The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-02-20
A War Story.

The cavalry was falling back before
Lee as he was headed for Chantilly and
Bull Run; a squadron of us which had
been detailed to bring a wounded officer
away from house which would soon be
in possession OF the advancing Confeder-
ates, found ourselves shut in front and
rear. We numbered about thirty men,
and had two-horse ambulance in which
the wouadcd man had been made as
comfortable as possible. We had, in
deed, advanced about quarter of mile
before we discovered the box we were
in. The Confederates who had come in
behind us were cavalry, and owing to a
turn in the road and bit of woods had
not vet seen us. The Lieutenant in
command consulted with the Major
whom we were bringing away, and eX-
planned the situation.
prepare me as we'll as you can for
the ride, give me revolver, and then
form your men by tours and ride right
down on the rebs and cut your way
through" was the order of the
Major.
was in the advance set OF tours, and
the man on my right was next to the
highway ditch. All of a sudden, just as
we were waiting the order to advance, a
little negro boy. not over three years
old, and as black as the blacklist u
ever made, appeared in the ditch alor
side of Parker. He seemed to ha
been hiding in the weeds, and | thin
he must have fallen out of cart or got
t.l ha L.
hurrying into the Union lines before
Lees advance. At any rate he was
there and alone, and as we saw him,
Parker said:
Good lands! but here's niger baby
right under foot and all alone! What
shall we do with him?"
At the moment we got the word TO go
ahead, and Parker leaned over, picked
the child up and placed him in front O;
the saddle. Two or three of us called
to him to drop the boy, but he didn't do
it. AS we moved forward 'Pick" was
there hanging on for dear life, his eyer
as white as raw onions and every tooth
plain to be counted. We were right
on the rebels before they saw us, am
with a biff! bang! slash! and We
opened lane and went through, every
horse on the keen run and the wounded
major firing away whenever he found
target for his bullets. When he finally
got through "Pick" was with us and all
right, and he had seen his first battle
of the war.
During the bloody days that followed
the little fellow was with a company
wagon, and did not see him for week.
Then Parker took him down to AleXan-
dria and left him with a colOred wo-
man. but, few months later, being
made company commissiary, and hav-
ing the use of wagon, he brought
Pick" back to the army, got a tailor
to make him suit of clothes, and then
the boy was fixture with us. He took
to army life, and every one of the COM
pany took to him, and had any one mis-
used "Pick" it would have gone hard
with him. He was with us to the very
last, and | saw him munching hard
tack and looking on while Lees ragged
old veterans laid down their arms at
Appomattox. He chung to Parker
above all others. and, although the
trooper was rough fellow and unmar-
ried, the offer of 800 for 'his little
finger,n which was made over and over.
was no temptation.
When the war closed ''Pick" was
taken north to Ohio, sent to school and
then put to trade, and it was only a
month ago that / walked in on him in a
Cincinnati cooper shop and found him
lusty big fellow with home and wife
and two children. He had never been
back to Virginia, and although he had
made many efforts to find his father and
mother, not trace of them had ever
been secured.
81 reckon 1 jist done got losted in de
hurry" he explained, IAN de family
had so many Odder ch'll'en dat dey
didn't fink it WORT while to stop an
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