Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-01
THE GENERALS SURPRISE,

THE GENERALS SURPRISE.
An Incident in Camp Life Under Gen.
Abercrombie, Near Alexandria.
The word may be of recent origin, but
the dude has f1ourished, 10, these many
years, and The Star writer has in mind at
TINS moment one who was musician in a
large band attached to a camp near Alex
andria In the fall of 1868, and played the
slide trombone. His clothing was kept
with scrupulous care, his shoes always had
a patent leather gloss and when Charley
brought the mouth-piece of his horn up
under his well-waxed black mustache
while the band was out on one Of its fire.
quent serenading expeditions, no girls
heart was safe If she was within range of
one OF his langushing smiles Consequently
Charley made many acquaintance among
the female residents of that vicinity, and
his visiting list was quite large. Gen.
Abercrombie was in command of the forces
in that nefghborhood at the time. re
The writer was one of four who occupied
large hospital tent, with four double
berths at the far end. and our handsome
weli-dressed trombone player was another
of the party. Charley's social duties took
him into Alexandria two or three times a
week, leaving the camp about 7 in the
evening and returning quite late-along in
the wee sma' hours. 'fWes three, who were
ignored in these little8socfal arrangements
were trifie sore and jealous over the
preference shown our dud1sh terminate by
the fair damsels in the neighborhood. but
we couldn't help ourselves; he continued to
capture them right Along Then we COM
menced to complain because he disturbed
our rest by coming In long after midnight
on the nights he made his trips into the
city, and suggested that a good way to
keep peace in the family was to take us
with him occasionally on his excursions
But, no, sir-"two isncodnpany. three is a
crowd" seemed to be his rule, and he
One night while he was absent we
schemed out a surprise for him. Rolling
up three army blankets In q pretty COM
pact ball, We tied it tightly with cords;
then we tied a rope to the center Of the
ridge-pole, letting the end drop to about
two feet from the floor, tying the ball of
blankets to the lower end. Attaching a
cord to the bundle. one of the boys got up
on the top bunk, at the back end, and
pulled the roll UP to him. Then, letting go
suddenly, the roll of blankets would swing
the length of the tent, gathering momen-
tum In its flight, until ii reached the door,
way, or about breaSt-high, with force
enough to knock down an OK. Then the
surprise party was ready for Charley, and
We awaited his footsteps on the narrow,
homemade board sidewalk that led down
through the band quarters.
1t was long past midnight when he got
back, but we were all wide awake, and
ready to give him a reception. As he came
In the door, and hesitated an instant to
strike a match, we let loose a Coman,he
yell and the bundle of blankets at the
same time, and, while one almost deafened
him, the other took him full in the breast
knocking him clean across the sidewalk
where he sprawled on his back in the
orc 10 cpsf H,,rt bot h.
ribly frightened, and mad as fury, and he
couldn't discover what hit him.
A day or two afterward got a pass from
the adjutant general for myself and two
four hours but for some reason we didn't
90, and that night Charley had another
engagement in town: but before leaving
camp he threatened us with dire disaster
with him. 'Ill go right to Cen Aber-
crombie and report you." declared the
trombonist, and we promised to be good
But the first experiment was such grand
success that we couldn't resist the tempta-
ton to repeat it, and before the victim had
been gone an hour we again had our bat
tering RAM in position for action.
The moon was shining brightly off to the
south. leaving the front of tent ard
narrow sidewalk in a deep shadow, but
beyond the walk it was bright as day. As
the general had lectured the leader of the
band severely several times for allowing
his men to make SO much noise after
"taps"-when all good soldiers are sup
posed to be in their "beds"-we had con-
cluded to omit the Comanche attachment
on that night. and let Charley receive the
second degree in silence.
Tho weather was quite warm, and we
had left the door wide open, and about
midnight we heard the measured tread of
his footsteps on the boardwalk, pacing
quite slowly, we thought. Maybe he got
the cold shoulder down town tonight -
whispered one Of the boys. and then we
cheerful reception awaiting him at the
door. He reached the front of the tent,
and faced the dark, open doorway; paused
an instant, as though a little suspicious of
what might be beyond. then stepped eau
tiously upon the threshold, and
"Bifv'
Up to this point we had just strained our
selves with laughing over the climax that
was coming until our sides achad and
time, for realization didn't Justify the an
ticipation worth cent AS he took his
Involuntary leap over the sidewalk and
stretched at full length in the grass on
his back, the bright moonlight gave us an
excellent view of his face-Gen. Aber crom-
bic! excuse these tears.}
The next day Col. Crawford, the ad1u-
tant general, made some quiet inquiries
among the band mea as to who occupied
forma ton he received didn't seem to
throw much light upon the dark secret he
was trying to open up; for there was evil
dence in his own Office that myself and two
terminates had a twenty-four hours pass
to Washington, and Charley swore he was
in Alexandria until long after midnight so
the investigation was dropped.