The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-02-01
Lights AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIREs.s
By ONE OF THE GOLD VETS. y

/ 49,
!
The battle of Bull Run in the East, and
Wilson Creek ia the West, were the prin.
cipal battles during the Summer Of 1861.
Harrison Gaulbaker, OF woodstown, N.
j., has just received from Boston man
testament he lost on Southern battle
field in 1862.
The explanation Of the colors of the
United States flag are, "Red is supposed
to represent courage, white integrity OF
purpose, aud blue, steadtastness, love and
faith"
In the Autumn Of 1861, the people be-
gan to be impatient with what was DEEM
ee the needless inactivity of the Army of
the Potomac, under Mcclellan, and con-
corning him and that organization the
phrase: "All quiet on the Potomac" was
| first used.
General Meade adopted solierlno as the
color of his headquarters flag and q gold
en- eagle in silver wreath as the emblem,
the latter having been In use as a badge
for headquarters aides, and 1t was snowy
standard. General Grant when he first
saw it unfurled, as they broke camp for
the Wilderness campaign, exclaimed
"What's this lis Imperial Cesar any
where about here 2"
AT the battle Of Spottsylyanla, General
Sedgwick gave orders to his troops to
move to the right. The enemy opened
sprinkling fire from sharp-shooters and as
the bullets whisiied by, some Of the men
lodged. The General said laughingly,
"What What Men, lodging this way
for single bullets What will you do when
they open fire along the whole line am
ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an
elephant ct this distance" A few Sec
onds later man arose and saluted, and
said good-naturedly, General, lodged
shell once, and il l hadn't, it would
have taken my head of. l believe in
lodging" The General laughed and re-
piled, GAN right my man, 60 to your
place.
John II. Paxton, private 10 Co. q, 14oth
Regt., Pa. Vols, started for Richmond in
July, 1862, lad IS years old, junior in
college and chatting to be at ito double
quick it. ''0n the night before Christ
mas, 1862, he says ~ was a detected
young patriot, Wishing hadn't done 1t,
shivering in the open weather a mile back
of the Rappahannock, on the reserve
picket, and exposed TO wet snow storm.
We lay down on our rubber blankets,
pulled our wooden blankets over us and
next morning the snow lay heavy and
deep, and the men, when I walked and
looked about me, reminded me of
church grave yard In Winter. Fall In
for picket dutyi fall in = We fell In OF
course--no breakfast; chilled to the mar
row. snow q foot deep; we frightened
our belts on our empty stomach, seized
our rifles to take our six hours ON duty,
And so this is war. While paced 10 the
wet snow, said to myself, wish l had
not done It,"
"About the saddest thing ever en-
countered," says Major VIM. r. Hodges,
twas an incident on the battlefield after
the siege of Atlanta. II was night and
had been ordered to 60 out aud work on
the easements in front of the enemy's
lines. They knew We were there, for
they keep up continuous ping, ping
ping of Minnie balls and then varying It
by sending hot ten-pounder, which was
unpleasantly close TO our ears. One OF
our boys rushed up and said, There's q
dying man that wants to see you. Captain
come quick for he's got hole through
his head soon found the poor fellow.
They got me this time, Captain, he said
slowly, the blood choking him as he
spoke. He had been wounded q couple
Of times before and was brave man. i
want you to do me a favor, Captain.
OF course III do II, my boy, i said.
There's my knapsack and canteen.' He
choked pitifully, Take them aud send
them to my poor old father and mother
up in Vermont. Tell them that their only
son died like a soldier on the field Of bat
tie, thinking Of them. Another matter,
he grasped, Reach down in my blouse
and get a picture that is there. It's--it's
the girl | was going to marry, sobbed the
dying man Tell her that l died with my
lips to hers. Put the picture to my lips,
Captain, that may kiss it. AT this time
the ambulance drove him to the hospital"
--S.--4Np---~--
"Old Hutch" who was able TO corner the
grain market few years ago and scoop
in fortune, has not been success as a
groceryman In New York, and Ia anxious