Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-06-06
HUMoR I'M CAMP AND FIELD.

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HUMoR I'M CAM AND FIELD.
!, Some Anecdotes OF SOL aiers IN the North
ern ArInies During the War. 55ss5.s .s|
By General James IS Bfisbm, in Plilads lphia
Il I.iimas &5.i5.
In the war days 6 G G irapevine Bridge
became historical ii the p enins1llar
Campo align. Its name orr inated as fol-
lows: Whilst Summers Division was
encannped on Taylor's farm q detail il
was made to construct = bridge across
the Chickahonliny at q convenient
distance from the camp. The First
Minnesota and Six ninth Pennsy lyania
did most Of the work. After the bridge
was flushed a private soldier suggested
thatiS was notsafe When asked his ren-
son for being of that opinion he stated
in case Of food the cross piece.
would be carried away by the waters. He
advised that the cross ties should be
fastened to the string pieces, which
would preserve the bridge intact if a
food should come on suddenly, as. was
likely from The nature of the surround
ing country But how tie them? There
were no ropes to be had, but he at once
solved the difficulty by pointing to. the
grapevines which grew in great abund
ance all around on the trees along the
river banks. They were used as lie
suggested, and mark the result.
One night in 1862 it rained in torrents
all the night through and continued till
late in the morning. The river rose
rapidly, flooded its banks and swept all.
before it. At noon the opening fire Of
the enemy indicated his quick appre-
citation OF the dangerous position of
Casey's and Reyes troops, which. had
crossed the Chickahonfiny and which
were apparently cut off from the main
army. Summer instantly put his troops
in motion and sought the bridge. Not
a yestige of it was to be seen. The
water covered it to the depth of two
feet. The General called for the officer
who commanded the pioneer corps that
had built the bridge.
"What has become of the bridge Won
were ordered to build hereabouts?"
asked The General
"It is there, General" he said, point
ing between two trees that had been
marked to indicate the location.
well, sir, let me see you cross it,
then"
The officer put spurs to his horse and
riding down the bank crossed slowly
over, feeling his way. The passage was
made in safety amid the shouts of those
on shore. The infantry. cavalry and
artillery followed and the battle Of Fair
Oaks was won. The grapevines had
held the bridge in place and ever after
wards it was known in the army of the
Potomac as the "Grapeyine Bridge"
A very bitter Southern woman, MOTTO
ing the large loose and i'll fitting trousers
which our soldiers wore during tho carl
Ter part of the war, asked asoldier:
What do you critters wear such loose
pants for?'
Il assure you, madam" said the prac-
tical joker, that when we left home it
was as much as we could do to get our
pants Oh and they were really too tight
for us, but your climate down here has
not agreed with us and We have thin
ned down until now our pants are
trihe too large, as you see."
Well" said she. CIV hearn tell OF
poor Yankees, but III be dog-goned if
you uns don't get back home petty soon
you'll turn into hy-u p-the-ceeeks!"
For the protection Of Savannah the
Confederates planned number Of bat
teries along the Little Ogeecho river,
Big Ogeeche being protected by the for
midable McAlister required but little
protection Oh that side. Our sailors in
connection with watching for blockade
runners kept an anxious eye upon the
batteries and determined to give the
nearest one a hazing at the first oppor
tunitv when things We're considered fav-
orable for such q feat. Occasionally
boat would run in, fire few eleven
inch shells to keep the Johnnies from
rasting and then was generally glad to
get out again. An unusual quietness
seemed to creep over one particular bat
terry; still the sailors could see with
glasses what they supposed to be gar
rBon and their numbers seemed to be
considerable. The beacon lights were
lighted with great regularity, which
was considered good evidence that the
works were still occupied.
One Of our naval captains, who was
known far and wide as q man of pluck
and fighting Abilities. being. senior Of
flyer OF our little fleet, determined to
capture the battery. Organizing TN as
saulting party, he gave the details great
attention. If successful this venture
would enable the vessel to run in sew
eral miles nearer land into smoother.
water, avoiding the terrible shaking up
the vessels were getting from their out
side station. The storming party was
composed entirely Of sailors, who were
to attack the garrison in the fort in a
d-to-han fight with revolvers and
cutlasses. The preparations were be-
gun by fitting out the launches and
cutters with the essentials required
upon boats for such an expedition,
muffled oars, etc. Preparations com-
pleted, the boats were filled with de-
termined crews, who knew the work in
hand and We're prepared to do it or die
in the attempt Great caution was OBJ
served and the men were now nearing
the fort: The guns could be seen in
position and the muzzles frowning down
upon them. The object Of the expedi-:
tion could not be kept from the enemy
much longer, and every moment it was
expected those guns would -belch forth
fire and death into theiravery midst.
Many q poor fellow said his prayers as
he grasped his revolver and cutlass, re-
solved to sell his life as dearly as posi-
BILE. @ s e.. . r. + Fl !. .f5,I $$.@'%
/ The fort was now reached and crawl
ing up the sides the men peered over and
saw what they thought was the whole
garrison asleep. A fire was burning