The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-11-18
FLIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES"
BY ONE OF TIE GOLD VETS. "

As slight thing as dyspepsia lost a
great battle for Napoleon.
For over four months, Mrs. General
Custer, while on the plains, lived in wa
gon and considered it luxury to get a
hay pillow. One night while enjoying
the pillow, an army mule wandered up to
the wagon and TO Mrs. Clusters dsmay,
ate up the hay while she was asleep.
Ga the 9th OF June, 1862, an engage
mc'nt took place at Matthias Point, Vir-
GINA, between the gun boats Pawnee aud
Freeborne and number of rebels on
shore, and some instances Of rare bravery
were displayed in the engagement. Cox
swain John Williams, of the Pawnee's
first cutter, behaved nobly. He was bad
ly wounded in the thigh, and the flag of
his boat, six feet by four, had no fewer
than nineteen shots through it, and the
staff was cut in two. Selling the stump
in his hand, he waved the flag saying,
"Boys, the American flag never shall be
lowered; don't allow any of our men to
be left behind.
AT the battle of Perryville, when Gen.
Cleburne saw the critical moment to ad-
vance arrive, turning his horses head
toward the point of attack, he arose in his
stirrups and shaking his clenched hand 10
the direction of the enemy, shouted with
his stentorian voice, "Come on and give
them - boys give them -" This
went straight to the heart of the dare
devils he led, aud in an instant his whole
division was following him at the 'double
quick. just then the Bishop General
Polk, rode up and wishing to encourage
the men, yet not daring to swear, he roar
ed, go on, boys, and give them what
Pat Cleburne says
Major Z. L. Holstien tells good story
OF hon. commissioned officer connected
with his regiment, the 9th Indiana. Dur.
ing the three months service, while the
regiment was laying at Phillippi, w. Va,
one night, two or three companies of his
regiment were on duty and there was a
false alarm. The companies double quick
ed down hill to ravine, where there
were some logs that had been piled up
for breastworks. AS soon as they were
in position, the officer commanded per-
feet silence and all was quiet as death.
The Sergeant referred 10 arose in the
darkness and in clear, strong voice said:
Company A, Company B, give way to
the left; there is not - bit of log
at this end of the line,n and the alarm
was forgotten.
There were number of negro troops
placed on picket duty at garrison near
which fight took place, during the re-
bellion. Without waiting for orders,
these negro troops rushed out, formed
skirmish-line and commenced to take
part in the fight. The officers were sur
P'iS'u W SEC ouc VI thtse men run lulO
most dangerous position they saw him
fall upon the ground, throw his feet and
b nds in the mir and then collapse, arpar-
emily dead. After the fight was over,
everyone was surprised to find the negro,
wfom they supposed dead, walk up with
a gun in his hand The officer asked
"What in thunder he meant by running
off such distance in the place Of danger
add 4hrowiBg his hands and feet Us il he
was shot" lie replied, "Oh Lor', mas
sa, did TINT jest to fool them thought
they would think | was dead, and then |
would just pop over one OF the rebs. if
they came near me. "
In one of the many camps Of our Union
soldiers, an odd trick was often played off
on the Surgeon and Chaplain of regi-
ment noted for its merry-making. The
troops were camped by small stream,
over which was u narrow rickely bridge,
Just across from the camp was log cabin,
in which lived All old woman alone. One
day some OF the boys came running into
camp with the message, "rhe old woman
in the cabin is dying The Chaplain and
Surgeon were notified "Chaplain, hurry
over quick the old woman is dying -
The Chaplain hurried over the rckety
bridge Ms fast as possible; the Surgeon
followed. As they came around to the
.ope:s door, they saw at glance that 1t
WAS trick. Such enough, the woman
was dyeing. She was over kettle OF
bulternut juice, dyeiug lot OF yarn.
When the two came back To camp, there
was roar Of laughter over the joke. But
what could be done The men had re-
ported the truth, aud there was no redress.
On Friday, October 4h, 1861, scout
ing party of eighteen men, under Lieut.
Col. Winslow and Capt. L. Is. Shaltuck,
of the 9Th New York Vols, were out in
the vicinity OF the eremy's lines, about 8
miles from Falls Church, in the direction
OF Fairfax. AS they were proceeding in
silence and caution through dense wood,
they heard the tramp Of horses aud the
jingle Of sabre schbbards. The Lcuten-
ant Colonel and Captain ordering their
men to halt, went to recbnnoitre. In n
short time one OF them came upon an
open space where they saw four rebels
ssssed under large chestnut tree by tho
side OF road and engaged in eating chest
nuts. The Confederates SAW him and
sprang upon their horses, the officer cry
ing 10 loud voice Charged" BY the
time the scouting party had got up, the
-four ''gallant" horsemen were beyond
pursuit. Our men were about gathering
up the spoils of victory, which consisted
OF four sabres, two revolvers, four coats
and blankets, when they saw horse tied
to tree by the road side. A further
arri, lad 4