The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-09-01
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1882.
STORIES OF THE WAR.

STORIES OF THE WAR
A shell burst near an Irishman In the
trenches. Gazing on the fragments, he
exclaimed: "Be jabers! them's the fell
lers to tickle yer ear"
ANECDOTE OF STONEwALL JACKSON.
At council of officers, early in the
war, 1t was remarked that Major -
was wounded and would be unable to
do the duty assigned him. "Wounded,"
said Jackson, If il really is so. ! think
it must have been by an accidental dis
charge of duty"
THE HERO OF THE FAMILY.
A soldier had lost his arm and was
rejoicing over it. my grandfather"
said he. ..lost leg in the revolutionary
war. and our family have been Dragging
over it ever since. The story is an old
one. and now l am going to be the hero
Of the family"
HOW HE PRAYED.
When Q Union gunboat was going
into action one Of tho men who was OH
his knees was sneeringly asked by al
officer il he was afraid.
mo. was praying" was the re-
Spouse.
"Well. what are you praying forP"
Praying" said the sailor. that the
enemy's bullets may be distributed the
same way as the prize money is. prin-
cipslly among the officers"
AN IRIsHMAN's REBUKE.
An Irishman from Battle Creek,
Mich, was at Bull Run battle. and was
somewhat startled when the head Of his
companion on the left hand was knocked
of by Q cannon-ball. A few moments
after spent ball broke the fingers of
his comrade on the other side. The
latter threw down his gun and yelled
with pain. when the Irishman rushed to
him, exclaiming: "Blasht your soul,
you ould woman, shtop cryin'; you
make more noise about it than the man
that losht his head"
WHY THE KETTLE WENT.
The committee appointed to collect
metal for cannon for Gen. Beauregard's
army. applied to q planter of Adams
Co.. Miss, for his bell. Not having
such an article, he mentioned it to his
wife, when she very periodically offered
her brass kettle. The little ones rather
demurred to the sacrifice, and one Of
them, with sweet tooth. said, LA, pa,
what will we do for preservesp" my,
daughter" said the wag of father,
.'our whole duty now is to preserve our
country" The kettle was sent
WHY THEY CLOSED UP.
Among the troops in Western Vir-
ginia, stories about the Philippi affair
formed staple of conversation. Here
is one of the best:
A certain Indiana company, almost
worn out with marching, was struggling
along with very little regard to order.
Hurrying up his men, the Captain
shouted, "Close up. boys! On you.
close up! II the enemy were to fire on
you when you're struggling along that
way, they couldn't hit a d-n one Of
you! Close up? And they closed up
Immediately.
sALLIE DUsKY' CHOICE.
When Gen. Kelly was in quest If
guerrillas in West Virginia he captured
q young woman named Sallie Dusky,
whose two brothers were captains in the
Confederate army. He questioned her
closely. but could get no information
regarding the guerrillas, and at last as
sured her that II she would impart the
information he desired he would give
her the chances for husband of all the
young officers of his staff. She de-
clined, and was taken away by Capt.
Baggs. As she moved away from the
Generals presence she asked the Cap
tain If the General was really in earnest
- -, a hin ~ tho Ia OF nropoS;fiop popno
assured her that he was sincere and
would have lived up to his promise.
The girl assumed kind of thoughtful
manner, and after short time replied:
well. believe I'd about as lief have
the old man (meaning the GeneraD as
any of EN-"
INCIDENT OF THE PENINSULA.
At the battle of Hanover Court House,
Va, two sergeants met in the woods;
each drew his knife. and the two bodies
were found together, each with knife
buried in to the hilt
ACHICKEN STORY.
A certain regiment was stationed not
far from Meridian Hill. Capt. Nat. Per-
cival had command of one of the COM
panies-the crack company by general
consent. One day gentleman, resi-
dent near the camp, came in with
complaint setting forth that certain
soldiers had maliciously, wickedly and
most unwarrantably taken divers fowls
from his hen-roost. He did not expect
restitution, but he hoped that the cul.
prits might be discovered and properly
punished, and stop put to the nefa-
rious work.
From certain descriptions which the
gentleman gave, the Colonel suspected
that the crack company of the regiment
must contain the pilferers; so he straight
way summoned Capt Nat to his head
quarters. Tho Captain came, and in
his presence the gentleman repeated his
charge.
what did you say the soldiers took
from your roostp" asked Capt Nat.
The gentleman counted on his fingers
one fine rooster, four laying hens and
three fine pullets.
Rather a small collection of fowls, I
should say, for such . place." said Capt.
Nat.
"Oh. those were not all had"
"Whatp Had you more-moref fowls,
at that time, on your rOost?"
20, yes-a great many more"
Whereupon Capt Nat turned to his
superior. and with low bow, and with
his hand laid upon his heart, he prompt
ly declared:
''Colonel-you know, sir, that my
men could not have been the marauders
upon that occasion. They would not
have left tail feather behindr'
GOOD ENOUGH TO RETREAT WITH.
Just look at them id .yaller-
hammers marching along with their
old fiint-lock rifles and squirrel guns"
remarked Kentucky '.reb.," as the
Forty-ninth Alabama Regiments, c. S.
A., s-untered leisurely through the
streets of Nashville.
You 60 to h-r retorted one Of
the Forty winners. II reckon these guns
are list as good to retreat with as any