The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-30
COALY AND THE REBELS.

| 4 True Story OF II boy Mt Getty sbnrg.
When l was little boy in the yeal
'GS, and a resident OF Gettysburg, it was
the Joy OF my lie to sit perched upon {
hat-topped gate post and watch the sol
diers march or ride by our house on
York Street. The mounted menin theil
blue uniforms, sitting SO well the hand
some, spirited horses. were my special
admiration.
In the early part of the year Union
cayalryman LETT with my next-door
neighbor, Lemuel Thorue, boy oil
fourteen, and dear lover OF horses, Il
young black mare, apparently perma.
nently injured from hard usage and
oyerwork.
"The poor critters as good rs dead, y
said the soldier, but, sonny, do wish
you'd take her N doctor her bit"
You've abused tho poor thing. It's
4 shame to treather So bad" cried Lem
uel, indignantly as he looked over the
broken.down, jaded beast
at couldn't be helped, sonny" replied
the man, regrctfully. "A cavalry boss
has to 90 when the words given. Twas
goin' to shoot poor Coaly, but she's al
lus been so gentle aud teachable l
hadn't the heart to do it,"
"S'pose you take N nuss her ceerful /;
mcbby when she's rested N fattcd up a
bit she'll be able to carry boy about.
Her runnin' days are over-that's sure
thing. She'll never again be fit ior
active service"
Coaly hadn't white or light-colored
HAIR in her black satin coat. She had
been spirited creature. Even in her
weak and WORKOUT condition her grace
iui neck was yet proudly curved. She
stepped daintily.
"Coaly, you n me are pnrdners.
Hain't We pardneTs, my LADY," said
Lemuel, patting her fondly.
Coaly gave an answering whinny,
which We boys interpreted as an uucon-
ditional acceptance OF LemuePs PROPOSE
ton.
Mrs. Thorno and my moth were in
terested in the handsome, intelligent
animal, so much in need OF kind treat
ment and good food. These sympathetic,
kindly mothers assisted us in preparing
mashes Just suited to ConIy's caprici-
GUS appetite. We boys shared sweets,
biscuit, even pie with our aristocratic
lady" feeling richly repaid for our
sacrifice when she began to improve in
health, and when the early June days
came we boys were fond and proud OF
our" sleek, handsome, spirited, good
tempered horse. Though Coaly was
strictly Lemuel's property, he generous
" permitted me to say "our" horse, and
to assist in the feeding, petting and
training
Coaly was teachable. She made her
"manuers" by bowiug her head in a
mincing, comical fashion. She neighed
an approval or dislike to certain arti-
Giles when Lemuel artfully tickled her
ears. She frequently kissed her mas
ter, daintily touching her nose against
his cheek.
Lemuel, being eight years my senior,
understood better than | the danger
that would menace our "lady" if the
Confederate cavalrymen should ride
into Gettysburg. l had never seen Il
Confederate soldier. Since an invasion
was expected | waited and watched i'm
patiently for the first glimpse Of the sol'
liers wearing gray uniforms. During
the last DAYS OF June | spent tho great
err number OF my waking hours
perched upon our front-gate post. look
inv up and down the York road, hoping
for a speedy coming OF the Confederate
cNvalrymon.
"You little greenhoru, you keep a.
wishin' for the Johnnies," cried Lemuel,
upon the afternoon OF June Goth. You
Gon't know what you're wlshin'. Want
to see some rebel cavalrymen, eh? No
cayalrymen is going to get on. lady. No,
sirl I'll show en- that Lem Thorne can
ride away from EN-"
"But. Lem, Coaly can't run. The sol
der said her running days were past "
Cant she? l tell YOU, Dicky, no cav.
alryman can have Coaly. They may
surprise me and lady, but we'll run out
O. Gettysburg. I'll get out ii l don't
have two minutes start OF EN-" said
Lemuel, swapping his fingers, u signal
which brought Coaiy to her master 8
side.
"You'u leave your hay when call,
won't YOU, lady? want you TO mind
me, my beauty. When l say go, 20,
you're TO clip it--make the dust fly. lts
Tor your life that we'll get out o Get
tysburg. You can't stand the cavalry
service. Tho men need horses-they
can't have my lady. She understands,
Dicky, I've got the place to hide her in,
m there's friends thatll feed her."
ooh, Lemmy, do tell Dicky N me
where you'ro goin' to hide CoaIy, cried
little Jcm Thorne.
"Thats my secret. AIT you little
fellers need to know is that CoaIy'll get
out o Gettysburg before the Johnnies
catch her." replied Lemuel.
On the afternoon oil July my wish
to SEQ some Confederate cavalrymen
was gratifed. In the early morning
Lemuei scoided mo sharply, saying: 81
s'pose, Diciy, you'll set n SET on that
gate-post until the Johnnies do come,
you're so anxious TO know which army
has tho prettiest uniform. shouldn't
wonder II YOU saw Some OF their cavul.
rymcn before sunset. Pm goin' up
South Mountain to look around. Idon't
moan to DO trapped. Coaly's got to be
got out O. town before the cavalry gets
in"
l sat upon the gate-post all the fore
noon, keeping sharp lookout lest the
Condederatos steal into the town with
4