Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-12-20
Tales Told by Veterans.

a down town hotel, smoking, chatting
and thoroughly enjoying each others
society. The conversation developed
the fact tha. most of them had seen
service in the late war, and anecdote
and story drifted in that direction.
One, sitting in a window seat sud.
denly called to his nearest companion;
who Is that man, major?" The man
referred to was passing on horseback
The animal was dainty little mare.
clean in neck and limbs, a "good one''
evidently. The rider sat erect in the
saddle. but easily and gracefully, with
a light hand on the rein. The SON.
brero, Texas saddle, boots, jlnglinG
spurs, ana dashing air proclaimed the
plains rider, while the confident glance
right and left indicated that the rider
appreciated the public interest in his
appearance and get-up.
"Why, that is Johnny H. a
lieutenant in my old regiment He
was always great horseman-one of
those men who could teach horse any
thing, and make spirited animal out
of the sorriest plug. He was always
up to some trick or other, In which his
trained horse played prominent part.
When we were on scout favorite
trick of his was to ride into a town at
full gallop and drop his horse in a
heap right in the street, and the in
telligent brute would lie there as
though dead. He would go off
and attend to his business and come
back to find a crowd around the horse
almost ready to mob him for his cruel
ty. Fllnging leg over the animals
back he would come to life, spring up
and be away in an instant. Many a
time in dangerous scouts has this abili-
ty to drop his horse in an instant stood
him in good stead, and enabled him to
escape capture. A peculiar thing was
that his horses would never do these
tricks for any one else. Officers used
to take fancy to some of his trained
animals, and pay large price for
them, only to find that they were very
ordinary and stupid brutes out of their
trainers hands,"
"The fights in camp said Capt.
Hand, 'were often hotter than our en-
gagements in the field. Most of the
disputes that led to personal encoun-
ters grew out of the trouble at the
card table. Everybody played poker
in the army, even some of the chap
lains. The greatest time at poker |
was when we lay down in
Tennessee for three weeks one time
and nothing to do. We used to put
rubber over out tent to hide the can
delight. Many times have I sat half
a day on a barrel for being caught
burning a candle after taps. Well,
beans were the only chips we had.
The result was that no matter how
carefully the banker kept his accounts
be always had to redeem about twice
Is many beans as he mad given out.
Then somebody would get mad, and
there would be a fight that
could only be stopped by threat to call
The guard, or the appearance of the
guard in person, and guard house all
night for the party. How them boys
would fight! And they were always
good friends next day too. There was
Johnson, my tent companion, he's
gone now; got mis- last bullet at Vlcks-
ourg. He was always licking some
body. They ran in so many bogus
Deans on Johnson, that the last time
1e kept bank he made everybody at
;he table turn their pockets inside out
before they sat down.
Zone of the most dramatic scenes l
remember" said the judge, twas an
occurrence on a Mississippi river
steamer, Judge Schakelford, of the su.
2reme court, had fine place on the
liver down in Tennessee. He was
neutral, though with union sym
oathies. Detachments from both
armies were frequently at his place,
md he treated all alike. His 'daugh
er, Miss Mary, was a vivacious little
adv. and rebel to the core. One son
was in the confederate army, and was
iilled, and two were with us. Well,
he Judge was coming back from
Washington with Miss Mary, and the
,nly way to get down the river was on
! union gun-boat. There was strict
order to allow no ladies on board, but
he Judge fixed it up in some way
With the captain and Mary got on
BOARD. At the dinner the pretty
voung lady was given the seat of hon
If at the head Of the, table. She was
such dainty little thing and snub-
1ed the officers so upmercifully that
hey admired her all the more. The
very first toast was proposed all stand
ng,' to the union army. Glasses were
'aised and eyes turned toward Miss
Mary. only to be startled by her ac-
ion. She sprang to her feet, her face
1ushed with anger, and smashing her
glass to fragments on the table before
ler, cried: mo! no! No toast shall be
frank in my presence to the army that
killed my brother! And the strange
part of it was" said the Judge, is con-
,lusion, 'that they did not drink the
;oast, or similar one as long as she
was on the boat"
Col. Gillaw had remained silent so
.ar, and as by that tacit rule of good