The news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-14

Win that Barney picked up tn
tleutenant's blanket and haversacl
and helped him to his feet. The in
jured foot had now sweIled and be
come intensely painful, but by hob
bling and leaning on Barney, the lieu
tenant contriyed to reach the wild
spreading tree the former had selecte,
near mill race; and while Barne'
went on a foraging expedition the lieu
tenant had bath in the crysta
stream, and then fell into refreshin,
sleep. When he awoke Barney wa
broiling chicken for supper. 1t wa
the first time the lieutenant had eve
fallen out, and the experience was
novel one. He had a feeling that some
dreadful calamity must befall the regi
ment, for which he would be blamed
because of his absence.
The evening was now coming down
and the pike was still full of strag
Cling soldiers, many of whom were
evidently lettering for the sake of the
freedom of action it gave them, though
the greater part were suffering from
illness or wounds and exhaustion
Even horses had succumbed to heat
hunger and fatigue, and battery had
gone into camp on the far side of the
| pike. Where the setting sun was giId-
ing the distant summit of the Catoctin
mountain the white covers of wagon
train could be seen, slowly following
in the wake of the troops, while down
in the road was heard the clatter of a
cavalry patrol as it trotted over the
little wooden bridge across the creek
A plow boy was shouting to his oxen,
a dog barked at a neighboring house,
and belated crow cawed hoarsely as
he made his way to his roost in the
wood. 1t was a strange and peaceful
scene, in which for one to find himself
who had but short time before been
in the midst Of wild excitement and
deadly strife.
"This is truly enjoyable scene, Bar
ney."
"Yis, sor. The smill av it is de-
loightful, an if only I'd the Taste taste
of pepper to put in it, I'd defy 'em to
set onything better forninst the Gin
eral, the night"
Then Barney dished up his chicken
and bareback, to which ample Justice
was done, and solid nights sleep
found both men considerably better,
although Norris foot was still inflamed
and painful. The first straggler who
stopped in the morning to light his
pipe at Barney's fire, babe him warm
some plantain leaves and put on the
lieutenant's foot, which he did. The
next visitor was Col Glenn, command
ing Norr's brigade. Tie had been de-
tanned on business at Hagerstown and
was now hurrying to the front, After
condoling with the lieutenant the Col
onel said:
"Norr, you can do good thing while
you are behind here and one that /
know Gen. Wright will approve when
| tell him of it. You see what lot
of stragglers are still on the road ?"
Eyes, sir"
"Well. as soon as you are able to
move on gather up all those fellows
and bring them along with you. Make
them believe you're straggler YOUR
self and they'll do anything you want
them to. | played that game once
myself and came into camp command
ing blame near brigade after Antie-
tam"
Lieut. Norr SAID he should certainly
try it; but it was not until the after
noon of the second day that he was
able to take to the road again, and by
this time the stragglers had got we'll
on ahead. A couple of miles on the
road he came upon party of dozen
who appeared to have gone into per-
manent camp; but they were soon in
duced to pack up and fall in. The
lieutenant talked pleasantly with
these men and by waiting for them
once while they foraged on flock of
sheep, won their confidence. They
fell in with his idea of picking up all
the stragglers they came across, SO that
by the time they halted for the night
he had a company of about fifty men.
The next day they were on the march
in good season and overlook Second
Lieutenant Chidsey, of the First Long
Island, with slight wound in his leg,
and later on three sergeants were
picked up. Lieut.. Norr now had over
one hundred men and Lieut.. Chidsey
was quite an acquisition. With his
help and that of the sergeants the i'll
assorted battalion was kept in decent
soldierly shape and when they stop
ped the second night under the shadow
of South mountain they had nearly
two hundred men.
The next morning an early start was
made in order. if possible, TO catch the
army before nightfall. The lieutenant
here adopted the tactics of turning
out all the grumblers, who, as soon as
they were refused the privilege of
marching with the party, were very
anxious to do so. One of the men
found a stray horse which he brought
to Lieut.. Moor, and soon after another
found a bride, and with blanket for
a saddle, the lieutenant was mounted
andsrat once promoted to the rank of
General pro tenn. and obeyed and re-
spected accordingly. Hurrying on to
reach the mountain gap before the sun
got warm, their plan of reaching the
army that day was suddenly cut short.
At a crossroad they suddenly encoun-
tered force of fifty or sixty cavalry
men under command of a captain,
having in custody some three hun
bred Confederate prisoners. Lieut..
Norr halted to let the cavalry have
the road, when he was surprised to see
the captain pull up, saying with much
courtesy:
I'm very glad to have met you, sir.
You are to take charge of these pris-
oners."
"Ohl nonsense" replied Norr.
These are only lot of stragglers
have picked up, who only obey me