The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-16
Shells.

Will Won kindly permit me through the
columns Of the Bidde TO answer two ques-
tions which | often sec asked about old
shells being kept as relics Of the late war.
VIM. II. Underwood, of Cleveland, Ohio,
asked the question some time ago stating
that he had such Il relic and wanted to
know if he could remove the powder
from il. and if that would make il harm
les in tase of fire. TO this first question
VERY man belonging TO Il battery would
answer. ives" but 10 his second | viii
e,nphatically answer, 'no," and will en-
deavor to prove this fact to all. In June,
1864. when | came TO the old Cold Har-
Dor battlefield, our battery. the list New
York Veteran Volunteers, CHANGED Ia 90
into position mean an old cherry tree that
still had sticking in it n of our un-
exploded shell that was shot during 50,
when We were on the same field under
" Little Mac" while unexpected shells
law around us like stone in Vermont.
New modes of cooking were being IN
vented every day by the soldiers, and n
new method first introduced At Cold flar-
Dor contains the proof of my story. \
soldier started 10 bake some beans, and
by digging Il hole two feet deep and
twenty inches wide in the ground,
and then filling it with dry wood, he
started his fire; and sci over II his large
camp kettle of beans and pork to parboil.
He then picked up a quantity of old un-
exploded shells, washed them cut we'll
on the inside, brought them Ia his fire,
which by this time had got down 20 a
nice bed of Goals. He TOOK off his kettle,
poured off the water, laid 'his washed
shells in ON the fire and placed the kettle
of pork and beans back on the shells in
tending as soon as they were hot enough
to take them out and put them across the
kettleto baket the beans well ontop. Acorn
rade came to the fire about this time to
toast some bareback To kill the gTubs
therein, but seeing the shells in the
iit 1T FlilAAl- hd' n. tN' lsitiltAiEs Z
in the HI have YOU got in that fire
under that kettle ~ The cook said he was
going to show the boys how to cook bak-
cd beans well on the top, and said there
was no danger from the shells, for he had
cleaned them out well. But his comradc
said that he would rather eat raw meat
II. II L.. -l.--- = .a...A- III
bread there. | heard these remarks as |
was passing for water TO 4 spring. Just
in front of me, at my right hand, were
several army wagons, and behindthe one
nearest me were four mule drivers play
ing poker on the cnd-board OF Il wagon.
Between them lay a quantity of Uncle
Sans paper gold, for which we had en-
listed in 1861, and which at this time was
worth thirty-thrcc and one-third cents I -
the bond-holder, while nothing short of
a dollar Ia the enlisted man would do for
Uncle Sam. But to my story. Just AT
that time ! heard Il terrible explosion in
the rear of the battery, and when look
ed back could see nothing in the air
but dirt, camp kettle, and pork and beans.
in uncxploded shell passed me with a
whirr and dropped between two Of the
parties playing poker. 1t began 10 tizz,
fizz. Some Of the money caught fire, but
not a mar could see by this time around
me. Do youthink that stood still all this
time and let that end board burn up,
when | enlisted To- x,ve Government
property? | guess not but ! have never
heard of any that had anything 10
do with that bean bake being promoted
for meritorious conduct, and now ! be
lieye that old unexploded shells are dan
gerous around any iire.-T6icjo B'a9s.