The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-05-04
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES"
BY ONE OF THE GOLD VETS.


Alice (aged seven years)-"Papa, were
there any live rebels after the battle OF
Bull Run9n Father hy of course, my
child. Why do you ask that9n Alice
"Uncle George told me about the battle
last night, and / thought he killed them
all.n
At the battle of Mission Ridge, little
German in Woods Division, is pierced
like the lid of pepper box, but he is
neither dead nor wounded 'sSee here,n
he says, rushing up to comrade, GA
pullet hit te preach of mine gun, pullet
In mine pocket book, pullet in mine
coat tail, they shoots me tree, five time,
and Ply d. gives dem h. yet ~
AS Memorial Day approaches, it speaks
to every comrade with added force. Not
only our own spirit Of patriotism is TO be
maintained 10 its mlghtiest vigor, but the
zeal of our sleeping comrades is also to be
carried by us. May we grow more loyal.
May our hearts beat higher with loyalty
and souls grow more tender with charity,
as the years beckon US nearer to the final
roll call.
Over thirty-one years ago, the first gun
of the civil war was turned upon Fort
Sumpter. OF the band of ten officers who
with the gallant Major Anderson held out
so long and bravely against the outbreak
of the rebellion, but two are left to tell
the story, less than a third of century
after. They are Major General Samuel
Crawford, of Pennsylvania, and General
Abner Doubleday, OF Mendham, N. j.
AT the battle of Sabine Cross Roads,
where as usual, General r. E. Ransom,
who was alwaysin the thickest of the fight,
was iuspiriting his men by his presence,
he was severely wounded in the left knee.
On the day following the battle four Sur
geons examined the wound at Pleasant
Hill, and were divided in their opinion
two being In favor of amputation, while
the other two deemed 1t unnecessary.
The General, who was an Interested lis
tener to the conversation, raised himself
on his couch and said, "Well, gentlemen,
as the mousse is equally divided on this
subject, l will, as chairman of the meet
ing, decide the question. shall retain
the wounded leg, loss included"
Those who visited soldiers in the hos
pitfalls, got CLEAN of fun among all sad
scenes, for any wag who has been to the
war seldom loses his humor. c., good
soul, after taking all the little comforts he
could afford to the wounded soldiers,
went into the hospital. With several pa
pers OF chewing tobacco-s for the
wounded, as he called il, he came to one
bed where poor fellow was humming a
tune. SCOT fever Z" asked c..
NO." answered the soldier. 6" Got a
cold 7" Eyes; cold leadn "Whcre ~
.'Well to tell the truth it is pretty well
scattered First-there's bullet IN my
right arm they hain't dug out yet; one
in my right leg--hil the bone--lhat fellow
hurts; one through my left hand-lhat
fell out, and | tell you what friend, with
all this lead in me, feel, generally speak
ing, little heavy all over"
Wesley Peake, of Co. !, l04lh Pa.
Regt., upon one occasion had lnduged le o
freely in had whiskey and was sent to the
guard heuse for punishment. lie was
sentenced 10 walk post with placard on
his back, containing the word Drunk, y
in large letters. While thus expialing
his offence, woman came In at the gate,
who was struck with the letters on bis back.
She stopped 10 look at them, and tried
hard TO make them out, but not being
very well versed in English, she found
herself at fault and gave up the task in
despair. Peake overheard her trying 10
decipher the inscription on his back, and
resolved 10 help her out 10 his own adj
vantage. He said TO her, MADAME, the
letters are d-r-u.m, and they spell drum
I'm the Drum Major of the regiment .
Not being particularly well versed in mill
tary matters, she accepted his cxplana-
tien, and turned away entirely satisfied
Mrs. Bickerdyke visited The headquar-
tiers of General Grant, after he took com
mand at Chattanooga, in the Autumn of
1868, and In a rough blunt way, said 10
him, "Now General, don't be fool, you
want your men 10 do "A great deal Of
fighting, but the Surgeons here, in the
hospitals, are neglecling them shamefuly.
Disguise yourself so that the Surgeons or
men won't know you, and go around 10
the hospitals anil see for yourself how the
men are neglected" "Bni, Mrs. BECKER
dyke, said the General, shat is the bust
ness of my medical director. He must at
tend 10 that. / can't SEE 10 every thing
in person. WELL" was the reply,
'leave it to him II you think best, but il
you do, you will lose your men," The
General made no promises, but night or
two afterwards, the hospitals were visited
by a stranger, and within week half
dozen Surgeons were dismissed and more
Efficient men put in their places.
In the Virginia campaign of 1864
"Burnside's Smoked Yankees" ms they
were called IN the army Of the Potomac,
fought with stnbbornness and tenacily,
which was surpassed by no troops in the
army. Knowing that their doom was
sealed il they were captured by the rebels,
a colored Lieutenant In the capture of the
outer line around Petersburg, demanded
the surrender OF rebel commander. The
latter, pempous Virginian, replied that
she would be d. II he would surrender
as a prisoner to niger" The Licuten-
ant demonstrated, but the Virginan pro-
badly hoping that white officer would
be summoned to receive his surrender, re-
fused. VERY well, said the negro Of
ficer, II have offered you your life, and
you won't have 1t; you may stay here, +"