The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-11-29
THE CAMPFIRE.

THE CAMPFIRE.
Ramances of soldiers Iife-Adven-
tares of L'tsie Pawpaw-An fniiian-
lans, Famous whistle. B8
LITTLE PAwPAw.
Frank haywood was aslecidedbfon
bright, erratic, impatient and impetu-
GUS He had contempt for enemies
that old soldiers never feel. He was
impatient as q child over the slow
movements Of the army. ''The viii
10 do. the soul to dare, was his first
niank in the soldier PLATFORM On one
occasion Frank was on duty with
picket guard, stationed Oh a mountain
road about mile from camp, a river
separating the reserves from camp. The
post was dangerous one. and the
greatest watchfulness was required to
prevent surprise from the enemy, who
virtually held possession of the road
st an abrupt turn not two hundred
wards from the front. Near this turn or
point was heavy growth of pawpaw
bushes; hearing fruit of analeh better
quality, it was agreedsby adventurous
spirits, than grew at any other point.
Baywood had had a dozen adventures
in the pawpaW thicket, because the en-
envy rarely failed to fire at every man
who dared to enter the hounds thereof.
Escaping each time uninjured, he be-
canae fearless. His contempt for ene-
mics increased, and he inclined to Che
opinion that the. bullet was never made
that was to hit him. i. IS. ...,x.,
On one occasion, after being relieved
from nights ardHous duty, haywood
threw his gun over his shoulder, and
asking his eomrade to wait, proceeded
to make bis. accustomed raid on the
paWpaW thieket. He pTueked his paw
paws without interruption.and proceeds
ed on his way plucking, tasting and
putting them IN his pocket. Sudden
u, s'as rocks huge point he turned, =
be came upon squad of the enemy
formed in order and with muskets
raised to fire. The sergeant in charge
ordered him to throw down his gun and
surrender Instead of so doing he
clubbed his rifle, and, with q sweeping
stroke aimed to strike down the line of
muskets, he saved himself, but didsnet
inlure the enemy. He felt as though o
thousand bullets had torn through his
hair and clothes, for five muskets had
exploded as he struck his sweeping
blow. He turned to run Immediately,
but another squad fired at him, and
bayWood's 5 companions saw him fall,
roll oyer, spring halfup pitehRforward,
and then roll down d steep descent in
The road like. dead man, the enemy
following at u run. Quick ias thought
they charged up the road to rescue
their comrade, but scarcely had they
ilred their first. volley when haywood,
bleeding and dirty, .tunibfed' down
among them, gun still in his. hand and
pawpaws still in his pockets, but mashed
.aJe1ly. a a3aasE
Both parties had retired, and the bait
eefiesin camp, which had wheeled INTO
position. on. the river bank retired
again 70 the fort above. Franks left
arm had been literally crushed by bull
iesS and BY his fall among the rocks,
anu IN an hour after his adventure he
was one-armed man. The next morn
ing hTahk slipped away from the hos
pia and erawled over to his quarters.
- recovered rapidly and refused to
lsaFe the service even for few weeks.
aae tact that he had received so severe
wound In so unsoldierly foray and
nasore the regiment had been in battle
naa lts effect, and he determined To do
sis auiy as a soldier in some wav. This
discrimination and bis misfortune made
ssl zee fegiment.h friends, officers as
wen IS privates, and be was assigned
y s'lch diaty as he could perform. He
lseeiyed at once the name of sLntle
war. 80 : 2 '.Ae
At Stone River he was an orderly
EeFllng messages and orders. Press
w % the front to deliver an order he
aaa nls horse shot under him, aud then,
" plunged, reeklesslyf forward, re-
IS, Sw1fea wound that brought him down.
nas sattleheld was that night in the
asessesslon OF the enemy, or was u sort
oasputed ground, so the wounded re-
Ssed s no attention. haywood had
.allen m q cedar thicket where the
sshs had been most furious and the
NY ana wounded lay thick about him.
sssl ~ aaa seen the men, now disabled,
s.ss 80 at each other with faces furious
~ ssa passion and hate and with hoarse
ssss oelloving brutal cursessya These
80 now lay where they fell, as calm
ss;,5 : slelf common suffering as the sick
saalaren Of the same mother rest on the
se1aq ssals oea. Two men who had taken
rs rss.ussate aim at each other at Short
se' and tired almost at the same in.
ssaae. both fell dangerously wounded.
as Eah. alter. as the cold, hazv moon
y - came down upon them, the moans
: 0AsaoE RateE caused the other to move