The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-04

cncd by tho irate Drum Major, was fair aver
age typical drummer of the Union army. His
father was n manufactures OF artificial limbs
in Philadelphia and Captain in Col. Daro's
three months 23d Pa. On this picnic George,
then about 16 years, went with his fathers
company without bothering himself about
the formalties of enlistment or muster. He
had been boy drummer about Philadelphia
eVor since he could remember Ito knew hC
was n good drummer, so he simply shouidered
his drum and went His father becoming
aware of his boys presence down at Perry
ville Md, scolded him publicly, goriod in his
youthful patriotism privately, and bade him
stay with the company.
This George did until as he put IL, " the old
man got too bossy," when he went of and
found Capt. Sheetz, who, being short of drum
mer. had him regularly enlisted and mus
tered George was what the women would call
an awfully pretty boy" He was over the
usual hight of boys of his age, well built, with
very dark-blue eyes, curly brown hair, and a
frank, handsome countenanco rs demure AS a
nuns, and behind which il seemed impossible
that guile should lurk There was no bravcr
or better hearted boy. or man either, for that
matter, in the army. He never drank or sworo,
or did what could bo called mean action, and
yet there was a stream of profanity and threats
ever flowing ont toward that boy big enough TO
turn cotton factory. The cool, unpremcdi-
tated style with which he perpetrated tho most
horrible cussodness was truly parRlyzing.
The regiment had not got really into the
field, because il was only down at Perryville,
Md, guarding the railroad, when he nearly
scared it homo pcll-mell. A drummer Of an
other company was Ill and temporarily dolir-
ious. DIR. Sam Gross, the eminent Philadcl-
phia physician. was Surgeon of the regiment,
and directed that someone should sit mp with
the patient. George was selected. and went on
f1tf In
was told, with alacrity and cheorfulncss. Some
old lady admirer Of the pretty drummer-boy F"
bad given him little jar Of nice very sticky
and very bloody looking jolly, which he carried
along with some crackers to tho hospital build
ing, that it might soothe the monotony of his
vigil.
The patient fell asleep, aud rs George didn't
want to do the same thing, he was IN trouble
TO keep himself awake After several expert
monts bright idea struck him. lie took some
OF that fiery red jelly and reduced it 10 a sticky
sort Of paste. Then, with n strand from tho
hospital broom ho pitted the sick boys face all
over with red and angry looking pustulos. As
George explained afterwar1:
{" ! wanted TO SEQ how de kid would look wild
dc small.p .pox." Georges English WAS Of the
old d-style" Jakey and "Sykesey" pattcvR
He was 80 pleased with his effort as an artist
that he sat looking at it until the boy woke
mp, when he c0nld End no excuse for washing
IL of without alarming the patient. Soon after
this daylight came, and George went aud stood
ia tho hospital door inhaliug the fresh early
Summer breeze. Pretty soon he was hailed by
the sentry outside:
Why don't you stay IN there and attend 10
that sick young feller, sonuy2"
" Cos he's all broke out, an ] want to sec dc
Doctor"
The sentry went IN, took one look, aud came
out as though he had been fired from a cannon.
He forgot ali about his musket and his beat,
but made a straight streak for Licnt-C0i. Bir.
ney's tent, yelling Small -por !" at every jump.
IN five minutes that regiment and the adjacent
village was a bowling wilderness Officers and
men were running and shouting in every di-
Iection. The village people were wringing
their hands and ciamoring for tho small pox
case TO bc taken away.
DIR. Gross WIS in Port Deposit four miles
away, on a friendly professional call, and DIR.
Herbert, the other Surgeon. was away with "A
company stationed at Aberdeen.
Lieut.-Col. Birney ordered the Captains 10
call their companies together and march them