The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-12-12
WHERE GLENNLE WAS,
nY LoIIN IIAnRERToN.


'Twns down in Louisiana, not many
years ago" to quote from an old song,
that several companies Of us wicked
Yankees were posted in small town
just far enough from New Orleans and
other important poluts to be Of no stratc-
gc consequence for its own sake yet,
being on direct route from the enemy's
lines to the Mississippi River, was inn
pOrtant as an outpost. The war was al
most over, so we were not as vfgilant as
we might have been had we been sta
toned in front of Lees army. The
natives were Loyalty Southern, every
man of them-perhaps | should say every
woman, for the only men in town were a
few who had passed their three-score
years and ten, one physic an, and one
preacher. But the natives did not allow
us to feel uncomfortable. The doctor
disagreed radically with us on principle,
but he took professional and even friendly
interest in such of us as had more malar "A
than our rcgimental surgeon could man -
age; the preacher gave us a sermon that
reminded us of Sundays at home, and the
old men would smoke and chat with us
all day long, so long as we did not say
what we believed about the future of
military events.
As for the women-bless them they
were exactly like the majority of women
everywhere else-very tenacious Of their
opinions so far as the war was concerned,
but otherwise hospitabe, gracious, and
charming. They didn't mean to give MS
the entree of local society, but somehow
We got there Just the same. We did it
so quietly that none of them knew how
1t began or who began it, and don't be-
lieve that after the first twepty-four
hours any of them took pains to inquire.
We allowed no malauling, wore clean
clothing, purchased enough supplies to
set business booming, and were on our
good behavior in every way.
The consequence was that we officers
soon knew everybody worth knowing,
and were entertained with as much
courtesy and self-possession as if the
native coffee had not been burned rye or
other substitute, and the table.cloth
had not long before been turned into lint
or bandages for Southern hospitals. We
found inoifensive ways of introducing
real Java, white sugar, Oolong tea, and
other din 'ng room specialties dear to the
feminine heart, aud we unloaded count
less novels and newspapers in eager
hands. More important than all else, |
believe, we could talk. SO could they,
but for some reason women's talk with
women did not seem TO have been en-
tirely satisfying. We talked so indus.
triously, and to such good effect, that
any chance visitor who might have
dropped into town in the middle of our
first week would have thought from APP
pearance that we were lifelong acquaint-
ances.
Every regiment had some officer,
generally a young lieutenant, whose
ability, appearance and spirits compelled
his comrades to pronounce him the
flower of the flock. Ours was Will
Glennie. The natives approved our
choice of their own accord, aud we ac-
cepted their dictum without a bit of
jealousy, fearing only that the youngster
might cause some fruitless heartaches
But he didh't. lie was officer of the
first picket line we threw out, and so
impressed was he with the defensive
possibilities of the place, that we were
glad to have him relieve us of some re-
sponsibility, by taking charge of the
slight earthwOrks 1t seemed advisable TO
erect. He spent full half of every day
outside the lines, looking for additional
points of vantage, and as no enemy had
been in the vicinity for weeks, he never
cared for a guard.
Time passed so delightfully."- for a fort
night, that there was little but roll calls
and picket duty to remind us that we
were soldiers. Everything was too pleas
ant to last, so one day rattle of mus
bot xus,ppaA ttu that fhara Ia
on the picket line. BY the time our
bugles had recalled us from our hospita-
Bile lounging places, and hurried us
toward the front, a soldier with broken
arm came in and reported that some cav
airy had tried TO force their way into
town by the western road, and, being
repulsed, had dismounted, and were dis
agreeing, in the usual military manner,
with the p ckets, who had fallen back to
Glennie's breastworks.
"Bless Glennie for the breastworks ~
exclaimed our Major in command, after
he had shouted "Double quick
march -
The resistance made by our entire
force seemed TO disgust the enemy, for
in couple of hours they ceased firing.
A special roll-eall showed that none Of
our men had been killed, and only two
or three wounded, but Captain ap-
preached the Ma or and said that Lieu
tenant Glennie was missing. He had
gone nearly mile to the front, to little
deviation, where he had thought how
itAer might advantageously be posted
gone two or three hours before the enemy
appeared,
"Captlifed, then of course" groaned
the Major. ~''Confound it, gentlemen,
for the good otthe service I'd rather have
been captured myself"
Most of us felt the same way, and we
were too dismal for the remainder of the
day TO rejoice at having repulsed the
enemy. The entire force went out as
skirmishers for a mile CT two, asking
questions at every plantation house and
cabin, but no one could tell whether or
no the enemy, as they galloped away,
had Union officer with them.