The Bossier banner., 1893-10-26
THE BOY BATTALION.
Why They Did Not End the Civil
War.

In those stirring days back in the six
ties the drums, flags and long lines of
marching men took captive the hearts
and fired the Imagination OF BOYS.
Marbles, bats, tops and balls were ex-
changed for military implements and
trappings. Every urchin became sol.
diers every squad of boys company or
battalion.
So eager were we, in our North Caro-
lima neighborhood, to fill oar ranks and
outdo the neighhoring plantations, that
all manner of recfGfts were gladly re-
ceived and enlisted, including our ne
gro playfeliows, and on a pinch even
our sisters and girl cousins,
After time we grew tired of drilling
and longed for more stirring service.
The men had gone to The front and our
hearts had gone with them. Our mot
ley companies were disbanded one by
one, and the more enteeprising boys of
the neighborhood began to discuss the
advisability of a forced march to the
seat of war.
To such proceeding we were quite
sure our mothers would object. But
had they not, in some cases, opposed
the enlistment of our fathers? We
heard the loud cry on all sides, that II
was every ones duty to do his UTMOST
to end the war.
Just then we found In the garrets of
our homes several forgotten lots
OF military aecoutrements used by rel
atlves in the Mexican war, or in mill
tia drills. That decided the matter
Now we could equip ourselves.
A marching column, comprised of
Ned Tippet, Mark Lanny, Tom Mallet,
myself and several smaller boys, was
Instantly formed.
We were to muster at the Creek
Bridge at daybreak. OF course we
were too much excited the night before
to sleep. We were all on hand before
the day broke, and the boy battalion
was formed. We wore huge light-horse
helmets, made of leather, decked with
trailing horsehair and shaped like the
helmet of Alexander the Great, beside
cutaway coats radiant with buff trim
mlngs and brass buttons The coat
sleeves were rolled up so that we might
nave the use of our hands, and under
the lining of the helmets leaves were
stuffed to keep them from dropping
down over our faces.
we had an armament that we felt
must be decisive. Indeed, we wondered
now our elders could have overlooked
such irresistible weapons; and we
counted Ourselves the most fortunate of
oelngs in having discovered them.
bore sword which no less an au-
thority than Uncle Primus, the car
rlage-driver, declared to be early sharp
enough to shave with. Ned had a
pistol which discharged six shots with
out reloading. Mark had one which
required no cooking, but was fired by
the. pulling of the trigger, and Tom
mad a rifle that would kill at a distance
OF mile.
The fact that had a sword of course
made me captain. After inspecting the
guns to see if they were all loaded. and
ordering to their homes all recruits un-
uer nine years old was twelve-for
,he reason that they were too small and
mad no uniforms or weapons, | shouted
the command:
ohoulderr arms! Forward mar-rchr'
we trudged bravely forward. As
soon as the friendly screen of the woods
was reached the command was halted,
OF rather it halted itself in order that
hne OF march might be agreed upon,
for two reasons we decided to aban-
oon the highway and strike across the
country One reason was that we
wished to surprise the enemy and end
the war with a volley. The other rea-
son. and the chief one, was that the
most formidable enemies of the expedi-
tlon IN the persons of our mothers held
1he rear and would doubtless give pur-
SUIT along the road
now Tar away the armed enemy was
we ftld not know. Our plan was to
march due northward, guided during
the day by the sun and at night by the
north star, or, if it was cloudy, by feel.
ing the moss on the tree-trunks, just as
pahiei Boone and the Indians did.
80, Hing off by the left flank. we
struck out through the woods and
neias. The thorns and briers seemed
thicker than we had ever before known
enem and the gullies closer together
ana deeper. But filled with enthusi.
asn, we pressed manfully forward.
Inc sun crept slowly up, becoming
4otter every moment. Our weapons