The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-03-01

better suited to the occasion than an at
tempt at hurrab, although ] did what
l could to put q stop to it.
After Antietam an order was received
to drill the men iu company vancouver
and the manual of arms, something we
lad not practiced for months previous,
owing TO the active campaigning before
Richmond and elsewhere. There we're
nineteen of my company, originally 100,
answered to the bugle drllcall True,
there were two OF us on picket and three
or four on other guard, but for the rest,
they were killed, wounded, missing, and
sick. The sergeant marched US forward
by file right 1ver a low hill and into
grassy valley ont of sight of tue camp,
and halted us with the mmtnd crest
under shady tree. We drilled" in tbal
way for the regulation bour, but until
tue recall was heard aud the sergeant IN
response to it gave the command fall
in." there was not a single word uttered
iu that hour by the nineteen, neither of
whom was over % years of age; all were
silent and lls,less Had you looked
close it could be seen that the uniforms
OF most of them we're pierced with bull
let-holes, and that the rife stocks of
several wero Clipped by rife balls.
These boys were veterans OF fifteen pitch
ed battles.
Aside from essential verbal communi-
cation aud such phrases Gs Il 60 you
$40 better" the veteran camp is MS voice
less as the grave,
A fine stroke of silence among soldiers
occurred at the fag end of the retreat
from Richmond, or rather the rout from
Richmond, commonly called the seven
days fight. We got in good line Of bat
tie enough Mt the appointed fighting
places, but when the battle was over
and toe confederates repulsed, in the
movement backward, owing TO the lack
of roads every man chose his own best
path. Corps, division, brigade regi'
mental, aud company formations were
broken up and intermingled in the mass
OF horse, foot. and artillery struggling tC
the rear in the rain and mud OF the sew
euth day.
+. While jogging along on foot in mas
\ of tins description. somewhat deusei
II than elsewhere the strrup of a genera
officer on horseback struck my arm, anC
1 looked up, nni the general Officer
looked down. It WAS the first time haC
= seen Mcclellan, and was surprised Il
observe that his whiskers were sandy in
stead of the coIl black which picture
had made me familiar with. He passed
y on with his staff. but one Of his aids, whC
o fingered in the rear, possibly dissatisfied
2 with the lack of enthusiasm manifested
l. took of his hat. and. bending over hl
h saddle bow to the men, exclaimed in
p stage whisper, Mcclellan! Mcclellan
s Hip, hip!-
: This was the pnint where The strok,
x OF silence was observed, aud save th,
duh thud OF army shoes in the mud Their
Q WAS no response the boys bad the ai'
ID on the hip. Aud, by the way, the aid
re face was clean; so were the faces of hi
I'd brother aids.de-camp, so also was Nc
Cl,llansi but the faces of the men an,
m line officers who trudged in the mu
ID were black with powder smoke
ne Oae more incident must close thi
10 sketch of sounds aud silence. whic
h" might be heightened, but has grown al
n ready too long.
I" Maj W was in command of th
us st in skirmish, and it was foun
We necessary to withdraw the men. An al
dashed up with an order, when the gra
ST. column was In sight moving on our lei
of hank, and in compliance herewith tb
"a doughty major, who was possessed of
ge resonant voice, stepped in front OF n
be with his sword drawn. and commanded
he battalion, right wheel"
~ The profound bass in which the con
Ill maud began broke on the word whee
re ana it was uttered in most ignominiou
re aud dIsheartening squeak, The boy
e did DO wheeling they went to the rigl
h- about and skeda idled for shel er. A.
the major followed as rear guard.
an. /