The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-02
A LITTLE CONFEDERATE.
4 SIMPLE sToRK or BRAVE LITTLE
BILLY.
He Was the Pet of tho Regiment and az
kingiv a Little soldier ms tho
Bravest OF tho Men.


occurred. We had just finished our long
and unbroken list OF glorious victories
The confoderacy had paused for a breath.
Ing spell, but 1t was 20 be a snort one.
Lee, ever the aggrcssor. looked north.
ward, and the campaign into Pennsyl-
vania was commenced. We were at the
high tide Of our success. the soldiers were
In the best of spirits. and much pleased
with the idea of carrying war into the
enemy's country. Now, IL ever. our
chances and hopes seemed brightest.
even the most d0ubtfls croakers cast
aside their prophecies, and entered heart
and soul into the new Campaign. AS |
have stated, ! was a surgeon, my duty
was TO examine daily into the health OF
the men, and make my report accordingly.
After the battle, OF course, | had much
more to do In attending to the wounded
but ordinarily my duties were not hard
and now they were even easier than
usual one morning as / was riding
along TO join my ambulance wagons in
the rear after making my report 10 the
commanding officer, | noticed a group of
men gathered around the wagons. AT
frst l took no notice Of this. but on
coming closer, | was attracted by the
TACT that the men seemed 10 be centred
around some particular object OF interest.
My curiosity being aroused, | rode over
10 ascertain what was the matter |
round the men, as ] have said, gathered
in ring, and In their midst was small
boy. | shall never forget my impression
Of that boy. There he stood I'm the mid
die OF that ring of men, apparently deaf
to the questions which We're being fred
at him from all sides. He was bare
headed and shOeless. A ragged shirt
and a pair Of patched pants. held up by
one suspcnder. completed his attire. lie
was about five feet tall, and very frcck-
led His nose had an upward tendency
while his skin. OF a reddish hue. COM
bined with his freckies, would cause,
or rather justify, any one IN calling him
ugly. But he had two rcdeeming features
his eyes and hair. The former were Of
the deepest brown. while the latter was
the curiest. brightest golden | have ever
seen. AS l rode up one Of the men said.
See, Captain that was my title, we
have the honor Of capturing the first
prisoner in this campaign
so observe" l replied. But l
hope il did not take this entire squad TO
do so, for II II did II will require rcgl-
ment to capture full-grown Yankee"
ooh no." the man answered. the team
ster had the honor lie found him asleep
under the wagon this morning
How did he get therey l asked.
THAT is what We don't know and what
he won't tell" the man answered.
What is his name?'
"Bily."
"Bnly what?"
Nothing hut plain Billy just So re-
Piled the men in chorus. The fact was
the only reply the men had lcen
able to elicit from him was that his
name was Billy. He was apparently deaf
10 all other questions. Knowing the best
thing 10 be done in such n case was 20
report it to headquarters, / started on
to do SO. when one Of the men yelled
after me to take Billy along. n very good
suggestion as he might be induced to
disclose his former history 10 the COM
handing officer. / rode back 70 the men,
md one Of them placed the little fellow |
~ behind me He did not seem al all |
9th 10 90. and held on firmly while / |
,antered along the road. on arriving at
leadquarters refined up my horse.
BILLY Jumped lightly 20 the ground and |
waited while l dismOunted and hitched
Ne were met ON all sides by volley OF
iuestions from the lounging officers. 70
whom | replied that Il was bringing In
/ desperate prisoner" As soon as /
cached the colonel's tent l took Billy by
he hand. and together we entered, UNI
Questioned by the sentry. who knew me-
md who also knew that / was allowed
% come and 20 at viii AS we entered
he colonel. looking up from some maps
which he was examining, said: Whom
ave we here. Captain ! FASTENED 10
ell him all that + knew. and concluded
~ saving that I had brought the boy.
linking he might like to interview him
you are right. Captain. won l you be
eated while I question this small prison
..2"
'Now Billy" said the colonel. come
lcre and tell me an about yourself; how
,ou came to get I'm our lines last night
nd mind that you tell me nothing hut
he truth
II NAV have been the assuring look on
he Coionors face or the soNening OF his
,olce-as he thought Of his own little
mes at home-T don't know which, that
.eemed completely 10 win Bily's heart;
or he walked straight up 10 him and
.azlne up AZ him with his big eyes so
ull Of childish trust. he told the follow
ng story. "My name am Billy Powell
e said: my papa he got XIII last year.
ol he was lighting real hard against the
Yankees. and my mamma she crys lots
nd then she toxic M and 90 10 New
-ork. where she 1--we before ny papa
marry her and her papa ~as mad with
er cause my papa WAS rebel, ana my
namma she die. the doctors say her heart
vas broke, and my grandpspa say | got
o 90 back 10 Virginia 10 my pspa's peo-
le and he put me on the train and he
ell the conductor 10 take care of me.
mt when the soldiers stop the train last
light | slip on and I run and hide under
ne the wagons near the track" Here
,illys history came TO an end. I noticed
twitching around the corners Of his
aouth, which he was trying 10 control,
mt IL was Of no use. the tell-tale tears
would come. with sob he threw himself
ntO the Coionei's lap and biurted our, Il
want 10 20 home and see grandmama."
wen afterwards whenever the little fe'
DIV became sad and pensiye, or - en- in
rs hours Of childish pleasure. the burden
+ his touching inquiry was for to see
is grandmamma."
Evidently his old grandmamma had been
ind to the little fellow and had won his
Dve, for certainly his pure boyish heart
al gone out 20 her. whoever she was
he Colonel comforted the little fellow
nd not ia vain. for WITH promises OF
andy and a ride on his horse Billys
ears were soon dried. Investigations 20
nd out who and where Blllys people
'ere proved ~ no avail and not wishing
D cast the little fellow adrft. We con-
lued il was best that he should go along
18th the regiment.
He soon became a Prime favorite with
lie men and there was not = single follow
the regiment who would not have
ade II personal matter hid anyone ut
mpted 20 interfere with Billy. AS tho
my worked It's way along northward,
? began gradually TO have those small
tch-batties. which were but tho fore
.nnara OF lint Matnrino Of Amelia |