West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-11-22
WHERE GLENNIE WAS.
by JOHN nABBERroN.


years ago." to quote from an old song,
that several companies of us wicked
Yankees were posted in a small town
just Tar enough from New Orleans and
other important points to be OF no strate-
gic consequence for its own sake; yet,
being on direct route from the enemy's
lines TO the Mississippi River was i'm
portant as an outpost. The war was al
most over, so we We're not as vigilant 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 physician, 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 regimental surgeon could man
age; the preacher gave us n 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 saw
what we believed about tho 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 hospitable, 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 il
30 quietly that none of them knew how
1t began or who began it, and don't be-
lieye that after the first twenty-four
hours any of them took pains to INQUIRE.
We allowed no marauding, 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.cloths
had not long before been turned into lint
or bandnges for Southern hospitals. We
found inoffensive ways of Introducing
real Java, white sugar, Oolong tea, and
other dining room specialties dear to the
feminine heart. and we unIoaded count
less novels and newspapers in eager
hands. More important than all else 1
believe, we could talk SO could they.
.
women did not seem to have been en-
tirely satisfying. We talked so indus.
triously, and to such good eTecf. that
any chance visitor who might have
dropped into town in the middle of our
first week would have thought from ap-
pearance that we were lifelong acquaint-
ances
Every regiment had some officer.
generally young lieutenant, whose
ability, appearance and spirits compelled
his comrades to pronounce him the
flower of the flock. Ours was win
Glennie. The natives approved our
choice OF their own accord and we ac-
cepted their dictum without bit Of
jealousy, fearing only that the youngster
might cause some fru.tless hcartaches
But he didn't. He was officer OF the
nrst picket line we threw ont. 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 takiug charge Of the
slight earthwOrks il seemed advisable TO
erect. lie spent full half Of every day
outside the lines, looking for additional
points Of vantage, and as no enemy had
been ~ tho vicinity for weeks, he never
cared for q guard
Time passed so delightfully."- for fort
night, that there was little but rol-cails
and picket duty TO remind US that we
were soldiers. Everything was too pleas
ant 20 last, so one day a rattle or mus.
ketry warned us that there was trouble
on the picket line. By the time our
bugles had recalled us from our hospita-
bic iounging places, and hurried us
toward the font, a soldier with broken
arm came ia and reported that some cav.
airy had tried 10 force their way into
town by the western road, and. being
repulsed, had dismountcd, and were dis.
agreeing, in the usual military manner.
with The p ckets, who had fallen back TO
Giennie's breastworks
''Blesq Glcnnie for the broastwOrks r'
exclaimed our Major in command, after
he had shouted double quick
march %
The resistance made By our entire
force seemed 10 disgust the enemy, for
iu a couple Of hours thoy ceased firing
a special roll-cal showed that none Of
our men had been killed, and only two
or three wounded, but a Captain ap.
preached the Ma or aud said that Lieu
tenant Glonnie was missing lie had
gone nearly q mile 20 the front to little
elevation, where ho had thought o how
itlcr might adYantagoou'ly be posted -
gono two or three hours before the enc ny
appeared
''Capturcd, then. Of course, " groanc1
the Major "Confound &C. gentlemen,
for the good OF the service I'd raihcr 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 rcpulsed the
enemy. The entire force went out as
skirmishcrs Tor q mile or two, asking
questions at every plantation house and
cabin. but no one could tell whether or
no the enemy, as they ealloped away
bad q Union officer with them