarm, because now |
should have to go to the village; and how could
| tell whether or no this man were not sent
as a guard 10 make sure that | reached Gen.
McCalrs camp? Or what if he had been
misled by my fine dress, and meant to
rob me, az soon As we were III the gloomy
woods. He was a big strapping fellow, with
shaggy beard. and enOrmOu boots, wearing
a blouse, which did not cover the muZzle of
a big pistol swinging i'll his belt. To my boy
ISL eyes these things were r~Utlianly in the
last degree. equal to the pictures in dime
novels. However he wasn't much of a cut
throat. Ca the contrary. as we were plOd-
ding through the gloom and rain, he con
tesSed he was very glad Of my company:
'.for"-said he-these NarylanderS, since
the big fight are getting saSsicr and s~assier,
an | dessay they'd Just as lief pop over a
fellow if they ketch t him out here alone in
the fields at night,
TALKING WITH \ YANKEE GENERAL.
1t was nearly eight o'clock before we
stumbled upon the little hamlet of a dozen
houses, surrounding Il tumble down frame
hotel, called Tennallytown. The rain was
pouring down. and the soldier himself sug-
rested that | had better 90 to the hotel, and
postpone until next day my inquiries for the
troops. Tie said Gen. Mccall had his head
quarters there, and | could learn all | wished
70 know from him. So, We at once stamped
into the big room. which served as office,
sitting. and smoking room, and dining room
Of the establishment. The General and
staff with one or two colonies, and several
travellers, CHANGED to be at tea, and the
rheumatic old landlord, after leisurely filling
his corn-cob pipe, inquired if didn't want
ter set up ter supper. There was nothing un-
der the sun | did want ter set up to more
overwhelmingly than the big platters of ham
and eggs, and hot biscuit and coffee, ranged
50 literally on the board: but as | had but i
cents which would barely lay for half a bed, |
could only pretend to be busy drying myself.
My coming in so Familiarity with the soldier
had prevented the least thought as to my
IutHtllN, ~ diltl SuplCi We Iii sat dIOullI
the huge fire place smoking and talking
quite like a party of village topers. The
only thing worthy of mention was a remark
by an officer, to which Gen. Mccall gave
his assent,-that every Southern capital
from Richmond to Montgomery must be
burned to the ground - And the ground
Sowed in salt said one colonel. And
every Rebel port destroyed, SO that there
shall be no ingreSs nor egress to the accursed
=. TI
Is perfectly distinct in my memory and
when just twelve months later, | had the
pleasure of seeing Maior-General McCaH a
prisoner, captured by the Division to which
| belonged, on the ridge Of Frazier's Farm,
near Richmond. | could have reminded him
Of his sneers at the chivalry, and his talk Of
LAYING our capitals in ashes, that night in the
old hotel.
ITO BE C~ONTINUED-)