The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-06-05

NIOUShSUuuS Will RESPOND To GQe
mayors address of welcome. The pic
mic will conclude with two entertain
ments IN the evening, q ball and q
social entertainment for those not de-
string to attend the ball. All Wood
men and their friends are especially |
invited to come to Grand Forks on the |
10th Of June and enjoy a jolly good
time.
Comrade Sonderman's Story.
The recital of the poem Barbara
Fritchie" by little Miss Mabel Bride
on Memorial Day, reminded me Of a |
little experience which happened
about three weeks later, after the in
cident in the poem, and also shows
the patriotism of the ladies of Fred
erick City. The incident of Barbara
Fritchie happened on the 18th or 18th
day Of September. 1862. as the adj
vance of our army entered Frederick
City on the night of the 18th, and our
corps (the Second) marched through |
that city on the 18th, and our army |
gave battle to Lee the same day at |
the South Mountains.
After the battle of Antietam the
Potomac army lay at Harper's Ferry.
About the middle of October I was
one of detail of six men and SER
geant to take some rebel prisoners to |
Frederick City. 1t was on Satur-
day, when we started by railroad, and
arrived in Frederick City the same
afternoon. Delivering our prisoners
to the provost guard. we went to a |
hotel for the night. Having not
slept in bed for year and a half we
most naturally took advantage of the
chance, and besides, being unused to
a bed, we could not get to sleep right
away SO we slept pretty long next
morning. Coming down to breakfast
we found the hotel people as we'll as
the people on the streets in great
excitement. The rebel cavalry under
General Stuart had made a raid into
Maryland, and was expected to attack
the railroad depot. All the troops in
Frederick City had been marched to
the depot to defend the same. Our
orders were to return that day, but
no trains were running. so we had a
holiday Of it and took in the sights of
the city. the raiders not disturbing us.
We were shined up to our best, having
drawn new clothes shortly before.
Two of the boys took stroll up the
street towards the depot. At one of
the houses young lady stood in the
doorway, and as our two boys passed
her she accosted them thus. '.sYou
had better shoulder your muskets and
join the soldiers at the depot instead
of loafing around the streets!'' Our
boys smiled, but said nothing; but
when they came back to the hotel re-
lated how they had been scolded.
The raiders didn't turn up, and the
trains were running on Monday again.
When our train time came we donned
our harness again and started off.
Everything on us shone as if we never
had smelled powder, but had been do
ing guard duty in some city. but our
weather beaten faces, our delapidated
consumptive looking knapsacks, with
the mill-burned half canteen frying
pan strapped on top, the we'll worn
haversack, the smoked cove-oyster
can. coffee pots and the dinted, black
ened tin cups. the step, and the grip
Of the musket told a different tale.
AS we marched to the depot one of
the boys said. ''There she stands
again." We knew at once what he
meant; our step grew firmer and our
bearing more erect, our pride had
been stirred by her former remark.
AS we drew near she seemed to recog-
nize our two boys and made a move as
to retire, but checked herself and
stood her ground. When we came
near she said II beg your pardon men,
for my remark yesterday, I recognize
you now as the men that brought in
the rebel prisoners on Saturday. God
bless you" and disappeared. We did
not give her three cheers, but our
sergeant gave the command "Carry
Arms" and we passed the house as
though we had passed in review be-
fore our beloved commander, George
B. Mcclellan, In the same streets of
Frederick City on the 18th day Of
September. J. G. SONDERMAN.
Independent Caucus.
A caucus of the Independent vot-
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