davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10

Er see ~ anything had been hearo ~ soo.
dnv.,; s.ihng seemed quiet. As he W wa aTe n
md lat cue road glancing sharply to the r;oht
tha ieie, he saw man on his knees an,a su.
we blackberry bushes apparentlv n'an rone
eras 70 get between vidette and Tho n;e,.o
ha p.s. lletsnding to have seen nothino e'
on;at. ' ss'. the vidette, who declared iii
u,e.: out, soon turning, he again nass aa
in no ls;.ae.te, saying as he did 30. w;tb h
T 1bpA. .: at him, Look sharp to your Loft, ~
Inc sldette obeyed, and, discoyer;no ,el a.
e .nn stepped to the fence. The b,s she
a %,nacker' seeing that he was discovared
a.. aLso sprang to the fence. Roth bro,,oet
s shell guns to bear Mt once, and each 6gad
almost simultaneously, not more thou
we've feet apart. jim Pardee's (the Vi.
ueae 81 hat went flying, and the Jobrn,,
The Corporal now drew his navy ora
ION ne and Pardee fred at the retreat;no
Iyonnhy, When up rose from behind the
. Issues dozen more, and ran for life
w,le the revolvers were cracking. and the
p'Gket guard rushing in pursuit.
G.. u Is wonder that both men at the fence
nlng at such distance, were not killed
LAY paylight disclosed the fact that Pardea's
s on.l was turned aside by knot, while he
saseo himself from receiving a charge of
. oIcksnot IN the forehead by throwing b inn
self backward. = 'AA
An hour later, while telling of it in picket
camp, fardee ran his fingers through his
hair, when he found that good part of il
the buckshot. s "
n, such are the incidents of picket duty.
Inc sentinel knows not what moment he
may be the target Of the enemy.
E. w. Gone,
Company A, Seventh Kansas Cavalry.
Holdridge, Nebraska,
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
Growth Of Prohibition.

The accounts received by Pennsylvania
members of Congress indicate that there
will be a local Prohibition ticket in almost
every county and district in the State, and
that the plans Of the leaders point to de-
gree of vigor in the campaign of the pres
ent year hitherto unknown. On the gen.
eral issue there appears to be some differ
ence of opinion among the leaders as to
the best method of bringing their reforms
about. They are organizing very generally,
and appear to have plenty Of means. Their
main object now is to get their forces in
line on the basis of some clearly defined
issue: In looking over the progress of the
Prohibition struggle during the past forty
years it must be admitted that the accretions
of strength have been marvellous. States.
one after another, have wheeled into line
until we find Pennsylvania among the
few that have not taken some ac-
ton in the premises. Prohibition is
fixed fact in the Constitutions of Maine,
Iowa, Kansas, and Rhode Island. The
Legislatures of New York and Massachu-
sets, by small margins, failed to adopt
amendments to their Constitutions. Flor
ida will fight the battle at her next election.
Missouri and Illinois have high license.
The Scott law, in Ohio, has been re- enacted
| and amended so as to meet the constitu-.
tlonal objections raised by the courts.
New Hampshire has prohibition law.
Nebraska INDUCES in statute against
treating" while local option laws are in
force in Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas,
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. In
some States the Civil damage act" one of
the early forms of movement in Ohio, is in
force. The Prohibitionists in Pennsylvania
are therefore determined to make the fight
and to keep it up until they secure recog-
milton and constitutional amendment.
Their principal fight seems to point to the
Legislative districts, where they expect to
make themselves felt. They will have
pledges from one of the regular candidates
OF will run their own, whatever seems to be
the best at the time. Prohibitionists, mod
Grafton clubs, crusaders, and law and order
societies propose to take hand together
by uniting their forces and their influence
in behalf of the common cause.-Philadel-
Dhin TI3nea
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
First Battle.

volunteered in the Eighth Maryland,
and we were in no battle of any conse-
4uence until May 5, 1864. We crossed the
Kappahannock the day before at Germania
Ford, and camped for the night, and on the
9th advanced into the wilderness, in many
places dense growth of vines and brush.
At about two o'clock we were formed in
ranks and line of battle, the MARYLAND
Brigade in the third rank, the Iron Brigade
OF New York in the fifth rank. There we
rested, and we were glad enough of the
chance.
Yells in front Of us, and the frequent .
z-zlp-.zip OF bullets, with constant bang
rank, which had been advanced tn feai If
the enemy, told us that he was there. and
that we were feeling him. The wells and
firing came nearer and nearer. Our Sec
ond line was ordered forward. and in few
moments an aid galloped back for MOI
men. 1t was now eur turn, and we were
all ready, but the aid yelled, "Kecp then,
back! We can't trust them ID Mary
landers.they're more than half ssecesh|
anyway" And we were held back. and
the next line in our rear was ordered forl
ward, to be soon driven back in disorder
by this time things began to look dubiousI
Our German Major was heard to say, "May,
De dey will pc glat to drust DER tam Mary
ianders pefore dey gets done nit dis Job;
ha, ha! -Veel see! veel see!"
=, Scarcely was he done speaking when the
new York Iron Brigade was ordered for
ward. ihey possessed the honorable repu-
tation OF never having been broken. With
colors flying and proud confidence (they
mad ;, noted the insult offered our brigade,
hardly were they out of sight when we
heard volley of musketry, with cheers.
and we knew that they were charging the
enemy. The cheering grew fainter, until
we could hardly hear it, and we began to
hope the day won. Hark! there comes that
rebel yell again-too we'll do we know it
accompanied by the old roar of musketry.
And now comes our turn. We wheel in
to line, advance! ready! take aim! low! fire!
load and fire at will and the air was filled
with bullets. The commands of our officers
were not half heard. Some of the men
were too excited to do good work. The
man behind me came near shooting me,
and would if my captain had not knocked
the muzzle of the gun away just as he was
hlng. AS it was, my face was filled with
powder. But that was the poor fellow e
last work, for before he could reload a
bullet had gone through his neck; at the
same time my right and left hand COM
rades were shot down.
In about five minutes from our first vol
ley we had lost third of our right, in
Guiding all our color guards, and we were
ordered to fall back; but the boys, remem-
bering the insult of the morning, refused
until it was discovered that the enemy were
on our right flank and raking our lines.
! We retreated about three miles and
camped for the night. Our next roll-call
was sad one. ~
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
Picket Experience.

IN the entire line of army duty nothing
was more trying to the staying" courage
l even battle itself-than being the wake
iul eyes Of an army of men on picket
auty. Imagine the scene which we describe
Us You follow our words. See the resting
army of weary men. Their faith in their
picket enables them to sleep. He false and
'ney are at the mercy OF the enemy.
Our story is located in Mississippi, and
occurred there at time when large body
VI troops was gathering for some purpose
nol yet made known to us. An important
road was to be guarded, and each of the
last three nights Il sentinel had been shot
Upon that post. Should IN attack be made,
t .H was the point most likely to be chosen.
y. AZ YET the ling of those men was mys-
~l l belonging to tbs Seventh Kansas
NARY, which made q reputation for deal
lug with bushwhackers, we were asked to
" "at that duty. Captain UT and Com
panny were detailed.
we arrived upon the ground at about
p rgnt o'clock in the evening, and made
Preparations for business. About one hun
u u;eas yards beyond the main picket a
s 'Mette was established. A sentinel was
s sss1 near the horses. which stood
s so.. and bridled. The men lay for their
resl Win the horses--each man within easy
N1eaGh OF his horse, carbine ut his side.
NJ ~ Doots were Off and no fires built.
Inc vldette was stationed in the road, an
,; ~ fence on one side and scattering
I1 7. n on the other, without underground.
n =, seemed difficult for the enemy to APP
a pro !. from that way without being seen,
20 fsn ~ was moonlight. The field over the
1 waoa. was considerably grown over with
weeds and blackberry bushes.
az 'urins the night, little before the sec
~Do relief The corporal visited the vidette
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10

that he is out OF the race. Did YOU ever
stop to inquire whether this weight might
be hindering your progress? Has it ever
occurred to you that 1t means sure defeat
to every one one upon whom it fastens it.
self 1t is scarcely necessary to say that
poverty is its heritage.
If all mechanics and workingmen were
strictly temperate there would not be SO
many monopolists as there are. These
feed and thrive upon the stakes lost by
those who enter the race and are distanced.
sober, industrious man, unless he is
greatly lacking in business tact, is not
likely to be compelled to serve any other
man without recompense. He who is
unsteady in his habits, or given to vast
ing substance in riotous living, will forever
feeling man of business. The more gener-
Gus employer does not want to be bothered
with unreliable employees; consequently
they are compelled to turn to those who
will bear with their faults at reduced wages.
In this way they are brought into COMPETE
ton with those who are faithful and indus
trious, and prove q hinderance to their
progress. They not only curse themselves
but everybody else with whom they come
One-half of the workingmen of the
United States are more or less given to
| strong drink, and are therefore handicap
ped in the race for whatever prize they may
enter. Not only do they fail to win
themselves, but they hinder others who
might win. Are you quite sure that your
failure was not due to this cause? Have
none of your earnings been squandered for
that which helped to unfit you for the race?
Have you never interfered with the prog
ress, comfort or happiness of others?
These are the questions to ask yourself,
and answer them to yourself and God. In
stead of railing at those who win prizes,
strive to find outwhy you do notwin. There
is some good and sufficient cause why you
are not as rich as you would like to be, and
cause and to remedy en- it to some extent s at
least.-Pittsbur0h Dispatch.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
Frankfort. Ill.
shiloh-Prentiss Not Surprised.

Our regiment, the Eighteenth Missouri,
made Pittsburg Landing just one week
before the battle. The weather was rainy
and dismal, but the day before the fight the
sun shone bright and clear We went on
brigade review, and our commanders and
our companies in their new suits, with bur-
nished arms, looked fine. We all felt too
good to turn in and go to sleep when the
lights were put out. We ran foot-races,
played leap-frog, and jumped and played
like boys. Finally we lay down to rest,
little rocking the morrow. 1t was my turn
to get breakfast the next morning, and I
/ saw mounted picket coming from the
front.
He told Colonel Miller the enemy was
advancing. Our regiment was soon in line
of battle. We were camped in heavy tim
Der about the center of our lines. Ten rods
in our front was an open field about twenty
rods wide by eighty long, across which was
very heavy and thick underbrush. We
crossed the opening to the cover of this
brush, which was SO thick that we could
hardly see the enemy until they were very
close to us. Being in the front rank l got
down on one knee and looked under the
brush and saw the rebels coming, trailing
arms. so told our orderly, but he said il
was the Sixteenth Wisconsin.
Just as we were talking, General Prem
tiss came along the line as fast as his horse
could carry him and said: "That is the
enemy in there: get down and go to firing. y
We were not slow in obeying. We fired
four or five rounds before they replied.
And yet some writer's say Prentiss was sur
prised and his men shot down while getting
out of their beds.
The foregoing is true account Of the
commencement Of that Sunday fight. They
greatly outnumbered us andy were obliged
to fall back, and precise military order was
not maintained. The last l saw OF Cen
eral Prentss ne was shouting to his men
and imploring them not to let this become
another Bull Run.
I got lost from my company and went to
the Twenty seventh Indiana. think many
of our officers had been killed or disabled,
and the men had to do the best they could.
In the evening, when the enemy was
pressing us back toward the river. the
shout came along the line: Hold them
little longer, boys; Buell. is coming. That
cheering news gave us vigor for the final
struggle of the day.
can vet hear the screaming of those
GREAT shells as they went soaring from
The Lexington and Tyler over that bluff
of 0 the Tennessee into the camp of
the enemy. We Law on the ground
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
A John the Baptist.

Coming events cast their shadows be-
lore. The Proclamation of Emancipation
had not been written, if seriously enter
tanned, in 1862, when Private S., COMPANY
q, of Eighteenth Illinois, seems to have
caught its spirit; for he formulated and
actually used the subjoined oath of alle-
glance in dealing with the colored men.
10 say that we have witnessed at such
times some of the most ludicrous scenes
Whlch mortal eyes ever gazed upon would
carry but small conviction Of the gravity
attending the scene. We must do the col
ored man the credit to say that he almost
universally believed that his hour of deliv-
erance had come, hence took the oath with
alacrity.
PRIVATE C's OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
You do solemnly swear that YOU will bear
true allegiance to the United States of
America; that you will cook, wash, or
bear arms it necessary in defense thereof
that you will report to us all guer-
rilla bands you may know of infesting the
country; that you will point the finger of
scorn at the Southern Confederacy; and.
finally, that you will accept freedom upon
the terms of Lincoln's proclamation, to the
best of your knowledge, SO help YOU God. )"
Imagine this Private S., the John the
Baptist of the emancipation, with an audi
ence of contrabands before him. His
gravity of countenance gave force to every
word he spoke as he portrayed the necessity
of the allegiance of the colored man to the
nation ut that sublime moment. Listen
while he tells them that one loyal colored
man in the woods, watching and re-
porting the acts and whereabouts of
his country than ten men in camp.
Note the attention with Which every word
was received. Upon some Of those occa-
sions the eloquence of the act fairly ap-
preached the sublime. The colored man
believed it meant liberty-an end to his
slavery under the task-master.
And, too, there was grand significance
in the acts of Private c. which was in
advance of even his leaders and rulers.
What a probable saving of life and hasten
ing of the results pending! But, no; the
war was not yet, on our side, in the negro
favor-for his liberty as an act of hostility
against the South; and for more than year
the negro was our friend only through faith
in the inevitable.
The writer witnessed many instances of
the taking of the oath, hearing such ex-
pressions as: eyes, mars. Boss, I done
takes dat oaf-yes, sab"
D. II. Brush, our Colonel, now of Car
bondale, Illinois, once halted the regiment
while on the march in Tennessee, and
called for Private s. to come forward
and swear in a contraband who had just
met the column. The gravity of that
scene shall never forget. The negro was
one of the more intelligent, and in taking
that oath he gave to our regiment and our
nation as hearty loyalty as ever was yield
ed by the oath of chief magistrate.
w. G. SADDLER.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
Camp Incidents.

In 1861, as a private in Wisconsin in
fantry, served the "old flag" Our regi-
ment was detailed to place Frederick City
under provost guard. The town was
thoroughly picketed, and as the members
of the Maryland Legislature came in, for
the ostensible purpose of passing the seces-
sion bill, they were quietly taken possession
of and furnished transportation to points
outside, under arrest
The Frederick City ladies wore ex-
tremely broad hoop skirts-so broad that
two or three filled their sidewalks and they
could hardly pass without squeezing.
One day several of them approached the
picket to our camp and inquired of the
guard if they could pass through. He Ia
conically replied: "Ladies, I think you
and double team Just passed out"
It was SQUARE answer TO their question,
although they probably deemed it an insult.
Another guard standing on duty at
another camp, in lone, out of the way
place. who had for hours been gazing into
the blackness of darkness, suddenly
as we'll as his eyes do picket
duty. He strained his eyes in the direction
of the noise and saw something approach
ing. There is leader, and it is party of
several-a corporal's guard, thought he.
Now, when once a conclusion is reached,
no matter how wrong, it is seen from that
point of view until the mind is compelled
to accept other conclusions. Hence, to
him, this was a corporal's guard.
He challenged. No response. He Or
dered halt, and yet the posse kept on it's
way. Guard was not to be thus trihed with.
He raised his gun and fred, wounding the
leader of the posse. But the voice which
came out of the darkness was not that of a
man; it was the "squeal of an old SOW"
The pigs scampered i'll every direction,
while the old sow continued to squeal.
And yet what guard, under similar circum-
stances, would have done differently.
Tony.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
Webster, Dakota.
A Confederate Soldiers Letter.

The following scrap of a letter was picked
up in front of Atlanta. A Spencer ball
had ended the letter where it ends; whether
it also ended its witty author we shall prob
ably never know. One cannot read such
thoughts without wishing their author a
better fate than dying in the trenches:
"IN THE TRENCHES BEFORE ATLANTA
Aug. Is, 1854
"MY DEAR WIFE: Your acur-worn hus-
band takes his pen in hand in strange
land on foreign strand. My ink is pale,
I have no ale; my paper is poor, SO is my
grub. Our quarters in camp are passable,i
but quarters in my pocket are not. Last
night I had wagon bolster for pilloY,
while was covered by sheet of water. u
long for more biscuits and less bullets.
How wish you were here. The farther I
get from you the better love you. That
you may know how how we work in spite
of the cussed Yankees, send you diary
of our daily labor.
"At five O'clock called out by roll Of the
drum from roll in the mud. No rolls
of bread. At six to seven shoulder spades,
throw mp earth-also my yesterdays ra-
tons. At half past seven another rpl of
the drum and we roll logs. Filing into
the sacred soil of Georgia-drawingr amrods,
but drawing no pay. No Smelling out by
the Government, but q cussed sight Of
Smelling by the Yanks.
"At nine a. m. more drilling, but none OF
the cotton kind wherewith to increase my
shirt supply from its present supply of one.
"At teh come more spadular researches
into the geological formation of the earth.
"At eleven corps takes chew of tobacco.
At twelve see signs of dinner. The skip
pers throwing up works on hogs jowl, to
resist the attacks of Captain Cook.
My eyes are sunken SO far into my head
that can look down my throat in my res
taurant department. would make a first
class telescope. I have three glasses-"
Here the bullet cut the letter. Who
can furnish the remainder?- Chicago
Ledger.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10
TEMPERANCE NOTES.

Compiled by Miss Julia Ames, of the w. G. T.,
u, Chicago
The sale of liquor is to be prohibited of
the State Fair of Michigan this year.
PITTSBURGH and Allegheny turn out
abou. 275, 1000 barrels of beer annually.
The Catholic Total Abstinence Union of
America has 651 societies, with member
ship of 1895.
THERE are !, 100 saloons under the shade
of the Capitol at Washington, and six in
the Capitol itself.
A NUMBER of saloons in New York City
paintings and statuary, to make the way to
ruin attractive and fascinating.
MISS FRANCES E. WILLARD addressed
an audience of $1,000 people ct Chautauqua
recently upon the subject of Social
Purity" the latest and greatest crusade.
The w. G. T. U. of Quebec has boxes
filled with temperance literature, which are
hung in all the car depots, fire and police
stations, and the guard-room of the Citadel.
BEFORE the ports Of Japan were opened
to the Christian nations of the world there
were only eleven intoxicating drinks known
in the country. Now there are over two
hundred.
The West End w. g. 7. u, of St.
Louis. offers prize of $50 to the medical
student of Missouri who will write and send
in the best essay on the hereditary effects
of alcohol.
A RED ribbon anti Tobacco army has
been started in North India among the
native Christians. A pledge to abstain
from the use of tobacco is taken and the
red ribbon tied on.
ONE of the leading papers of Toronto,
Cam, says: "The Scott act has been in
force but six weeks in the County of On
tario, and yet the Jail is empty for the first
time in its history.
TWENTY THOUSAND people were present
at temperance camp meeting lately held in
Indiana, and listened to an eloquent adj
dress by Mrs. Harry A. Woodbridge, Presi-
| dent of the w. G. T. U.
THERE are 600 liquor saloons in the city
of Minneapolis, Mimi, and of this number
only thirteen are kept by Irishmen. That
this is true is due to the influence of one
man, Bishop Ireland of St. Paul.
The managers of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company have agreed to run no more
Sunday excursion trains, and have ordered
all trains not loaded with stock to stop
from six o'clock Saturday night until next
day midnight, and the men to be sent to
their homes.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10

THERE is no hope of making liquor pro-
hibition the main tenet of tue Republican
party or the Democratic party; and SO Re-
pubiicans and Democrats who really be-
lieve that liquor prohibition is the instant
and over,hadowing ques ion of the time,
are justified in seeking to obtai their pur-
pose through separate Prohibition party.
-New York Sun (Dem.), June 23.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-10

that night soaked with rain. It
was as fearful night for us, as individual
SOLDIERS, as it was perilous for our country
and our nation. The clouds floated away.
the sky is clear, the glory of our nation is
worth the price pad. JAS. ROGERS.
Ionia. Kansas