The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-08-17
:" LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES
RY Owe OF rnR aoLp VETS. ;,

AT Waterville College, Maine, were
two young men who had been chums.
After graduating they pursued legal
studies. After admission to the bar, one
went south the other west, one enlisted
in the Confederate army, the other in the
Union army. They both rose to the rank
OF Colonel. 1t so happened that the Con-
federate Colonel at the head OF a Tennes-
see regiment, was in support OF battery
which the regiment in command Of the
Union Colonel was ordered to take at the
point of the bayonet. The battery was
taken; but so desperate had been the con-
filct, that both Colonies were severely
wounded. After the fight was over, a
Union Captain, himself classmate of the
two Colonies, being detailed to bury the
dead, found the Colonies lying side by
side, with their right hands clasped and
both dead. They had evidently recognized
each other after being wounded, aud to.
gether their spirits had passed into the
eternal world. Side by side, in the same
grave, they sleep their last sleep.
Somebody asked President Lincoln how
many men the rebels had in the field. He
replied, very seriously, Twelve hundred
thousand, according to the best authori-
ty." The interrogation blanched in the
face at the reply, and calculated despair
ingly, my God |" "Yes sir, twelve hun
dred thousand--no doubt OF 1t You see
all of our Generals when they get whip.
ped, say the enemy outnumbers them four
to one. We have four hundred thousand
men in the field, and three times -four
make twelve. Don't you see it.
Talking of smokeless powder, veteran
Of the civil war expressed decided pref.
erence for the old fashioned article which
furnishes something in the way of cover
from the enemy's sharpshooters.
General Sherman, after commenting
upon the trained soldiery Of Europe, con-
cludes as follows: Nevertheless, for SER
vice In our wooded country, where bat
ties must be fought chiefly by skirmishers
and thin lines, prefer our own people.
They possess more individuality, more
self-reliance, learn more quickly the neces-
sity for organization and discipline, and
will follow where they have skilled leaders
in whom they have confidence.
General w. F. Smith makes mention of
''a round shot that ripped open soldiers
knapsack and distributed his clothing and
cards. +" The shot came from Whitworth
gun that the "Johnnies" ran in on our
flank at fredericksburg, and the boys
could not forego the little joke, as the
cards were thrown some twenty feet in
the air, and on all sides could he heard the
| cry: 30, deal me hand |"
As the Iron Brigade was about to cross
the pontoons, they came to halt upon
the river bank for few moments before
going into position at Fredericksburg.
They had been paid off that day aud the
| gamblers began to play cards the moment
they halted. A man who was about to
''straddle fifty cent blind had his
knapsack knocked from under him by q
solid shot aud be "straddledn half dozen
soldiers, who were covered with cart.
load Of dirt-thIs was the first shot from
the sJohnnies" on our left. The second
shot passed over the river aud struck III,
paymasters tent, and the struggle between
paymaster and stragglers for possession o
the greenhacks, was both exciting ant
ridiculous.
Tho difficulty with which Gen. Buile
walks, is attributed to the effects OF ok
age by some, but this Is not So. Tn,
General has weakness in his ankles
Many OF the old comrades will remember
that he was troubled with the same dim
Guilty when in service.
| Comrades, we can we'll afford 10 furgei
our hnrdships in the remembrance of what
was gained for our children AM country;
but let us remember that we still owe Ia
ourselves n duty, and TINT is to stand
shoulder TO shoulder for our just rights,
which prosperous country can well af,
ford TO give; and II we stand together as
OF old and remember This fall who our
friends are and have been, when the votes
are counted the right man will be there.
| An officer from Louisville led one Of
Rosencrans' regiments into battle. In the
advance this mans son was struck by o
rebel bullet. The father saw him fall, but
could not stop to care for him. The be-
reaved father said with tears in his eyes:
"My son Is gone" He said TO a soldier
"Look TO Johnny" and went ON, doing
the work he went TO do. 1t was sad, bu
such is war.
A soldier went into the rooms OF the
Sanitary Commission to procure an envel
ope, saying he had letter to write home
for one OF bis comrades, and drawing from
his blouse small package on which were
bloody finger marks and u few words
written with lead pencil. The writer o.
those words was the soldiers partner, who
was wounded in the charge on Kenesaw
a mimic ball having cut off his tongue a
the roots. He tried TO speak but coult
not; finally, by motions, his partner un
derstood he wanted paper and pencil, ant
on 1t the boy, with fingers dripping will
blood and trembling In death, wrote
"Father, meet me In heaven!" He triet
to write his name but II was too late-lif
had fled.
IS
No Woman
Ia hoaufif,,l with N had akin covernd will