Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-04-23
A eUMMER'S HORSE TRADE.

How an Ohio Man Saved His Scalp In
South Carolina.
1t was in the fall of 1864, when Sher-
mans army was lying at Atlanta pre-
pairing for the famous march to the sea,
that a great number of recruits, drafted
men and substitutes were sent forward
to join the depleted ranks of veteran
regiments that had borne the brunt of
heavy campaigns. The writer was one
of the number thus assigned to an old
regiment from Ohio, and well remem-
bers the shouts of "Fresh fish" that
greeted the squad on it's arrival among
the bronzed and toughened veterans.
Considerable of feeling of caste exist
ed among the soldiers, and the recruit
was always a target for the jokes and
jibes of the old boys, and so continued
until he became accustomed to the
duties of soldier and learned how to
take care of himself.
Among the gang of recruits of which
speak was one deserving particular
mention. We called him Billy M, and
he was substitute that had been sent
from one of the lake cities of Ohio, and
though young, was finely-built fellow,
tall, heavy-set, with a cool, bright look
about him that indicated he had been
educated along the wharves and alleys
of his native city, and was up to snuff.
Being a ''fresh fish" had no drawbacks
for Billy. He at once took his place
among the veterans with an air of being
at home which soon commanded of them
q degree of respect not often shown a
recruit; but after one or two attempts
on Billy they found out to their cost that
| he was not to be fooled with. In short,
he was soon one of them, and they could
not help talking to him as if he had al
ways been one of them.
| l can not say much for Billy's real
soldierly qualities. am afraid he
would not have made good regular. u
He had no decided taste for drill or duty,
and was soon as expert in knowing
chow not to do it" as any Of the old.
timers But Billy's special talent de.
veloped little later, when the army
was finally launched on that famous
promenade from Atlanta to Savannah
He was splendid "bummer," or for
ager. In recognition of this peculiar
talent he was at once detailed as one Of
the company of foragers, and speedily
became known as one of the bravest
and most successful in the regiment.
Billy maintained this position during
the whole raid, and SO improved upor
his talent that by the time we had got
well into South Carolina, on the north
ward march, he was the main depend
ence of the regiment, and the specia
pride of Co. A, as successful hummer
He had a good eye for horsefiesh. HI
often went out of the camp in the early
morning on foot, and returned late il
the evening mounted on good horse o.
mule, and rarely returned twice on thu
same animal. If he could not swal
with the natives, he was sure to get VI
trade with some of his fellow-bum
mers, and generally managed to get tn,
best end of the bargain. too.
One night he came whooping int
camp, at late hour, with quantit.
of excellent forage loaded on a fine gra.
mule. We all admired his load, as w
were hungry enough to appreciate that
but even more did we admire his tast
in the selection of mule. 1t was NJ
use to ask him where he got it, or hoy
he got it, for Billy was not good ham
to explain all the why's and wherefore
of his numerous trades. In fact, he cul
tivated reticence on those delicat
points, and it was no use to pump 8
you can imagine our surprise the mex
evening when Billy returned to cam
without his mule. Instead he wa
mounted on an animal of the horse kin
that looked as if he had been keepin
company with the guests of the rebel
at Andersonville. 1t was lank, bon
and played-out sort of bay mare. Th
boys made lots of sport over this trade
and fred all sorts of queer remarks q
him; but all the reply they could &c
out of him was, "You fellows neve
mind: guess 1 know hoss when I sc