The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-23
a WAR Story OF LOGAN.
How ''Black jack Calamity stood Father
Over the FatherIess.

Over the Fatherless.
National Tribune.
1t was nthe summer or 1864, and the army I'M
der Sherman had fallen back from its position
before Atlanta and swept around to Hoods rear,
General Logan leading the advance. / remem-
Der the country was densely wooded, and that
magnificent forests of pine, oak and chestnut
lowered on either side of the road over which
we marched. just as we turned q bend in the
road we emerged suddenly into a small clear
ing. A rude log cabin, surrounded by evergreen
~shrubbery, stood in the clearing, and hanging
from one Of the bushes 70 noticed a yellow
cloth.
AS medical officers, it naturally occurred to us
at once that this was an improvised hospital of
some sort, and we rode up to inquire. At the
Sdoor of the cabin, as we approached, an old
woman, evidently of the familiar cracker
type, presented herself. She told US there
why she had put out a yellow flag there, she re-
piled: WAL. yer see my gal is sick. and l
reckoned eff put out that yer hospt1 rag, you'ns
wouldn't be pesterin' round so much
whats the matter with your child9" said /;
1--WE are medical officers, and perhaps we can do
something for her"
'tWaal, now" she quickly responded, nef
you'ns is real doctors, just look in and see what
youns all done with your shellin'. Time my gal
was sickest, two of yourn shells come clar
through my cabin, and, l tell you, it was right
skeery for a SPELL"
We accepted the old woman's invitation and
walked in. 1t was as she said. The cabin,
built of rough pine logs, afforded but one room,
twelve feet square. The only household articles
visible we're an old skillet, a rather dilapidated
bed, two or three chairs without backs, and q
queer collection of gourds. The shells indeed
had played havoc with the interior. The roof
had been badly shattered. and a stray shot had
pierced the walls. 1t had cut one of the logs
entirely In two, and forcing one jagged end out
in the room so far that it hung Overwhelmingly
over the bed. upon which, to our astonishment,
we saw lying young girl, by whose side was a
newborn babe, with the prints of the Creators
fingers fresh upon it. It was a strange yet
touching spectacle. Here, in this lonely cabin,
stripped by lawless stragglers of both armies
of food and clothing and shattered by the flying
shells of our artillery, in the storm and
innocent. The mother, we learned, was the
wife of a confederate soldier whose blood had
stained the sacred soil" of Virginia but a few
month after. his marriage and CONSUMPTION into
the service, and the child was fatherless.
By this time quite a number of officers and
men had gathered about the cabin. Presently
some one suggested that the baby ought to be
christened, with full military honors, and, it be-
ing duly explained to her that to ''christenn was
all the same as to b~aptize,n she replied, with
alacrity: "Oh, yes! baptize, / reckon, if you'ns
has got any preacher along This was all the
boys wanted, and an orderly was at once sent
back to the general commanding, with the com
pliments of the surgeon, and a request that a
chaplain belonging to one of the regiments in
the advance brigade might be allowed
to return with the messenger to the
cabin. Upon this, General Logan flor
he it wasl significantly remarked that
the names mentioned were in themselves sufi-
cent to satisfy him that some deviltry was on
hand, but that, nevertheless, the chaplain might
go. Then, inviting the colonel, who happened to
be riding with him atsthe time, he set out him
self for the scene, squirting "Old john to a gal
lop, and soon had joined the party at the cabin.
General" said the doctor, as the former
dismounted. you're just the man we're after
For whatP
"For a godfather, y replied the doctor.
The matter was explained to him, and. as the
doctor led the way into the house, the boys, who
had gathered around the General in the expecta-
ton that the event would furnish an occasion for
a display of his characteristic humor, noticed
there was something in Black Jacks face that
they We're not won't to see there, and that in his
eyes there was a certain humid tenderness far
different from their usual flashing brightness.
He stood for a moment silent, gazing at the I'M
happy mother and fatherless child, and their
pitiful surroundings, and then, turning to those
about him, said tersely:
THAT looks rough
Then glancing around at the ruins wrought by
our shells, and addressing the men in the cabin,
ne called out: Il say, boys, can't you straighten
this up a littleg Fix up that roof. There are
plenty of stakes around that old stable
and push back that log into place, and help the
old lady to clear out the litter, and-I don't
think 1T would hurt you any to leave a part of
your rations!p
Prompt to heed the suggestion, the boys
leaned their muskets against the logs, and,
while some of them cut brush, others swept up
the splinters and pine-knots that the shot and
shell had strewed over the floor, and not one
of them forgot to go to the corner of the cabin
and empty his haversack! It made a pile of
commissory stores, consisting of meat, coffee,
sugar, hard-tack and chickens, probably for
aged from her next door neighbor) surprising
any that this poor ''cracker" woman has proba-
bly, ever seen or possessed at one time.
This done, the next thing in order was the
christening, and the chaplain now came for
ward to perform his sacred Office.
what are you going to give her for a name2
| want suthing right peart, now said grand
mother.
She was told that the name should be ~satisfac-
tory, and forthwith she brought out the bap-
tismal bowl-which on this occasion consisted
Of a gourd-full of water fresh from the spring.
General Logan now took the baby, wrapped it
in its swaddling clothes of coarse homespun, and
held 1T while the chaplain went through with the
ceremony. The latter was brief and character
lied with due solemnity, the spectators behav-
ing with becoming reverence, and thus the bat
tle-born babe was christened ShellAnna. Be-
fore parting, the General cautioned her to put
the money in a safe place. lest some drummer
should steal it, in spite Of everything" and then,
ordering a guard to be kept over her cabin until
the last straggler had passed by, he rode away.
Yanks is the b~eatenist critters / ever seem
'Southern Views"