Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-10-05
The Cavalry DriIlmasler.
BY JAMES A. ScoTr.


About the year 1855 left the city
of New York, where was employed
as printer, to visit some relatives in
Frederick County, Md. During my
visit ] one day accompanied two o.
my young lady cousins TO srend a
day with family in the neighbor-
hood with which they were very init
mate. There was in the family son,
to whom | was introduced. single
man. who had been away from home
but had returned short time before
our visit. He was a sociable and en-
tertaining young man, and l felt at
tracted towards him. We spent a
most pleasant day. and on my in
forming the young man / intended
returning to New York quite soon he
told me he expected to visit that city
the coming winter, and would call
upon me, il desirable. l was delight
ed and gave him my address and
urged him not to forget his promise.
] went back to New York, and the
ensuing winter and summer, and
another winter, passed without any
call from the young man. In the
meantime, though, in my correspon-
dence with my relatives they told me
that he had gone away from home
soon after our visit, and remained
away for considerable time. When
he again returned he told my
friends he had been in the city of
New York, had called at the address /
gave him, and failed to find me, but
that the next spring he had met and
spoken to me in Alexandria, Va, "a
place which at that time / had never
seen) and also that along in the sum
mer he met me again in Norfolk, Va,
at which time | was so much under
the influence of liquor land l Son of
TemperaneeD that he disliked to ac-
cost ME. OF course had not been
aaenp from the city of New York, and
OF course he had not been IN the city
of New York that he might call upon
me, and it puzzled me why the young
man should be guilty of such uniniti
gated falsehood in regard to me. His
statements about me gave my re1a-
tives no concern, for they knew the
young man better than / did, and
were fully convinced he was lying, so
that it was scarcely necessary for me
to contradict what he had said. But
thought he was very queer young
man, TO say the least about him, and
from what | knew of him afterward
| had no reason to change my opinion
about him.
Years passed without my again
meeting him, and the war came on
in 1861. Coles Cav airy were order
ed from Frederick to the Upper Poto-
mac, where Confederate force was
threatening Williamsport, Nd. Leav-
ing Frederick late in the night, we
arrived at Williamsport about day
light and reported for service to Col
Leonard of the 18th Massachu sets
Infantry, in command there, who or
dered us to move to strip of woods
little above the town to feed and
rest our horses and get something
for ourselves to eat. We had only
fresh beef and bareback. We cooked
our beef by roasting it on green sticks
over fires. When l had finished my
breakfast, took a 1eisurely walk
little distance up the river to where
| saw the tents of body of cavalry,
the members oil which were going
through the dismounted saber drill.
| watched them until their drill was
completed, with no thought of meet
ing any one l knew. When the face
of their drillmaster was turned to-
ward me, imagine my surprise to be-
hold the face of the subject of this
sketch. | walked up and shook
hands with him, he not exactly know
ing me, and said, "Well, =, how
are you, and where in the world have
you been this long time? l never
dreamed of meeting jon here. y "My
Godl'' he replied where did yen come
from but don't call me by my true
name in the hearing of these men.
They know me by another name.
Come to my tent, if you have an hour
to spare, and l will tell you all about
myself" was glad to spend a lit
tie time with him, as he reminded
me OF the delights of more peaceful
days, and l went with him to his
tent. We began conversation about
present matters, as l did not feel like
introducing any memories of the past
when l recalled the romancing he had
done about me to my relatives, nor /
suppose, did he, and most likely for
the same reason; so, as | said, we
talked about present matters, and he
explained to me how he came TO be
in the position he now occupied-that
OF dnllnlaster to battalion of caval-
ry. He said that he had lived for
some years in the far South, and had
gone through course of study there
IN military academy, which fitted
him for what he was now doing.
When the war began, the people of
the region, knowing him to possess
military knowledge. desired him to
enter the service of the Confederacy,
offering him an honorable and COM
handing position, but being at heart
a Union mana fact he dared not di-
vulge-he declined upon some pre-
text, and watched for a chance to
make his way north, which at length
arriving he embraced. and. with great
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