Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-11-22

Thoughts and Reflections on Incl
deats that Occurred One Quarter
ofa Century Ago.
SUNDAY, Nov. 4th, 1855.
Il was on beautiful Sunday evening Just
twenty-five years ago tonight, that the writ
or OF this article found himself hstlessly
strolling along the wharf at the foot of Light
street IN the city of Baltimore. Nd. Two
large transport steamers were lying at the
dock, from the smoke stacks Of which the
ominously black smoke was issuing IN clouds;
which from the peculiar condition of the at
mosphere. was falling to the earth. as is Of
ten seen in this climate of ours. While gRz-
ing on an antiquated stone buiiding that
deniren Of that city had Just told me was
formerly tavern, as he called IT. and as ira
dition said, was once the headquarters of
Gen. Green and Washington during the revo-
lutionary war, and was one of the principal
hostleries of the city at that time. The hiss
of escaping steam from the steamers drew
our attention in that direction and tire strang-
er remarked Iwonder where those steam
ers are going, l don't see any freight on
board or lying around, nor any sign of pas
sengers going aboard.
Just at this juncture the hoarse word of
command-right turn, struck our ears, and
as we turned our eyes up the street the head
of a column of infantry wheeled to the right
and came tramping on at quick step. They
made no halt but passed onto the boats and
ascended to the deck. Almost at the same
time column of cavalry debouched from
another direction around the corner accom-
panied by army wagons loaded with hay and
grain. Soon all was life and activity; the
sharp words of command. the neighing of
horses, the braying of mules, the laughter
and shouts of the men, together with the
roar of escaping steam had turned this To-
cality and hitherto quiet Sunday evening in
to q regular pandamonium of noise and con-
fusion. 1t is astonishing how quick this de-
tachment of men and horses, together with
the stores were slowed away on the steamer,
thus showing what order and diciplin can do.
Walking up to squad of soldiers we ipquir-
ed where these boats and troops were going;
going to the Eastern shore of Maryland to
enforce the draft. came from half dozen
mouths at once. What is the chance of GO
ing along, remarked Oh, good; these are
government ransports-nobody pays any
fare here; go up town, get couple pints of
whisky and come aboard and we will share
rations with you. e.
AS the Prohibitlonists were not running
that town, we soon had the necessary stores,
off that line there you ''iand lubbers," came
from some one in command.
AS / felt the steamer moving under my
feet | felt for the first time that had made
foolish move, and would have given most
anything to be on shore again. but it was too
late-we were soon passing Fort McHenry
of 1912 notoriety. AS the boats passed the
Fort salutes were given and returned in a
manner that showed that some man of dis
tinction were on board. -
As we passed on the wind seemed to in
crease, and as was standing on. the bow OF
the boat as she rose and fell, / began to
feel as though would not need any stom-
ach pump on this occasion. Soon the roll
of the boat, the stamping of the horses, the
rattle of the engine as the paddle wheels on
one side or the other would be out OF water
causing an increased speed Of the engine.
AS passed group Of officers in very
earnest conversation, i heard one of them
say: General, won't answer for this boat
being adoat ten minutes longer-we have nc
ballast, this is deck load; these horses CAM
be controlled overheard they must GO
Well, Captain, you are in command here
thisiis your element not mine, said the little
man they called the General, in tones sc
cool and calm that felt ashamed of myself
As my spirits arose, asked an officer stand
ing near: Who is that little man they cal
General? t}G Y
Why, that is General Wool, commanding
fhis department, said he.
What, says l, forgetting my fear Of being
drowned for the moment, is that the Gener.
al Wool that Rugged old Zach. Taylor Al
Beuna Vista and said we are hard to whiI
when we all pull together
The same, said he, he is now nearly u
years old and he is as spry as a boy.
This quieted me; the fact that the world
wide renowned General Wool was on boarl
and was In as much danger of being drown
ea as myseif' settled ooth my mind and my
: stomacn:
I. Meantime tne work Of throwing oVerboarc
ms poor horses Was gong on--seven or elghl
salers Wouiu Jake piank ana put y
neninu morse, ms iioer would lead him uI
" ine gang-Way, heaa hlm towards the sea
ana overooard ne would go. In half the time
II takes 70 tell lt-as tne moon would pass
rom unueya cioud, We couiu see the poor
nruses noppns around on Top ot the waves
lhoI Fu 49, lnany uuo1s. roEt9nHteiy the WING 2
seon went Gown, and the wholesale murder
=. tna poor Horses ceasea. ABOUT elghty
y. ~ ~. our noas slu sonae ~ q
Me otner poat. dhe Enna0eipMs papers
peaE pay was nned win aead norses al
saGdien ana Drluieu.
Ths second engineer gave me a,iI ais birth fo,
aconslaeratlon AUG sieps aalnerent sleep
Is, Ion Mnas ehpec.so u lew nours oeLo[e' .
A un aMhkehlng N MI me hs1I " mo!nng ana gong
q q qack tls - sun ~ was JUST rlslng, any seemed
@ rsae onh q tne wafer; 70 the rlgnt notning
NJ pe seen ous ~ vice waste o. wafer, to
sne Ieiy hi0W aark ii1e 2, sea grass seemed
g LIinee Me noti1on;s HI sne s.ealneIs were