Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-15

they were much pleased with the objects
that pointed out. But happening to cast
my eye across to the rebel Fort in our
front saw the end OF sponge staff ap-
pear above the parapet and then disappear,
and knew pretty well that they were
charging q gun. So | quietly slid down
the inclined plane behind the works and
awaited the result. In less than half q
mint te q rifi,d gun was discharged, and a
shell passed over the bomb-proof, only q
few feet above the Pennsylvanian' head,
aud exploded little distance In our rear.
The effect on our visitors was most re-
markable. They leaped down the side OF
the earth work aud rolled, slid or tumble
into the mud below. The Pennsylvania
lost his balance and came down head first,
and got up and walked away with a
shocking bad hat" One shot more was
fired. and then we could hear the derisive
laughter OF the rebels across the way, who
had enjoyed the sport no less than the boys
OF the Seventh Maine Battery.
The jokes, however, were not always
played by the rebels. One day as | was
looking across the enemy's line into an
open field, l saw large party coming out
OF wood beyond, each man having log
OF wood upon his back. There were prob
ably hundred or more OF them. Calling
one OF the sergeants, | pointed out the
party to him and directed him 10 drop 4
shell as near them as he could and not
hurt them. He complied, and the twelve.
pound bomb passed over the heads OF the
party and exploded n short distance be-
youd; and such fall In iire-wood has rare
ly been known. Each man threw down
| his log aud ran for cover into the fort, and
our boys set up shout which must have
reached the ears for which 1t was intended
| for the wood was less than half mile
| away. Our Fort was so near the rebel
| picket line that conversation could quite
easily be carried on between our boys and
the Johnnies. They were not allowed TO
do this as a rule, but sometimes the rule
was violated. One day recollect OF hear
ing q rebel picket ask one OF our boys
what regiment he belonged to- aud he
promptly replied 1.-The 10th Maine" The
Johnny said he did not suppose Maine
| furnished SO many regiments, and, said he,
You must have every man out.
One morning as we were busy about our
routine duty, noticed n stranger looking
over the works, and as this was OF itself u
suspicious circumstance, | decided to keep
1
had 4 dark complexion, black mustache,
and seemed like foreigner. lie went
round and appeared 10 be inspecting every
thing, and was on the point OF asking him
his business when the Johnnes rendered II
unnecessary by sending over a salutation
In the shape OF a siXty-four pound mortar
shell which exploded In the Fort. This
was speedily followed by another, and our
| la ufia N
and seek shelter in our bomb-proof. lie
| spent the greater part OF the day with US
as the bombardment was kept up, render
| ing IL unsafe 10 leave the works, large
number OF shells exploding in the rear.
We found him social and full OF anecdote,
and enjoyed his stay very much. We found
that he was no stranger, though We had
never before met him face 10 face. He was
Thomas Mast, the Inimitable caricaturist
OF Harper's Weekly and was then out on
professional tour and filling his portfolio
with sketches of scenes along the army
line. lie never knew how near he came TO
being arrested and sent 10 Headquarters.
One or the red letter days OF the winter
was the one upon which Commissioners
came through the lines 10 meet Secretary
Seward and others, at Hampton Roads, TO
attempt u negotiation for cessation or
hostilities. BY common consent, truce
was declared all along the line and between
the picket lines, the blue and the gray
mingled in friendly intercourse. Wood
was getting scarce In our vicinity, and
there were several large trees growing on
the natural ground between the two lines,
which neither side had been able 10 secure.
On this day delegations went out from
each side cut down the trees and divided
the fuel between them, each carrying Its
portion 10 its respective quarters. The
"Yanks" exchanged hard-tack and other
rations with the hungry "Johnnies re-
ceiving tobacco in return, and there was a
general swapping OF knives and tr!nkets.
We found that the rebel rations at that
time consisted OF three-iourths or pound
OF corn meal and fourth OF pound OF
very lean beef per day, with nothing but
water 10 drink. Many Of our boys divided
their coffee rations with the rebs on that
day, which was great luxury. But
towards night we learned through the
rebels that negotiations had failed and the
word came "Down Yanks, we've got TO
shoot" and at twilight picket firing was
resumed as usual.
During the day, when OFF duty, the boys
amused themselves in various ways. Card
playing occupied much of the time. but the
Seventh Maine boys naver gambled. Lieu
tenant Staples, Lieutenant Machewsky OF
the New Jersey Battery and occupied the
bomb proof quarters adjoining the maga-
zine, each OF us having bunk TO sleep up
on. One Of US was on duty all the time
Machewsky was 4 Prusslan by birth, d
thorough soldier, aud brave as his country
men generally are. We could not mess
together for Machewsky must have his
dessicated potatoes, beef steak and almost
everything else cooked in vinegar, but we
lived in the greatest harmony. Some OF
the boys occupied their time in making
rings and other ornaments from the gill
metal OF which the rebel fuses were made.
A section OF the fuse was filed of and then
by means Of file and other simple tools
1t was wrought into ring and oftentimes
quite artistcally done. One OF the boy:
sent ring thus made, TO young lady
friend in Maine and received poetica
answer which we venture to reproduce
here.
"Pm afraid that not for many
Are matches "made in heaven as wev'
heard tell
But fewer still 1t seems to me, II any,
Receive letter and a ring from he'll
, Though to be serious, ! do not fiatter
|, Myself upon the mission OF the ring
Your love for me is quite another matter.
And far from thoughts OF match or marrying
.'Yet with no sort OF doubling, there are legion
Ofpretty women versed in Cupid's lore,
Who would land wisely tempt the lower re
gions
To win as true and brave heart as yours.
"And III were to choose or IL Il mattercd
What might choose, scruple not to tell;
I'd much prefer TO know YOUR heart were shat