The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-10-30
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A CAMPFIRE YARN.

This Is a story they tell OF the boys
Of the Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois.
They had gone into camp at Peach TTee
creek
That time when the rebels were around
so thick
They never could tell, by night or by day.
When a sentry on duty would slip away
At the ping of a hidden gun, or when
Stray bullets from ambush would strike
the men.
The place all about had an ugly name;
The boys couldn't get tn hang O. tn game
The rebs were playin'. Do you recollect
The lay O. the land down there? 1t was
flecked
With groups of jackplnes and siIveTy rills.
An bubolin up into grassy hills.
With a cluTnp of underbrush here an there
Along the roed by the cornfields fair.
One picket post by the edge of the pines,
But stones throw out from the Jobnnie's
lines,
Was viewed by the fellows-they'd OWn it
here
With a sort of superstitious fear.
1t isn't so bad when a soldier knows
He Is under the guns OF bitter foes,
But it's hard to stand at a sentry post
And think you may meet with soldiers
ghost
But. though they all knew in their cooler
times,
Twas a skulking reb from between the
lines
Who picked off the sentinels one by one,
They couldn't find out how the deed was
done.
Sometimes twas a saber cut, and again
The poor dead lad would have only stain
Oozed up through the path of q bit of lead
When the guard of relief found the picket
dead.
How It was managed they couldn't find
But that twas done neatly there wasn't
doubt.
Tired and hungry and sort O. depressed
We went into camp, and perhaps you've
guessed,
Not one of US pined for the glory at all.
OF serving as target for rebel ball
But one thing we knew: The picket down
there,
Whatever the danger. was in our carsr
Our captain looked grave and fairly bEUke
down,
AS up with salute went old Corp'ral Brown
"Cap'n," he said. Just you trust to- the
boys
OF the Hundred and Twenty-ninth illinois,
II there's figbtin' to do they'll fight. thetts
all,
An If it's to be, s'pose they can fall.
1<0I the post De SudTOeO Dy VOlunIeGTS.
And the boys came up with a round Of
cheers
And 80 twas arranged, and young Arling-
ton
Whistled bit as he shouldered his gun;
But as he marched down to the lonely
place
The burrows grew deep on his boyish face.
I he awful stiffness grew into pail
And his brave heart quailed as he thought
Of all
The pines might hide in their shadows So
grim.
And the hostile eyes that were marking
him
A sound In the thicket, moving branch,
And the soldier is waiting, erect and |
stanch.
He creeps in the shade Of q tree and |
breathes
AS soft as the zephyrs upon the leaves.
A shape In the moonlight upon the ground, |
A stealthy movement, and then a sound
OF mimic whirring past leaf and twig-
And the guard rushed into a murdered
pig
'Tis a story they tell of the gallant boys
OF the Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois,
And hOlG it a truth. and you'll agree
They were just as brave as they well could
be.
And they thought the ravens of Holy writ
Had something to do with the end of it.
For they had fresh meat when the watch
was done.
And the joy of the camp was young Airing
ton.
Grace Duffie Boylan, in Chicago Journal