The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-24

deserted from the rebels His good Quaiities
soon developed, and he was soon Recognized
by all of the boys as part of the battery
Were to recall all the incidents about
Major, it would serve as history OF the
battery, so / will only relate few. One
popularity was that when the battery nad
an engagement, Major would give one long,
continued howl and disappear until quiet
was restored, when he came back very nun
CRY and very much ashamed OF himseii ior
his cowardly action. The battery would De
| in position many times NUMBER Oh niiAes
from where he left us.
Lit was after q brisk action during the latter
part of October, 1864, that Major was miss
ing as usual. During his absence the Dat
terry was ordered to accompany Gen. butier
to New York city to look after the expected
election riots. Returning to the front about
| the middle of November, we took our quar-
tiers for the night on the ground In the MIDST
| of a cold, DRILLING rain and sseet But we
had warm welcome from Major on that
terrible night of exposure. MAJOR had 10 go
around and shake hands with us all, to see
| if we were all there. 1t may seem q little
out of order to shake dogs paw, but when
offered with so much good intention we conld
not help it, and if we could have been nome
for that night no one would have objected
| to have shaken paws with the cat.
| This landing was several miles away from
| where he left us on the former occasion.
When we got in Winter quarters, log corn
cribs, with shelter-tente, near Fort Harrison,
| on the lands formerly owned and occupied
by President VIM. ii. Harrison, Major be-
came very strongly attached, forgot his cow
| ardly actions, and was seldom found outsioe
of the limits of the camp.
I'm tho raamarahle morning OF ADr1i =,
| 1865. shell from the rebel gunbOats In the
James River above Dutch Gap burst few
yards in the rear of our camp, and must
| have been in very close quarters 10
Major at the time, by the way he came
bounding through the camp, as if the john
mics were after him. A few minutes later
the gunboats were blown up, and the earth
trembled. Everybody jumped from snug
quarters, and prepared for the jubilee that
| was to come.
In about half an hour we were on our
way to Richmond. Two companies OF cav
airy were in our advance, but, with Major
and the battery, we were the first'to enter
the city of Richmond, then about one-thlrd
burning hating at Libby Prison and Castle
| Thunder to see if any of our boys were left
in those cattle-pens.
We took our position at Camp Lee, and
| the army followed the retreating army to
| its capture or, rather, unconditional sur
| render. In few DAYS after Major had
| shown symptoms of inexpressible delight
and friendlipess to the boys, who partook OF
his characteristics, in token of good-fellow-
| shin. Between and o'clock in the even
ing strange sounds were waited on the air
| In the direction of Fort Drury.. Nearer
and nearer they came. Distant bands were
discoursing music, all in double-quick time
Orderlies rode as they never rode before,
and our time had come TO be called up IN
line to hear what all the racket was about.
The dispatches were read. Lee had sur
rendered. and the war was over. Major was
here, there, and everywhere at the same
time, catching the caps of the boys az they
came down and returning them to the
original owners.
We pass many memorable events that
happened to Major and the boys, until we
come homeward bound. Transported to
Baltimore, Capt. Doane chartered the only
decent car on the train for the accommoda-
ton Of we officers" The remainder of the
train was made up of box and cattle-cars-
good enough for the "coffee-coOlers. On
boarding said train the conductor objected
TO Major, and gave him a kick. The boys,
in turn, kicked the conductor, and it would
l
B. Morris came and Quoted the insult, and
explained that Major was a part Of the
battery.
Serg't P. 81. Heary asked permission Of
Capt Charles Russell Doane to allow some
of the boys in his car, as the others were
crowded. His request was answered by 9
!, severe blow from an iron coupling-pin
! War was renewed. Doane was deserted
, and had the whole car to himself The re-
manning officers took quarters with Major
and the boys. Doane was not seen when
, we reached Trenton, and it was, perhaps, az
well.
When the Governor gave US q reception
j and made some very pretty speeches IN re-
) gard to the valor and bravery of the old 4tt
battery, some one proposed three groans
5 for "oId Doane." They were given with {
+ will, in which Major took an active part
The only wonder was that the roof did no
come off the building. Three cheers wer'
a proposed for Lieut.. Morris, and they neve
stopped until three times three were given
9 and Major did not come in for minor part
{ The battery was to be disbanded, but tn
e boys had always agreed to cast lots for Major
q The lot fell upon Henry Saitells, of Irving
v ton, n. ]. Good-by is sometimes har'
word to say, but there were our friends
e wives, mothers, or sweethearts waiting +
n welcome US home. Hence our associates, ex
e cept a few of the more intimate, were BIZ
good-by in a rather formal manner. But n
one forgot to bid Major an affectionate good
BY. What the eagle had been to the Wis
consn regiment, Major had been to the Al
n. j. battery.
Some years after Major met with a yer
tragic end. At one of the conHagrations tina
took place in Irvington, his master (Sattells
entered the burning building to protect lii
and property. Major followed. He neye
came back again. He had been faithful
| the end.
Thirty-one years has made great changes
Major, his master, Morris, Doane, and as nea
Is can learn over two-thirds Of the batter
have been mustered out There has nevt
been a Reunion of the old Alb, and shout
this sketch meet with any Of the 4th boy
: write me. ] should like w zee # IT could /
possible to name some convenient time an
place for Reunion.-J. p. GRAY, Majo
4th n. j. battery, Rockaway. N. j.
DeCOURCEY A BRAVE Man
His Service In America Ended I'm Bitter Di
apDOfntmeut