The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-01-16
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
The Adventures of Jones.

led a rather quiet life in the
army" remarked Jones. al had no
horses shot from under me. BY the
way, it has always seemed to me that
we owe an inestimable and little-recog-
nized debt to the attraction of gravia-
ton. If it had not been for this salu-
tary force, the air of many states, at the
end of the late war, would have been
well-nigh filled with able brigader gen.
erals whose horses had been shot from
under them, and who had not been
hauled down yet"
"You were il the cavalry arm of the
service, we're you not2" asked Smith.
Principally, though l was connected
at different times with the infantry and
artillery as WE'LL" answered Jones,
guardedly. 81 had fine horse, which
l called Hot Cakes. He was very
quick horse. One day when the bugle
sounded the charge he started Sc sud-
denly that his tail dropped off,"
Now hold on, JONES'" said Jackson
Peters, firmly; give heard that story
before"
"No doubt, Jackson, no doubt" re-
piled Jones, with the greatest bland
ness. "The whole brigade saw the in
the history you studied at school. Ban
croft mentions it.
"My service with the artillery" con-
tinued Jones, "while lacking the dash
of my connection with the cavalry, was
really of much more importance to the
country. l became interested IN the
artillery through so often charging up
to the lannon's mouth. After years
ooOnoi ~ 70 poa with thio blo Il
petulant end of the cannon l deter
mined to get into touch with the other
end, and accordingly got transferred to
the artillery. l soon found myself
colonel, and in charge of a small bat
terry.
=" AT the siege of Port Hudson an in
cident occurred which may be worth
repeating. 1t was during the first days
bombardment that my attention was at.
tracted to the small amount of appar-
ent injury inflicted on the enemy in re-
turn for the expenditure in labor, am
happened that l did not sleep well, my
throat being hot and parched from lack
of water, the tin cup having been shot
out of my hand every time had tried
to take drink all day. While tossing
on my feverish cot l conceived the no.
ton that the difficulty, with my battery
at least, was that the projectiles were
not heavy enough. AT the first streak
OF light, my tent having been shot out
of existence during the night, l walked
away from my cot, summoned my
orderly, and made requisition for a
certain eight-inch steel shaft which |
happened to know was within our lines.
1t had been taken from dismantled
iron-clad, where it had served as the
ram, and was but a short piece some
six or seven feet long. My heaviest
gun was an eight-inch smooth-bore, and
/ had decided to use this shaft as pro-
iectile, and tear breach through the
enemy which would hopelessly cripple
him.
At about six O'Clock the piece of ram
was brought to me. l instantly caused
double charge of powder to be in
serted in the eight.inch gun, and then
had the shaft forced home on top of it.
1t was close fit, which pleased me, as
it assured accuracy in firing, and if my
aim was good doubted not to do terri
BILE execution. We were behind earth
works, on a bluff overlooking the enc
mys position. My guide pointed down
ward at a small but noticeable angle.
At eight o'clock the bombardment
opened sharply all along the line. 1t
was the heaviest firing l ever expert
enced. worked the remainder of my
battery vigorously for half an hour, then
l determined to give the enemy my
eight-inch. l had decided to aim the
piece myself. Stepping to it, leaned
forward against the breech, put my
head down closely, and aimed with the
greatest care. My nerve was firm as
iron. / felt that the moment for crush
ing the rebellion had come. The aim
was perfect. l touched the vent with
my cigar.
"Gentlemen, l have to confess to a
miscalculation. Though possessing a
thorough knowledge of gunnery, l had
made the mistake of having my projec-
tile heavier than my gun. AS conse-
Quence the projectile rested where it
was and the gun shot back. l was cling
ing to the breech, and went with it. The
trajectory which we, the cannon and !,
described, was said to be very beautiful,
and was observed blythe entire army.
We struck the ground about three
miles back of the Union lines. Leav-
ing the unfortunate piece of ordnance
where it fell, returned to my battery"
"Then your idea was of no practical
valued" said Robinson, as Jones paused
in his narration.
Son the contrary, it ended the siege.
The next day General Banks reversed
every cannon in our lines, loaded them
with shafting, and threw them into the
enemy, with such effect thatawhat little
was left of him surrendered"
"Does Bancroft mention this?" asked
Jackson Peters, softly.
Bancroft wasn't there, and knew
nothing about it" answered Jones.-H.
c., in Harpsr'S Weekly.