The morning call., 1892-03-25
A War INCIDENT.

burg, and while we sincerely mouTned the
loss of many brave comrade who had gone
down in that hard-fought struggle the
seyerest test and most important battle OF
the war in many respects-we could not fail
to rejoice when the sun rose bright and clear
on the morning of the 9th over most glor-
ious and happy result.
1t is Of something which occurred that
day that / write this little sketch In regard
to the experience Of a lieutenant Of the
Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers.
whom | will call Candy, and who was in
charge Of the Sixth Corps ammunition train.
Late on the night of the 9th Candy was
sent for, if my memory serves me correctly,
by Maior-General Wright, commanding the
cory's.
'Lieutenant | want you to take your am
munition train and start with the first streak
of daylight by the most direct road for En-
mittsburg You must nOt.start later than
O'Clock You must not fail under any cir
eumstances, and the corps coming by
Waynesburg will be there to meet you. You
shall have detail of one company of the
Twen,y-seventh Massachusetts to act as
guard and remove any distractions. 1ou
understand, lieutenant, no failure?
sit shall be done promp tly. general;
and the lieutenant departed into one of the
worst storms Of thunder. lightning and rain
that ever followed a heavy battle, and one
was always sure TO do so.
EmmittSbuTg Md, is ten miles from
Gettysburg, over fine road, through one
of the most beautiful agricultural regions
conceive bic.
Lieutenant Candy got out his train and
his pioneer party on time, aud also Lieu-
tenant Langdon, the ordnance officer. The
storm had passed away and the rudy dawn
a
battlefield, where blood and ruin and many
a yet unburied corpse attested the horrid
carnage which had but few hours before
rioted over the now quiet scene.
Half mile OF progress brought them to
an abattis of stout trees across the road,
around which a detOur had 10 be made.
Then came at intervals for the first mile or
two fences itches and other distractions,
left behind by the enemy 20 prevent pur-
suit by cavalry.
Langdon, after studying some time. sud-
denly said:
81 say. Candy, don't this thing look
little shaky to your"
"As to how? ?" queried Candy.
why. our straying off this way with
only handful of men, and them with their
guns in the wagons and axes On their
shoulders"
"Oh, IFS all right 1 guess. Anyhow it
don't cost me a darned cent. Old Wright
told me to take this train to Emmttsburg,
y and III take 1t there, unless the gentlemen
ahead of Us have carried 1t off"
Nothing more was said on the subject, and
the train plodded on. officers and men
loudly admiTlng the delightful country
through which they passed, and which, as
the bright sun came up, showed itself en-
tirely barren of every living thing. The
people had left their houses, the barns were
tenantIess of cattle, and the vacant pastures
were beauteous blank.
The sun Was about half an hour high
when, upon reaching the summit of slight
elevation, Emmlttsburg lay before them a
mile away across the little valley, through
which small stream gracefully meandered.
The hills beyond the town were enveIoped
in a dense fog. which slightly obscured the
prospect down to the houses farthest away
from the direction of approach.
Candy gave directions to his wagou-mas
ter TO double up the train at the stream
where the road widened, and to water his
mules. Then he and Langdon rode up into
the town 10 look after the Sixth Corps.
Everything ia the streets was as quiet as the
tomb. Not an open door or shutter. or even
a curl OF smoke, Indicated that there was
life within the place.
After thorough but cautious inspection
they rode up the main street to the suburbs
and found what was evidently hotel of
some preientions ordinarily, but no amount
OF kicking could produce landlord. They
rode back to the burnt district" where
fire had seriously ravaged the town, but
there was nobody to be ound. They refined
up their horses, when Langdon said:
This is a eussed humbug."
Second the notion"
What are you going TO do now?"
Nothing"
Wherefore nothing?"
"Nc orders. Fulfilled 'em all. rll pack
the train now, get breakfast and wait for
the Army OF the Potomac TO move"
Hell! there's a smoke"
$50 there is. Blessed harbinger of human
ity and hot coffee. Let's interview it.''
d They rode up p. to the house and dis
found man washing his face To him
Candy said:
"Do you know where the Sixth Corps
liesP"
The man muttered something. and then
dabbed his face into his two handsful of
water with splitter like steamboat
wheel.
Cant you answer. sirP Have you seen
the Sixth Corpse"
The individual rubbed his head vigorously
with an immense towel. out Of which he
grumbled:
'Don't know 'em."
sixth Corps, Union Army"
which be they, now, blue 'uns OF pray
'uns? l see lots o them round here lately
o. both kinds"
SWELL. If it will help your understanding
any, It's the blue ones thatw want to find"
mo, there hain't been no blue 'uns about
here lately. But about two weeks ago
Blast your two weeks! Have you seen
any soldiers around here last night or this
morning ?"
'Oh, yes. there's sojers about here, lots
OF them" and he felt leisurely away down
IN his pantaloons for a comb that he didn't
find
'Where are they P" impatient,v demanded
Candy.
.'Oh, You want to see the sojers, do you ?"
Yes. and thunderin' quick too"
wen, Just come around the corner of the
Kitchen, and III show You the road over to
where they be-"
Going to the place Indicated. he po;nted
across the short half mile that INTERVIEWED
between the town and the Catholic convent
woods. and there, where the sun had lifted
the fog, gittering in the fair morning light.
were four as pretty brass 3-inch Napoleons
held-glasses were quickly leveed, and then
two very gallant officers stared at each other
blankly.
"A rebel battery. as Pm sinner"
LaD2don, you assert most vicious and
uDe0mpr0mIslng fact"
Let's 90 home"
"Not till we send that ammnnition train
higher than Gilderoy's kite if they make a
move. Ii we ever start up that hill they'll
see us. now the fog is off, and then-but
why multiply words? Let's get ready to
blow up"
.Bean't them your fellows over there 2"
No. my luminous friend" said CANDY,
graveiy. Owing to lamentabIe difference
In manners and equipments, them's not our
Fellows over there; and. furthermore. Pm
thinking II that Internal Sixth Corps don't
turn up shortly. We stand very good chance
OF oelng taken In by those fellows"
10 Iide Dack into the little valley w hare
the train was hid from sight. unhitch the
mules and scatter loose hay and broken
cartridges all along the train was but the
work OF few minutes. after which the
worried officers rode up into town again TO
reconnoiter. The obnoxious battery seemed
disposed TO be quiet but obseryant. and sew