The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-08-05
BLOODY PAPERS!
NUMBER XXXVII.

The spectacle of the Sons of Veterans
in line at the recent entertainment here,
recalled vividly some of the companies
met with during the war. The best sol
dier for all purposes is the young boy.
There is seemingly no tiring him, and
there is certain kind of enthusiasm and
excitement which impels him to the full
discharge Of duty. How well we remem
Der the deep feeling Of chagrin with
which we heard the first disparaging re-
mark upon our entering the military
camp, at the age of fifteen. Our uniform
was too long in the legs and sleeves-or
we were too Shorthand the whole appear
ance of the soldier was unpromising. AS
the boys-many of them no older or
larger than We-Were gathered around
fire, large powerfully built man, weigh
ing about one hundred and eighty, stood
looking at three or four of US, with
comical expression upon his somewhat
ugly face, then broke forth with: "Well,
I'll be - eff you fellers hadn't better go
back to yer mammies ~ This reception
was terrible. We were all thinking that
we looked really fierce and warlike, and
here was man, who really should have
felt a comrades sympathy for us and in
terest in us, advising us to save the Gov
ernment the humiliation of our failures,
and go back home.
Our reply was request to him to
keep up" and we would not ask any help
from him. Well, time wore on, and
marching orders came. Everything was
cast aside except a change Of undercloth
ing, and with five days rations in our
haversacks, and cartridge boxes filled, we
were on the way, ready for anything.
Very naturally, in the heat and dust of
the march, we would think of our big
friend who gave us such discouraging
send-off at the outset. But we didn't see
him. After playing sick, and lying
around the hospital for weeks, he had de
serted, and that was the last of him. No
body wanted to catch him.
Our contempt for him, however, was
lost in sympathy for other large, fleshy
men, good soldiers, and plucky, yet who
could not stand the marching like the
supple boys. The boys were vindicated;
the strong men learned to respected en-
durance wherever found, and there was
a bond of comradeship sprang up,
which only strengthened as the months
and years wore on. The same fire which
reused the boys then enthuses them now;
they are moved by the same noble i'm
pulse, and love of country shines through
all the movements of the young soldiers.
While it is to be hoped that there will
never be cause for serious work on the
part of the young soldiers, yet future en-
emieS of this Government can never hope
to strike country unprovided with ex-
cellent soldiery. The young men are
learning the lessons taught by the eXcit-
ing history of the past generation, and
learning them at their full value and i'm
port. The principles of fraternity, char
ity and loyalty, will abide in the hearts
of the old Boys in Blue, during all the
vicissitudes of the earthly march, and
will find equally firm lodgment in the
hearts of the younger Boys.
One night we were marching through
Fairmont, West Virginia, and, covered
with dust, the boys were scattered along
the roadside, marching with "rout STEP"
when a kind-looking old lady ran to the
gate and exclaimed "oh, you little sol
diers ~ AS similar expression, our Cap
tain once remarked, when we were
tramping along the muddy Pike, in Ten
nessee, pursuing Hood, that we "looked
like knapsacks, moving through the mud,
the boys were so short And the boyish
character for mischief abided always
On one accession, while standing picket
at Sale Creek, Tennessee, in company
with young TenneSseean about sixteen
years of age half-grown pig came wan
dering contentedly through the dense
wood. jim declared he would have that
pork, and we offered to bet that he would
not. Fixing his bayonet, he struck out
after the pig, and during the next five
minutes went through all the motions
known to bayonet practice, and a good
many not known before. But the pig
kept running. AT last, worn out yet de-
termined not to lose the meat, and know
ing that he was good shot, he drew up
his breech-loader and let drive-but the
noise only drove the pig away and called
the officer OF the guard out. Jim solemn
ly declared that he had not shot, and ev
en- the burnt powder in the chamber of
his rifle could not shake him in his story.
The experiences of those days produced
new conceptions of the political life of
this Republic, in the minds of the boys,
and the ideas brought out by the history
Of those days will not disappear. The boy
of that day feels that by his services to
his country he has left something for his
children to be proud of. The sight of
the young man in military attire, with
! the step and action of the soldier, arouses