The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-03-25
'LdGHTs AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES"
By ONE OF THE "oLD VETS.

/
During the Mexican war, 1t was said Of
Mexican troops that courage was the ex-
ception. With American troops, how
ever, courage is the rule. For a quick
charge or an assault, Irish troops are the
best; they have the elan; but to stand
steady fire and for prolonged fighting,
| give me native Americans.
Once Judge Black in examining wit
ness who had been in the army, said /:
Come soldier, tell US what you know of
this matter" ''I am no soldier; am
an officer" haughtily responded the wit
ness, whereupon the old lawyer calmly
said "Well then, officer who Is no sol
der, tell us what you know" The vain
fellow was crushed.
At Georgetown, in 1852, occurred a
very tragic event. A truce boat contain
ing the national colers, was passing
through the waters of Winyaw Bay. A
South Carolina Union woman who lived
near the dock saw the old flag, and waved
Der handkerchief at the men 10 the boat.
For this offence she was ordered TO be
shot by the Confederate commander of
the port aud the sentence was executed.
General Franz Siegel said, 81 have
heard wounded soldiers grooming under
great pain, but Lever heard them cryin e
out, or using profane language. When
hating on horseback on tho right OF the
Saith Mass. Regt., in the battle of New
Market, the regiment was under fire at
close range for about forty minutes, losing
200 men in killed and wounded, but not
loud cry was heard from those who
were wounded.
The wife of Captain OF New York
militia company attended the review not
long since at which her husband was COM
handing officer. She laughed all the way
home. After she got home she was asked
what was. tho cause OF her merriment.
She replied, at was the funniest thing IN
the world to see my husband, who never
dares open his mouth at home, ordering
all those men about, and they doing just
what he told them to do. Why don't he
try that game on mea"
At the battle Of Gettysburg, Reynolds
men, the veterans of many hard fought
battle, were drawn up in readiness for
their celebrated charge. Where they
stood they were protected from the Con-
federate fire, but just ahead of them was
an open space which they must cross aud
which was exposed to an enfilading fire
of grape and canister. The advance was
ordered but the men hesitated, when one
man stepped forward and said ''Good
c. boys, do you want to live forever ~
Then they made the charge.
The flag OF Fort Sumter had been taken
down by Major Anderson April IA, 1851.
He carried 1t away with a vow to raise
the same flag there again. The years
came and went and on April IA, 1866,
four years TO a day since the flag had
been removed, General Anderson stepped
forward, slight graceful mamie was
noble, loyal Kentuckan-he had grown
grayer in the four years since he left
Sumter and changed from Major to
70.
triotic words and then hoisted to tho peak
of the staff the old flag OF Fort Sumter.
Cheer on cheer rose on the air; then as
by common impulse, the throDg began
to sing "The Star Spangled Banner"
sang II with a sound that echoed among
the islands of the sea.
While General Grant was Colonel OF
the 2lst Illinois Regt. and when one re-
cruit in the regiment had been in the
awkward squad" for three weeks and
had not learned the nrst rudiments OF
drill-he could not even ''mark time,n
with a drummer before him giving the
taps-the Colonel had his attention direct
ed to such an extraordinary case and at
tempted to instruct the man as to time on
the 'left foot" fright foot" principle,
when the awkward recruit started of with
his right foot. II understand your trou-
ble," said Col. Grant, and grabbing the
mans gun with something like indigna-
ton, he brought II down sharply on the sub
ject's left foot, with the remark: "There,
that's your left foot--now start of here
after on your lame foot" and by the time
that foot got well the recruit had master
ed the bedrock principle OF slime" and
was soon well drilled.
sergt. William Ransom, of The 7th
Connecticut Regt., gives this account of
an event near Petersburg "I was Ser
geant Of the Guard, a detail of eight men
being under my charge. Some of the
boys had snapped papers with the con-
federates, whose picket line was not far
from ours, and had given me the Rich
mond Gazette. l leaned my musket
against the trunk OF a tree and sitting
down commenced to read. l saw that
my men were engaged with some
"Johnies" In game of poker. Soon af-
ter single horseman rode up. He had
on slouched hat, an old blouse, and his
breeches were stuck in pair OF old boots.
Riding up to me he said: Sergeant,
what are you doing here =" "On picket
duty, Ireplled." 'where are your men 9n
"oh, over there playing poker" l said,
noddiDg my head In their direction.
"When we were relieved, was called TO
the Captains quarters, where l wss in
formed that General Grant had preferred
charges againsi me. 1t was he to whom
/ had been impudent. When the Captain
told me that. | felt like sinking into the
ground.' The Sergeant lost his Office
and had to carry bag of sand around
quarters for week hut be Ia rather Glad