The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-07-16
A CAVALRY DASH.

q Ab4-N-- -Ns FANNAHS - H"OhO oie
at 4:30 in the morning by trying to
force an entrance TO my nose We
cavalrymen were early risers any
way. Amusement was dull in our
camp. We had not been paid for
some months, and the game of pok
er languished for want of q circulat-
ing medium. We generally retired
little after 8 o'clock, when we were
tired of smoking. After my petu-
lance at the bothersome fly had sub
sided | sat up in the little pup
tent, looked out on the glorious
: morning, and was glad. The sun
had not yet risen. though it was
broad daylight. In the great oak
trees above the long rows of tents
the birds were singing as though
, they were frantic with JOY, and the
morning breeze that stirred the
branches sent down showers of
pearly dew. Directly in front for a
!, quarter of a mile was a lawn. bound
ed by the old Confederate fortifica-
tons. On the left the noble Ten
nessee River sparkled upon its way
over It's rapids and pools. For miles
its course could be traced where the
} hills opened, and thus disappeared
in the far distance cleaning thread
of silver in the green of the forest
clad bluffs. This was Decatur, Ala
bama, and was a cavalry soldier
a boy; more, | was a sergeant in
spite of my youth and slight ply
sique, but healthy and tough as a
horse, and tanned to copper color
by the sun of Dixie. Oh, for the
health of those days the bounding,
boiling blood, the frightful appetite,
and perfect physical condition caus-
ed by an outdoor life, and the
healthy and hearty food of the
camp. Yes, | was q sergeant, and
very proud of my bright yellow
stripes, which nearly covered my
garments with the liberal allowance
of the regulations. At a little dis
tance from the front of the line of
tents was the picket line of horses
nine hundred as good steeds as ever
carried a rider. a few were still ly-
ing down. but most of them were
paving and stretching. Some We're
playfully biting one another; all
had a watchful eye for the tent
doors, in anticipation of the morning
meal. This was fancy regiment,
too, mostly young men and boys,
not coward in the lot; some abso-
lutely reckless with their lives. The
horses were sorted in colors by COM
panies nv company had the black,
next to US in line came the grays,
then the sorrels, the browns
as far as possible preserving a uni
form color in each company. This
morning when | arose | dressed
myself-a soldiers toilet is no very
elaborate affair-and walked down
to the picket to say good morning to
my horse Jim. Perhaps some may
smile at the idea of bidding good
morning to a horse, but I'll swear
that Jim understood it. | had a
real affection for that horse Black,
he was, as ravens wing, except
the white star between his tender
deep, black eyes. His hide was like
satin. He was perfectly proportion
ed, and trained to almost human
understanding. At my will he
would rack, pace or trot. The slight
est touch of the rein upon his
glossy. arching neck, would guide
him, though his mouth was firm
enough to make a good brace for a
steady and strong arm but it must
be steady-a jerk would madden
him, be it ever so light. | knew
Jim and he knew me. Many a time
upon the long raids have | slept for
miles and miles upon his strong
back. while he patiently plodded
along, knowing his place in the line
as well as |. Upon such occasions |
would invariably wake up hatless.
The overhanging branches of the
trees will spare no man, even if he
is asleep. About six or eight months
before this time my company had
captured half dozen rebel scouts,
and Jim fell 10 me as my share of
the plunder.
Oh, brave, royal Jim Thousands
of miles did YOU carry me proudly
and gladly swimming swift rivers,
scaling steep mountains through
the wild. mad charge, ana the long
strain of the raid ; through whistling
bullets and flashing sabres, some
times half-fed, at other times feast
ing with your rider upon the fat of
plundered plantations, always will
ing to dance when the band played,
always ready with a whinny of de-
light and kiss for your rider, and
then at last starved at Atlanta, when
Sherman went back into Alabama
after Hood, when the hard tack so
gladly shared with you became so
wormy and vile that you could not
touch it. and there was no other
food Though turned jim loose
he hung about my tent uay after
day, refusing to leave me. Then
there came day when he looked
at me with piteeus eyes. He could
no longer eat the green boughs |
dragged to him from the trees He
staggered away, sank to his knees,
and wearily laid down. He lifted
his head to see me, and spark of
love was in his eyes when he found
me standing over him, and then,
with long drawn sigh, he died.
On this bright morning his place
in the line was vacant, but on look
ing around | saw the rascal out on
the parade ground cropping the rich
short grass. went up to him, and
thought he saw my approach he
was too BUSY With the sweet mouth
ful to make any sign. Not until
laid my hand upon his shining
shoulder did ne lifted his proud |
head with his low note of welcome
then he lifted up one fore foot to
shake handsome of his pretty |
tricks that had been learned him by
the rebel rider from whom he came
to me. "Come" said I, and side by
side we walked toward the tents. |
Before we got there I heard shot
IN the picket line. like the distant