Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-01-26
THE CAPTAINS WAR STORIES
Both of Thorn Wonderful, Especially the
Ono About Firing at Pun of Smoke.

"When l was commanding cavalry
outpost during the war;" said the cap
tain, q former confederate officer, ia.
nous for his remarkable war stories,
1--WE were camped near Salem, Va, and
it was the only time before, or since,
that Virginia has had such heavy rains
We were wet through and through,
and almost dead from exposure. had
received for my own use fve-gallon
keg of prime old Kentucky whisky
from an old friend, but before had
chance to sample the liquor / was
obliged to ride out on scout.
"All during that ride was chuck
ling to myself at the treat I'd give the
boys when we got back, and, Incl
dentally, how would enjoy some of
the contents of that keg myself. Well,
sir, when we came back after five
hours ride in that rain, soaked through,
hungry and disgusted, told the men
about that lseg of old John Barleycorn.
Did they smile? 1t was the nearest
approach to laugh that had been
heard in that section of the country for
many day.
Upon dismounting, nll gathered
around my tent. / entered, grabbed u
tin cup, smiled and turned the spigot.
But not drop ran out. l pulled the
air plug from the top, but there was
only the tantalizing odor of the good
old red eye Kentucky alone brews.
The men were muttering at what they
called my ill-timed joke. The disap-
pointment was greater than grieved
humanity could bear
Suddenly turned, saw soldier,
happy in his unsteadiness, in front of n
tent about fifty feet from me. In all
that outpost the only whisky seen in
two weeks was that which / had re-
ceived. Twas but moment to con-
meet the effect and cause. / found
three heavy sleepers in that tent, the
ground was wet with rare, soft fra
grant liquor, every tin wash basin, cup
and vessel was filled with that heaven
ly liquor. The secret was out, so was
the whisky. investigated and found
that these men had learned of my hav-
ing the keg had cut some long rice
straws made conduit some fifty feet
in length by joining them together,
tapped the keg and run the whisky
into their own tent that long distance
away"
The captain stopped, lighted his ci-
gar anew, while his auditors nervously
shifted their positions. None spoke
| for full minute. Then the little man
who had tramped .he region about
Salem under 'Old Glory" asked in a
mild and apologetic voice: Captain,
what does the rice crop amount to now
around the Salem country?"
mo rice was ever raised there OF
thereabouts," said the doughty but for
getful warrior.
The painful silence was finally
broken by the captain himself, who
spun another yarn, which was as fol,
lows:
when / was commanding a cavalry
outpost during the warsI had occasion
to make n personal examination of the
land. l rode with my orderly to q
knoll some half mile from camp, and
leisurely began to study my position
with the aid of field glass.
Suddenly jerked my head back in
voluntarily, and whizz went singing
rifle ball so close to my ear that coulc
feel the wind of its flight. A puff o.
smoke was the only evidence of the
sharpshooter. Not once, but five or si2
times, did this involuntary muscular nc
ton take my head backward from the
line of the shot and save my life. Inevel
could explain or understand that provi
Dental muscular action. Turning tC
my orderly seized his carbine, aimed
at that smoke mile away, fired, anc
all was still again. No more shot
came, and we returned to camp. il
the afternoon party of us rode owe