Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-02
YANKEE INGENUITY.
The Wsy Two Uslss Soldiers CiPeum.
vented some southern Mosquitoes.

vented some southern Mosquitoes.
1t was during the month Of March,
1862, that the Live Eagle regiment was
encamped meath the dense shade Of
cottonwood forest on the west bank Of
the great Father Of Waters, surround
ed by the interminable swamps Of
southwest Missouri.
Among the ruins caused by war
were the remnants Of the sheet-iron
smokestack Of some demolished fabric
Of mechanical industry Of snte-bellum
time, and the idea gradually perme-
ated my susceptible cerebrum that
might make an invulnerable coat-of-
mall Of one Of those sheet-iron cylin-
ders, and by barricading the ends defy
the insidious and persevering assaults
Of the enemy.
Accordingly secured section two
and a half feet in diameter by about
eight feet In length, and in company
with our bunk mate, Mortimer L. An.
drews, Of Ntchburg's famous farm
land fame, we crawled into our narrow
environment, and, closing tight both
front and rear with our rubber blan-
kets we complacently contemplated
the success Of our strategic operations
against our numerous foes, with the
soothing belief that we had now cir
cumvented all their bloodthirsty
schemes, and would be enabled to en-
Joy night Of undisturbed repose.
And obi how our narrow metallic
walls resounded with the echoes Of our
exuberant vocal smiles at the impotent
thrusts Of the enemy's keen lances,
glancing In and out through the rub
Der covering Of the entrance to our in.
vulnerable fort In their vain efforts to
reach their much-desired prey. But
our exultant mirth was soon changed
to anxious forebodings Of impending
evil, as we listened to strange and
unaccountable din, as If from the
operation Of million little drills en-
ployed in boring holes through our
surrounding iron walls.
Could 1t be possible that the enemy
was so well provided in its engineer.
ing department that our prrsupposcd
improbable defense was destined to
crumble before the insiduity OF our
persistent foes and our throbbing,
fevered veins to supply the material
element for their festive nightly revels,
In spite Of all our Yankee ingenuity
and persevering efforts to circumvent
their crafty intentions upon the life
current Of our mortal existence? Dear
reader, do not withhold the fraternal
tear, but lei the dew of human sympa.
thy roll down your downy check from
humid eye us you pause in sad CON
of our terrible situation,
with all our cheering hopes Of victory
over our savage foes nipped in the bud,
and our joyous anticipations Of Il little
peace and u nights undisturbed re-
pose, dispersed. Our enemys lnten-
tons soon became too obvious as one
after another their keen and glowing
lanccs rapidly appeared through the
metal walls, and threatened to reach
our shrinking forms in spite OF all our T
efforts to avoid them, on account Of
the nairowness of space bringing our
bodies in such close proximity to those
protecting walls.
But Yankee genius yet prevailed.
For now, in contemplation of how TO
meet the emergencies Of our terrible
situation we happily bethought our
selves Of IL little tack hammer in our
knapsack, which we had conveyed into
our narrow quarters for a pillow, and
securing 1t as the only suitable de-
iensivc weapon in our present situa-
lion, we proceeded very industriously