Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-02-20

SHOW UIe reason why Gne UD1On cause
lost where it mi ght have been tri.
umphant, and why SO many disasters
occurred in the first years of the war
when men like Sherman were topped
over.
During the month of June and July
troops continued pouring into Wash
ington. Much difficulty presented it.
self by way of procuring arms and
equipments. The treasury and arson
al were empty. The small band OF
regular troops were scattered in re-
mote places and no where available,
SO it was with what was left of our
navy. Owing to a chain Of peculiar
circumstances, it must be conceded
that President Lincoln had hercu-
lean task to accomplish. But he set
about it with singular earnestness,
firmness. energy and zeal The troops
arriving in Washington were quarter
ed all over the city; in the White
House, navy yard and suburbs. It is
amusing to recall instances and oc-
currences of that period. About the
poisoned wells, and the variety of
traps and snares laid up in the mag
ination as likely to destroy the de-
tenders of the Union. I remember
getting into the city of Baltimore
shortly after the time the plot was
laid to assassinnate Lincoln, which,
however, happily failed. Among the
soldiers on the train was one who
kept the crowd in uproarious merri-
ment. For grimace mimicry. nara
tive and song he had no rival. An old
gentleman going to Washington, kept
among the soldiers, giving
words Of encouragement and cheer.
Our Actor, as the boys called Dan
O'Leary, sang a song of his own COM
position in the most inimitible man
ner, winding up as follows:
Perhaps one Of these days a fine
General TIL be,
An wont [ drill the devil into Com
pany G''
Co. &C." was the one to which he
belonged. The old gentleman spoken
Of was elated, and had given Dan a
basket, "a bottle of superior brandy |
you're in luck, Dan," exclaimed |
he boys.
"Bad luck, ye mane," retorted Dan.
"No," exclaimed his next neighbor,
to the bottle.
''I'll give it to ye," turning it over
o him as he spoke
The boys made a rush to the water
oail and cup, and soon demolished
he ardent. BY that time Dan came
lp.
Much obliged to ye, Dan," all ex-
laimed.
'sYe didn't drink it, did ye?' said
Jan. with countenance and ieer that
utdid Micky Free.
Certainly"
My Godw he exclaimed, Il thought
was poisoned, or ye'd niver got it."
The old Harper's Ferry musket,
hree buchshot and ball, warranted
OF to hit a haystack at one hundred
ards, and the horse pistol; one
hamber; more dangerous to the one
sing it, than to those used against,
omprised the chief weapons Of at
ack and defense.
Load and fire: aim low, to hit about
1e knee. One man wounded is bet
er than killed, because it takes two
len to carry him to the hospital, and
} takes two combatants away In
5ructions of this kind were quite gen
raj. Most Of the militia regiments
ere well drilled, but the additions of
NV and inexperienced recruits; some
{ them handling q musket for the
rst time, was great disadvantage
q some occasions. ]
In the old times there were nine
oyements required to load the old
nooth bore:
l. Handle cartridge.
2 Tear cartridge.
3. Charge cartridge.
4. Ram cartridge.
5. Return ram rod. i;
6. Cast about and prime. II
7. Ready.
s. Aim. +;
8. Fire. II
From this it will be seen how SIM !;
e the movements in loading have ]
ecome 1t was no uncommon thing
find as many as three Or four char i,
IS in some guns caused from over '
,eitement or useless percussion caps. J
ad we the breech leaders in the time (
which we speak the carnage would
i've been dreadful. About the mid ;
e of July the troops around Wash !
gton were concentrating to the