The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-12-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER
Nhat0ur Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
A BuMMER's HORSE TRADE.

FpfroR NATIONAL TRIRVNE IL was In the
Fall oil 1861 when sherman army was lying
Rt Albania preparing for the famous march TO
tic sea- ihui great number Of recruits, drafted
men and substitutes were sent forward 10 JON
the depleted ranks Of veteran regiments that
had hoIar The brunt OF heavy campaigns. The
writer was one of the number TINS assigned To
an OLD regiment from Ohio, aud well remembers
the shouts 81 Fresh fish" that greeted the
squad UH IT, arrival among the bronzea ana
t0ugAcncd Veterans. Considerable Ui ieellhE
OF caste existed among the soldiers ana The re,
Crult WAS always target tor the Jokes ana
iiJcs of lac odd boys and SO continued unit. nc
became accustomed 10 the duties OF soldier
and learned how To take care al himself
Among be gang Of recruits Of which speak
was one deserving particular mehtloh' VIC
called him Billy M, and he was a suh5ll-
tute that had been sent from one OF the lake
cities OF Ohio, and though young was
finely built fellow, tall, heavy set with cool
bright look about him that indicated he had
been educated along the wharyes and alleys OF
lis native city, and was up 10 snuff.
Being a " fresh fish, had no drawbacks Tor
Billy lie tic once took his place among tie
veterans with an mir of being al home which
soon commanded OF them a degree OF respect
not often shown q recruit; but after one or two
attempts on Billy they found oNt 60 their cost
thai he WAS not to be fooled with. In short he
WAS soon one of them aud they could not help
taking 80 him as ii he had always been one Of
them.
cannot say much for Blly's real sOldiery
qualities, j afraid he would not have made
Il good Regular lie had no decided taste for
drill or duty, and was Soon as expert in know
ing how not To do ID rs any Of the old-timors.
But Biiiys special talent developed little
later wien the army was finally anched on
that famous promenade from Atlanta 60 Sa-
vaunah. lie splendid hummer" or
f0raEer In recognition OF this peculiar talent
lac WAS at once detailed rs one OF the company
toapcr and speedily became known as one OF
the baycst and most successful in the regi-
monh
Billy maintained this position during the
whole raid and so improved upon his talent
that by the time we had got well into South
Carolina, on the n0rthWard march, he was the
main dependence OF the regiment, aud the
special pride Of Co. A, as a successful hummer.
JIG hBd d FOOD eye for hOrseiesh. BE often
went out Oh tic camp in Tie early morning on
foot, and returned late in The evening mounted
on q good horse OF mule, and rarely returned
twice on Tie same animal Iii be could not
swap with the natives, DE was sure to get up a
trade wIiA some OF his follow bummers, and
generally managed 10 get the best end OF the
bargain too.
One night be came whooping into camp al
late hour, with aquuniity of excellent forage
his load as VIC were hungry enough to APP
preciate tl.a,, but even more did We admire has
taste ln the selection CT mule. Ii was no use
70 ask him where he got H. or how lie got IT,
for Billy was uol a good hand TO explain all the
why's ana wheraioTes Of his numerous tradcG.
ln fact, he cultivated rcticeucc on those delicate
points and b was no use 10 pump. SO you can
Imagine oar surprise the next evening when
biiy returned TO camp without bis mule. ln-
stead ac was mounted on an animal Of the
horse KIND THAI looked as % ID bad been keep
lnE company with the guests of the rebels 70
Anacisony.ie 10 was a l,.nk, bOuy and played
out sort % bHv mare. The boys made lots CT
sport over this trade aud fired all sorts of queer
remarks q him; but ali tAe roply they could
get uHt Of LiIn was You fellows never mind;
guess J EnOW boss when ] see one, and i
neyef ail ~ much on mule, nohow."
AAc hoAl Gay the cavalcaGe II f0raRcrs started
oul early IS wgs their wont. and soon were FAR
IN advance Of The troops, industllUusy circu-
iatlng through The country aud little towns
many nligs ahead Of thc column. Permit me
~ skate ton iUc benefit Of your younger readers
who know OF the WBf only rs they read Of ID, OF
hear seine old fellow relate his marvellous
stories that these bummers in Sherman s army
were @ peculiar Institution. They were given
carrie Blanche aud, bound by NO instruct ions
CON posed an gdvsnce-Fuafi eurn as no army
ever hat before. They taas towns carried and
oHj.irel valuable .u 'lTmaituu ion the Generals
whipped iue rl4l rgefr,las and scents that
huaE on .aa army Hanks aud in =luals on
hlh. raaI.u .tal-t.-a y Iufu tie flee ri danger
aLl ae % l.il ta.C oil tHp3r daring and rees.-
lgss lIlus would uEaIsl romantic aa Frniurcsur-
passing 4l.laI b sold 10 Those who never suW
i4em s. t.tug HnIe.
On lai- talIur Day the q ree BURNERS If
20. r. Al n5Hla L4..w Uas tHu leader, became
separated I5u tac usual rI4Ha d. tara.rrs, aHd
Ia.
tiaA Ft.I.ra .eT concluded 10 visit "a ur1uIfs-
luE docking house br lIr road de-. accordingly.
L4slf-l A+sa animals % tHr fence amid went iu.
Scare y iaa they begun to uct ar painted with
thc people d tag place uutiI fHe alarm was
given fla- .IIe rebel cavalry were coming, and
Nlta suHe haste they ielt their nrW-lcuud
llleaaa AHa mounted their seeds Two 40
them were mounted ga excellent mules. aud
balF bad Dds Iltie bay mare. and rs tie rcl..
daalea uF Vie road after them lively race Tor
meek Or nothing took place. With the two bows
on mules d was soon nothing. as they were
speedily CyartHlsen aud placed under guard ian
ship. but Billy Jared differently. Hes,artrl
ln Tor Iee, and. 20 Die own establishment
soon l0una ne WIS lCayiuR his uursners well ln
tAe rear. cZc.Tl.Hg one pr .sreut fellow. who
appeared fo Dr better mounted iGuu Tie uthors
ena who bad taken particular fancy fur close
ace ualuiaHle with Billy. Between these tyyg
tie r.e became fIce-ioraiI, and h0uors were
shout even.
Suddenly Billy discovered that ne was np.
preaching one %. those immense ditc.tca 50 com.
anon iu iiIat Icg.oB, both wide aud deep. aud n,
could Gsl no easy way OF pcttiuE either around
or over lt, aua, iH fact, he did not take much
time % iooa i0f crossing, Hs he was someNh be-,
hurried JLa. 80 lhai time There was no alter.
NauVc bat to try the jump, and leaning vel
forward In DDS saddle he put spurs 10 his Old
mare, shat h.s eyes as she luugsd SWAY and n
his surprise landed fairly and easily on the IN
side of tC ditch without an insiantg stoupagt
oi speed This Was encouraging, aud Elll,
glanced back over bis shoulder 10 see how \
Jared with DIS rival But the rebels fine hors,
Dad Refused 10 {. Ec the long lean, and Lao
bIacc1 himself on the brink, while bis rider
disappointed in bis desire for a closer nc
GuaHtaucc, was uuainp.ug Die CaIliuc witt
inient 70 send u sNlilcr messenger after the DO
parting Billy.
Not wishing 30 try any such discussion. a
bis old Springfield was not quite as handy as
carbinc BaIy did not halt to exchange conrte
sizes. bul pushed on. and al the bang Of a.
rcbois gar .eIi @ slight conclusion on Tie hee
aft has right boot, and when we'll ont Of rang
stopped iDng enough 10 observe that bu le
bad split ou his spur. lie hurried back Z
tic march column, and told Of the fate Z
the two companions aud we were willing {
excuse hiu when Die Dragged a little about tb
speed of tat cr0WhaIl"
Bis horse proved % BE- ~ racing stock thong
wUunout uHd br0EeHdOHu. i#ut sEe still q,
taincd enough Do 10 uutrEn her IEruer, an
save hily ir0m the embarrassment Of obtrud
lng ME pa ence on That company Of chivalry-
q.