The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-13
Il JlST GOT DUN LOSTED."
A coLoRED BOYS WAR ADVENTURE.
Other Stories For the Young FOlks-Tom-
my's Scheme-KnOtty Problems For
Winners of Jack
Bowline's Prizes.

w men we Oh the cavalry were FALLING back
before Lee as he was headed for Chantillv
and Bull Run, SAYS a writer in the Detroit
Free Press, a squadron of us which had
been detailed to bring wounded officer
away from a house which would soon be
in possession of the advancing Confeder-
ates, found ourselves shut in front and
rear. We numbered about thirty men
and had two-horse ambulance in which
the wounded man had been made as COM
Portable as possible. We had, indeed ad-
vanced a quarter of a mile before we dis
covered the box we we're in. The Con-
federates who had come in behind us were
cavalry, and owing to turn in the road
and bit of woods had not yet seen us.
The lieutenant in command consulted
with the major whom we were bringing
away and explained the situation.
Prepare me as we'll as you can for the
ride, give me revolver, and then form
your men by fours and ride right down on
the Rebs and cut your way through" was
the order of the major.
j was in the advance set of tours, and
the man on my right was next to the
highway ditch. All of a sudden, Just as
we were waiting the order to advance, a
llblAC hCSIO IVY HOb ON5i llItb ltdIe OlNl
and as black as the blacklist tar ever made,
appeared in the ditch alongside of Parker.
He seemed TO have been hiding in the
weeds, and / think he must have fallen
out of a cart or got parted from the family
as they were hurrying into the Union
lines before Lees advance. At any rate
he was there and alone, and as we saw him
Parker said:
Good land! but here's niger baby
right under foot and all alone. What shall
we do with him?"
AT that moment we got the word to 60
ahead, and Parker leaned over, picked the
child up and placed him in front on the
saddle. Two or three of US called to him
to drop the boy, but he didn't do it. AS
we moved forward "PicB" was there and
hanging on for dear life. his eyes as white
as raw onions and every tooth plain to be
counted. We were right on the Rebels
before they saw US, and it was bif! bang
clash and we opened lane and went
through, every horse on the keen run and
the wounded major firing away whenever
he found a target for his bullets. When
we finally got through "Pick" was with us
and all right, and he had seen his first
battle OF the war. One would have said
that he liked it, for his grin was broader
than before and he did not seem a bit
scared.
During the bloody days that followed
the little fellow was with a company
wagon. and | did not see him for week.
Then Parker took him down to Alexandria
and left him with colored woman, but a
few months later being made company
commissary, and having the use of
wagon, he brought Pick back to the
army, got tailor to make him a suit OF
clothes, and then the boy was a fixture
with us. He took to army life and every
one of the company took to him, and had
any one misused ''Pick" it would have
gone hard with him. He was with us to
the very last, and | saw him munching
bareback and looking on while Lees
ragged old veterans laid down their arms
at Appomatox. He chung to Parker above
all others, and although the trooper was
rough fellow and unmarried the offer of
500 for "his little Niger" which was
made over and over, was no temptation.
When the war closed "Pick" was taken
north to Ohio, sent to school, and then
put to a trade, and it was only month
ago that / walked in on him in the Cincin-
natl cooper-shop and found him lusty,
big fellow with ahome and wife and two
children.
He had never been back to Virginia,
and, although he had made many efforts
to find his father and mother, not trace
of them had ever been secured.
81 reckon | jist dun got losted in de
hurry" he explained, IAN de family had
so many odder ch'llen dat dey didn't fink
it WORT while to stop an look fur me"