Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-23
WAX "REMINISCENCES.
FAITHFUL SERVANT.
Not Even Death Released Him From the
Duty Imposed.

Duty Imposed.
"You can talk all you want to about
faithfulness and steadfastness to duty,
said an old army captain to number
of listeners, ''but when ii comes to be-
ing true to trust, the colored race
/ takes the blue ribbon every time. Dur
ing the war" he continued, "a slave
came to my headquarters and begged
me to let him stay and make himself
generally useful and act as my private
body guard Well, didn't need the
fellow, but sort of took pity on him
and let him remain, and | was always
very glad did, for he would do any
thing | told him to. no matter how much
of an effort it cost him.
HE was pretty handy as a forager
and never seemed to have much trouble
in locating hen roost. We always had
chicken to eat if there was any in the
country. | remember one time told
him to go out and bring in some poul-
try He said All right, NASSAU and
started off Morning came and he fail
ed to return. A week had passed and
saw nothing more of him. / felt sure
he had grown tired of camp life or had
been captured or killed But one morn
ing he came into camp with two large
roosters. He looked ragged and worn,
and as he threw down his burden he
said: Thar, massa, is yere blame ole
chickens Them rebs got tween me
an de lines an made me trabble bout
foah hun'ed mile to git yere
! l.. I 10
yaluables in my tent, and on starting
out with slSirmishing party told my
colored man not to allow anyone to
enter the tent We had no more than
got away when the enemy rode into
camp and took everything except my
tent, which my Negro defended against
the whole army, and all because l had
told him he should keep every one out
have thought since that Il had only |
told him to go out and put down the
re bellion he would have done So l had !
become very much attached to hiIn, |
when one time he went with me on a |
secret accommodating trip. My horse
had been shot from under me and ! was
riding a mule. We reached a thick
lump of bushes, when | dismounted /
and told him to hold my mule till i re-
5rrned, and started away on foot.
lad gone some distance through the
woods when | saw several confederates
me and where l had left my
mule. My safety demanded that |
hurry still further on to another thick
growth of timber. The enemy seemed
o be following me, and | kept going
Onward until finally | reached camp
ust before the opening of a severe
,attle. We were forced to fall back,
md during the night started on long
march had but little doubt that my
Negro and mule had fallen into the en-
my's hands. ] never saw either of
hem again during the war, and after
was over / came north.
Twenty-Five years later took trip
outh and visited the old battle grounds.
found the same dense cluster of brush
nd trees, where in the midst of which
had left my Negro with instructions
, hold my mule until ] returned. And,
Though it was no more than had a
ght to expect of him, will confess /
as somewhat surprised to find stand
lg there the skeleton of that Negro, its
ony fingers slutching the strap to /,
hich was attached the skeleton of a .
ule. just the instant said, There,
you needn't hold the mule
ny longer both the skeletons fell in
heap and | threw a few leaves and !
me dirt over the bones, and, turning
way with tears in my eyes, said: !.
low seldom do we see such fidelity to =
ity.' But, Notwithstanding that :
egro's good qualities, he had his fault. !
e would lie. Do the best | could with
m he still seemed to have but little 0
gard for the truth. But I've often
ought if he could have associated
it'll me till the end of the war it might
i've made different man out of him." 4