The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-07-29
'LIGHTs AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRESU
BY ONE OF THE COLD VETS. y

Exasperated at the discrepancy between
the aggregate Of troops forwarded to a
General, and the number the General re-
ceived, Lincoln exclaimed "Sending
men TO him is like shoveling fleas across a
barnyard-not half OF them get there
Not less happy were many of Lincoln's
messages to politicians. To one of his
lnild-natured critics he wrote; "Would
you drop the war where 1t is or would
you prosecute it 10 the future with elder
stalk squirts charged with rose water ~
President Lincoln once telegraphed TO
General Hooker "It the head of Lees
army is at Martinsburg and the tall of it
on the plank road between Fredericks-
burg aud charlottesville, the animal
must be very slim somewhere. Could you
not break him ~
General Dan. Sickles affection for the
old soldiers is something that recognizes
no limitations. He appeared in court in
New York the other day and asked for
the acquittal of young woman who had
been arrested for stealing, on the ground
thatiIer father was one OF bis comrades in
arms. The court was sorry, but ii failed
to seesthe connection.
"That fifth wheel carried with all army
wagonssaiakes me awful tired" said an
old soldier. ''During the war / drove a
wagon from Paducah to Shiloh, and from
there 10 Atlanta, and then to the sea with
Sherman. | hauled one or them fifth
wheels all of the way, and never found
use for IL; in fact, never, in all the four
years | was on that trip, heard of fifth
wheel being needed. Some other part of
thelwagon was sure to break, but wheel
never" But the Government began 10
haul a 9th wheel during the Revolution
ary war and IL still at it.
President Lincoln visited General Grant
at bis Headquarters at City Point, Va,
during the war and when on landing he
was asked how he was, he said 81 am not
feeling very well. l got pretty badly
shaken up on the bay coming down and
am not altogether over 1t yet" 'sLet me
send for a bottle Of champagne for you,
Mr.. President, said staff officer, slhat
is the best remedy l know OF for sea sick.
ness.il ,"No. 10, my young friend, " re-
piled the President, 1--WE seen many a
man in my time sea-sick ashore from
drinking that very Article"
General Mcclellan was riding along
the lines of his army one day, when be
came TO young Pennsylvania who was
on guard. The guard demanded the coun-
tersign. II am Commander.in-C Chief Geo.
B. Mcclellan was the answer. "Well,
then, COMMANDMENT. Chief Geo. B. Nc
Clelau, get down from that horse and give
the countersign, or will see what kind
of hole the musket will make In the
body Of the Commander-in-Chief Geo. B.
Mcclellan" The General, like a good
soldier, calmly dismounted and proved
bis identity, gave the word and praised the
young man for his conduct, telling him
whenever he wanted favor, just to let
him know.
Chief Engineer Toune, OF the Navy, and
number of his brother officers, called on
MIR. Yarrow, the English torpedo boat
builder, at the Arlington Hotel, Washing
ton. The evening was warm and pleas
ant breeze was blowing through the open
window. Mr.. Yarrow was careful to sit in
corner and after time remarked: "You
Americans are very careless, don't you
know, about sitting in drafts. Now In
England, you know, we don't think of do
ing that sort OF thing" 'No doubt, re-
Piled Mr.. Tounc, Shut you see we had so
severe draft in America during the war,
that we never mind a little thing like
this" Mr.. Yarrow, of Britain, was at a
loss TO see the connection between war
and atmospheric agitation.
The mint in Philadelphia, is working
on the medals which the State Legsla-
turc of Pennsylvania ordered to be given
TO The surviving first defenders, who com
prised the first five companies that went
to the defense of the national capital in
1867 II The medals will be OF gold, II
inchessin diameter, suspended from bar
upon which will be the inscription, "First
Defenders.n The reverse side bears this
inscription In a very ornamental design,
"Medal OF Honor. Presented by the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania. OF
these companies, comprising $50 men, the
washington Artllerists" and 'eNational
Light, Infantry" were from Potisville the
"Ringgold Light Artillery from Read
ing the "Logan Guards, from Lewis
town, and the "Allen Infantry from Al
lentown. The members OF the first de-
leaders baye; received copies OF tho reso-
luton passed by Congress July 22d, 1861,
printed onsparchment, thanking these fivo
companies for going TO the defence of tho
National Capitol, April 18th, 1861.
While detail of the 7th Massachusetts,
Regiment was guarding our pontoon
trains after leaving Big Bethel, Va, the
teams stopped along the line. Hurrying
to the front, they found one Of the lead
isg teams badly mired, but not enough to
justify the~stopping of the whole train.
The lazy eolored driver was comfortably
asleep in The saddle. 'sGet that team
out Of the mud |" yelled one OF the
guards, Bringing him to his senses. He
hourlshed bis long whip, shoated his mule
lingo at the team, and the mules pulled
franIically, but not together. "Can't you
make your mules pull together" he in
CURED. oDcm mules pull right smart, :"
said the driver. Cooking aud Gaping his
musket, he brought II to bis shoulder and
AGAIN omYnanded the driyar IN ts(1et that