San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-28
''vHSON'S GRIN"
An Old Soldier Tells How He Got the Countersign
from Raw Recruit 20 Go on Spark.
Ing Expedition.
tFrom the Louisville Courier'Journal.l

a.. iuB hNptuiuoh.
From the Louisville Courier, Journal
81 notice in the Courier Journal"
said q gentleman, yesterday, "that the
ex-Union soldiers of Missouri intend
to celebrate the anniversary of the
battle of Wilson's Greek. How time
flies. That engagement took place
about twenty years ago, and yet call
to mind an incident connected with the
name of the field as readily as though
it occurred only last evening""
At the solicitation of the reporter,
the gentleman told the story, and it
was as follows: '... ..,...
"Well, you see," he said. twenty
years ago the country was in the midst
of the great conflict; and I, like thou
sands, OF, others, was into it for three
years or during the war. Shortly after
the battle of Wilson's Greek my regi-
ment was in camp at -, and it was
almost impossible to get pass beyond
the camp guard. Less than mile
from my tent resided a pretty little
girl with whom I was head over heels
in love, and the thought that I was not
to see my sweetheart according to
appointment threatened to dethrone
my reason. 1t was in vain that I
appealed to the powers that be for
pass good till 9 o'clock: no, sir, they
would not bulge from their position,
and mo sir from corporal to colonel
was the only response to my prayer.
You can bet L was in. the deep water
of the sea of melancholy when 1 re-
turned to my hut and prepared to say,
Now L lay me down to Sleep The
beat of the camp guard was within
ten feet of the rear of my tent; his
measured tramp and the occasional
halt, who goes there served to help
me kill time until tired natures sweet
restorer' had claimed me for her own.
1 was endeavoring to solve the problem
of my life: how can I get out of camp? ?
wien 1 recognized in the halt, who
goes there?' the voice of a new recruit,
who had recently become member Of
my company; he was the patrol near
est my tent. I hoisted the rear fly of
my canvas-house and crawled half way
out. I had lain on the ground but a
few minutes when my German savior,
raw recruit as he was, came tramping
down his beat toward me, Hello,
jake ventured in an undertone. for
it was agin' Hardee's tactics to talk
while on guard duty. Hello, vos dot
you, Smidt?" responded Jake. I an
swered in the affirmative, and the
guardian continued: by sheemeny,
dot vos red-hot fight; I want a drink
of water vorser as ever BEFORE
Here was my opportunity to get
beyond the lines, and lost no time in
making the best of it. I'll stand guard
for you,' said I. Go to your mess tent
and get drink The German assented
to my proposition, and in d minute
more the innocent had delivered his
gun to me and was on the eve of leav-
ing me in charge Of his post, when ]
said, Jake, what is the countersign for
to-night?' oh, yes,' he answered
'dot countersign vas; veil, What vas it ?
1 dink I don't remember vat it vas.
Oh, yes,' he continued now I've got
him. Vat vas the name of dot blaze
where Lyon got him kill once?'
"Wilson's Creek said I.
"Y aw, dot was it; Wilson's erik vas
de sign. Nopody can go you past vot
can't make de sign out
"'All right said, go and get the
water The soldier left, and all at
once it flashed across my mind: What
if that Dutchman is caught off of his
beat?' Well those who have soldiered
know the penalty. It was an age of
misery to me. 1 had jumped from the
frying pan into the fire, and, thank
Providence, he soon returned, and with
Dank you, I feel PETER he relieved
me of a wagon load of horrible antici-
pations, I crawled back to my tent, and
after q bssty arrangement of hair and
apparel, I started from the guard post
on the opposite side of the camp. A
walk of a half mile brought me bang
up against sentinel and his command
of Halt! Who goes there?'
"With fear and trembling 1 answered
"A friend with the countersign.'
"fAdvance, friend, and give the coun-
tersign.'
81 lost no time in advancing, and
ever the soldiers bayonet whispered
Wilson's Creek The countersign was
pronounced correct, and in another
minute 1 was outside of camp, for the
time being free man. l made tracks
for the residence of my sweetheart, and
though late, 1 had ample time to pro-
pose, and she to consent, before re-
turned to camp. So you see the
mention of the name of Wilson's Greek
is sufficient to call up vivid recollec-
ton of big incident in my life as q