The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-07-22
'LIGHTs AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
E CAMP FIREs,"-
By ONE OF THE "oIp VETS. y

are quite proud of their artificial color
and take great pleasure in displaying
them at every opportunity.
''The question of personal bravery,
says General Russell Alger, sis alwayl
one Of peculiar interest; but many maj
who bore the reputation Of having ,
charmed life owed 1t to the admiration o
his opponents. AS rule, soldier viii
never fire at man who displays unusua
courage.
General Buffers wife was with him mos
of the time during the war, and he says
Titus had tho advantage over most Of
my brother commanding Generals in the
field in having an adviser, faithful and
true, clear-headed, conscientious and con-
sentative, whose conclusions could al
ways be trusted.
A good story is told OF soldier who, in
lodging away from patrol, hid himself
in a restaurant, by jumping into large
box used for steaming oysters. The lid
closed with spring lock, and the disap-
pointed patrol went on his way baffied.
In little while the colored man attend
ing the apparatus turned on full head of
steam in order to prepare mess for some
customers. The soldier began to grow
uncomfortably warm, and soon kicked
aud yelled Justify for liberation, until the
frightened negro ran away shouting that
"de debbil was In de steamer" Otherem-
ployes gathered around, hearing the noise,
and released the perspiring soldier, who
bounded with the speed of machine
whose motive power is steam.
The day before General Grant attacked
Fort Donelson, the troops had march Of
twenty miles, part of it during bitter
cold night. Grant called a council OF
war TO consider whether they should at
tack the fort at once or should give the
troops a day or two of rest. Grant said,
"Therc 10 dcserter who came in this
morning; let us see him and hear what
he has to say" When he came in, Grant
looked into his knapsack. "Where are
you from ~ " Fort Donelson.n "Six
days rations In your knapsack, have you
not, my man ~ Eyes sir" "When were
they served out ~ yesterday morning. y
"Were the same ratioDs served to all the
troops Z" "Yes sir. "Gentlemen, said
Grant, "troops do not have six days ra-
lions served out to them In fort II they
mean to stay there. These men mean to
retreat; not to fight; we will attack at
once" His actions was as good as his
word, aud the eagles of victory soon
perched upon his glorious banners.
{ While General Cyrus IL. Pennington, of
New Jersey, was riding In an over crowd
cd coach in New York City, young lady
from Brooklyn was sitting beside him.
This young lady soon became conscious
of very offensive movement on the part
OF the ex-soldier's knee. 1t had habit Of
swinging in her direction every time the
numbering vehicle struck lump in the
road. The lady glanced at the old man,
mentally reckoned his gray hairs and hon
est face AMI moved trifie away, but TO
her amazement the Objectionable incident
REQUIRED. She no longer hesitated. She
drew from her hat u long steel pin and
without moments warning, jabbed it
viciously into the Generals cork leg. 1t
would be difficult to say who was the
more embarrassed of the two, she or the
General, who belongs to one of the oldest
families of The State of New Jersey,
which sent eleven representatives to the
Federal army. Frankly explaining the
situation, his language was more exact
than elegant, when he said; "Excuse me,
young woman lost Que leg at Antie-
tam, and I'd rather you wouldn't take
any liberties with this one ii cost me
too much money" The young woman
got out.
b. b. Levey, of New York, when the
war broke out, enlisted in the First New
York Volunteers, as drummer, being
only lG years OF age. His regiment was
hard pressed on the retreat from Rich
mond, under McClcllen, and the boy drop
ped his drum, took gun from dead
comrade, and charged in the front rank.
The color-bearers were shot down and
the stars and stripes were for moment
trampled under foot and In imminent dan
ger of capture, but only for moment, for
young Levey rushed back and fighting
desperately, seized the colors and bore
them triumphanily back to his reireatipg
regiment. An eyewitness to this act was
Gen. Phil. Kearney, aud he at once pro-
noted Levey fpsm drummer to Color
Sergeant. When the time OF his regiment
was out, he re enlisted in the 10th New
York. At the battle of the Wilderness,
Levey was seriously wounded by COM
pound fracture OF the thigh and was left
on the field for dead. DR.. J. o. Evans, q
brave Surgeon, stayed by his iellow-com-
rades at the risk of his life and tended TO
Levey's wounds. While in Minneapolis
encampment, be accidentally overheard the
name of DR.. j. o. Evans, aud wondering
II II could be the same gallant Surgeon
who had saved his life on the battlefield,
called at his address. Sure enough, 1t
was the same and for the first time In
twenty-five years the two comrades met
and clasped hands with feeling only old
soldiers can understand.
-.
The old Indian Pine Svrup. which