Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-01-09
TIGHTHAWK.
BY DANIEL MORGAN, PRIVATE.

army of the Potomac. At Washington
thrill Of hope ran through the hearts
OF the veterans, who had been driven
like sheep into the Notifications of the
capital. Struggles thronged to their
colors; regiments gathered around their
chiefs, and the magic of name changed
hos: of fugitivcs into compact and
eager army.
About noon line of carriages was
stretched along Pennsylvania avenue, a
few hundred feet from the White House.
Part of the crowd that surged along the
sidewalk stopped to look at regiment
that was marching past. The air was shak-
ing with music, which flowed from the
band that had stopped in front of one OF
the central carriages. In this were seated
two ladies', the younger of whom had an
oval face of no little beauty and the air
of one to whom homage is familiar.
Both were richly dressed, and the
younger especially was the mark of ad-
miring eyes and tlattering speeches.
Mrs. Colonel Gullatin-for the lady
was no other than the hettcr known wife
OF that well-known officer-looked with
interest on the bearing of the "Mo-
hawks. Vas they marched past.
Among the crowd rear by stood a
young man, half drunk, who looked as
though he had passed the night in a gut
ter OF small social pretensions. His
slouched rat was no longer of value.
oven for target, it had so many holes.
and the tight arm of his coat was so full
of rips and tears that it was easier to dis
cover the northwest passage than for an
arm to find its way through the sleeve.
Coarse hands, grimy face, matted hair
and shutting movements-therc was
nothing attractive about the man but
his eye. That CLEANED out of its foul
"yironment as bright as the eyes of q
rat from cage.
The tramp stood looking intently at
Mrs. Gallatin for few minutes.
Suddenly that lady gave scream and
fell back in her carr age. The tramp had
sprung upon the steps, his features dis
torted with fury, and struck her in the
face.
Cries, oaths, regrets, threats, summon
ing Of police, loud calls for reinforce
ments-but before the tramp could be
bagged he had vanished.
David Double, for that was his name.
u,
urged his way toward the train wagons
OF the army. Drunkenness had disap
pcared, and reflection had returned. But
the vacant look of the drunkard was
more attractive than the fierce express
sion of malevolence that now distorted
mis- face.
He looked neither to right nor left, but
for brief period seemed to be struggling
with some evil spirit that was hurrying
him on the road to madness.
As the evening began to steal down
the hllsides, the tramp reached a knot
OF suffers wagons, and, as if pleased
at the invitation of q surly mastiff's bark,
made his way to the shabbest of them.
Its proprietor was spreading a modest
meal on a box for table.
"Pard," said the tramp, who was now
sensib e enough, give me something to
eat; feel hollow about the ribs"
The sutler replied by pouring over the
newcomer a bucketful of abusive epi-
thets, of which "slum- gullion" was the
most classic. But-he soon checked his
abuse on observing that his nearer,
while listening patiently, was rapidly
transferring all food in sight to his own
bread basket.
"What do you mean by being 80 iate7"
then asked the sutler gruslly.
Late. who's late? What's the use of
ghouls before The funeralG'
''Ivc min to discharge YOU"
Discharge your good luck. You fool, :"
returned Eouble. "Look here, Pard ::
without man of brains like myself to
glove your ten pickers and stealers, you'd
soon be strung up blythe thumbs by some
gentle martinez"
"lou prom sed never to get drunk
again when we were on the march.
Nighthawk, said the sutler, in q molli.
fed tone.
"Well, Pard,' said Nighthawk, which
was Doubles nickname among his
friends, ''it's pretty hard when YOU are
with Mcclellan to know whether we are
on the march or not. When do We start
againl'
Tomorrow Mt daybrcak."
II hope well have better pickings than
in the hcahominy swamp"
The suffers pipe and tobacco lay
on the box. and rs Nighthawk spoke
he calmly filled the pipe and began TO
smoke.
A few days later the sutler and his
strange partner were rolling along on the
tide of war toward the Antietam.
Nighthawk was half drunk most Of
tho time, day and nj ,ht. Strange
enough, as he began to scent the enemy
he grew more sober The prospect of a
battle seemed to awake in him decp
inhuman pleasure.
On September Is, The Federal army
drew up on the lief. Lank OF the An
tietam. This bait eiield, to which the
North and South both point with pride,
has the advantage of simplicity. A par.
a!lelogram with the yclow Potomac for
its south and west sides, ard the slug
gish Antietam on the east. A single
town, Sharpsburgh, at the centre. Par
allel to the Antietam a turnpike, which
almost bisects the figure. and then bends
toward Hagerstown on the northa est,
and Harper's Ferry on the southeast.
From the Antietam the ground rises to o
wooded crest, and slopes away toward
the Potomac. The Confederate line ran
along the turnpike, its right resting on
the Potomac, m its left some distance
above Sharpsburgh, bent lack and rest
ing upon the same river. McC!cl-
lan's aim was to turn Lees flank On the
afternoon of September IL, lIooker's
corps had crossed the Antietam to warn
Lee of The coming attack.
On that day, Nighthswk, despite the
prayers of his partner, wandered away
from husinase IJa vroc pn,v cnIar hut