The Republican journal., 1888-09-20
The Fourteenth Maine.

| think more of the few survivors should be
heard from. have read of the ''Ret,-hcat>.
"Black-hcal," (no black legs in our regiment
and "Tow-hcads." but | can only remember
that we had no "Deati-he Tie ordinary
dull routine Of camp life and march are forgot
ten, but the stirring scenes Of battle, and the
ludicrous incidents, have all been preserN ed in
our memories. ! will try to relate a few which
have not been mentioned. In military, As in
civil life, pecuiarite. of form, dress. speech
or manner give rise to nicknamcS, and our
good Boots" was one we all remember.
Though Shcrjdoa's ride ha. been pl; i'll
verse ana thereby mmortalized, another at
Cedar Creek wa, somewhat inspiring aud re-
markahie. | speak of the ride of Sergeant
Pfister of Go. o.. who was acting as cclor
bearer after Sergeant Emerson was shot down
In the morning. Soon after the arrival of
sheridan. and while the troops were still some
what scattered piistcr ran forward, bearing
our colorS. An officer rode up and, Snatching
the colorS from his hand, without stopping.
dashed forward. Though taken by surprise
PiSter seized hold of the tail of the horse and
was borne forward too. After riding we'll in
advance, the officer planted the ,oors in the
ground and retired. P;i>ter took them and
galantly carried them through the ,lav.
1t is rather strange but nevertheless true,
that we, who are now fathers and :randfath-
ers. could have cared 50 much for what we
then called fun, but every regiment had its
few men who haG rather steal wh>key for
which they did not care. than be given some
thin" they really wanted and needed. Ours
was no exception ON the night of May l.
1868. while guarding the hospital. the steward
twice came out and offered nc a cup Of Wine
The night was cold, dark and rainy, and | ac-
ceptcd. congratulatin@ myself on my ,oi for
tune. When about to be relieved he came out
took my cantcen and filled it. When the guard
was changed, the corporal said some wine had
been stolen, and Nos. |. , and 3 of the guard
WOULD consider themselves under arrest. |
was No. . We We're accordingly marched to
tie 9uard-houSc, Ga cloth tunt) an,, the officer
lifting the flap With his sabre. baAr u enter
Nos. | and ) did so, but dcnurrrd. telling
him it would cost him his commission il he put
NE in the guard house bearing my arms and
cIupincnt>. Knowing was rigAt hl sent
guard with mc to my tent, TO leave them.
When entered told my tent mate. Emerson,
that had been arrested. and for what. Throw
ng my canteen untier my bunk winked 1T
him. then returned to the guard house. Oh
my return the officer asked for my cantcrn. |
toll him had lett it III my tent. An orderly
was sent fer it, and upon his return it WaS
examined and found full of-coll water
thanks to Emerson. Cant. Charles Barnard
asked me if stole any wine, and of course
replied that | dill not: upon which. AMI tie
fact that We We're about rendy 10 ipiarrh be- ~
cured my release. | never kntw how Nos.
and fareJ.
Then ther. was the incident at savannah
when the Bows -ot the ko.. | WI, on guard
that night, anl the boys were $50 sleepy" |
hat to stand guard all night or "p"erh." AN NE
foF- ol the lith never di'I that
NGu all remember the h!nrh-an.l-tHu tiug. l...f
for tic sake Of those who n.av road Til. ai.u
WHO have never heart il. | Will wti,. u.urrfuiit
ihan otherwise. We left NV orIytu> "u iur-
lou@h Feb. ~. l>,ai. GA steamer A.a-r E.uuI
for New York. on arlilu ut Fntl .Ip-t,.r.
tile steamer wa> boarded Ia q 'i,ttt .raut. wh..
on authority IT "a telegram irum NJ. ,i.,t
'Furttrml-i'g ut G,u. EaIt>. al,a.l lh,
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aut .ad wv ..rtn h,. .trt !hf~ -i,pr,r rvr..
nut f.uuM. aul I'll. Ji.ut, ,.i,t Went -a.r,.-t 7.
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