Evening journal., 1897-02-12
A SHINPLASTER.

am a 20 cent greenbacl, and for all |
l know may he one Of the unredeemed,
but / have had such varied experiences |
and was able TO do so much good the
day Richmond was evacuated feel /
must tell about it, for was as much a
subject of dispute in my day as gold and
silver and bonds are now was sent
forth fresh and crisp from Washington
to paymaster in the Army of the Po-
tomac ON the Virginia peninsula, and
he delivered me, along with "a lot of
larger notes, to captain of the Fifth
Pennsylvania cavalry.
The captain placed the big notes in
letter which he wrote to his wife-a
sweet, loving letter-in which he told
her he was going the next day ON
raid up the peninsula, and that if all
went well he might sleep in Richmond;
that she must keepup brave heart and
that he would be home soon. When he
sealed this letter, saw the muscles of
his mouth tNgitch and his brave blue
eyes moisten, and 1 snuggled up within,
/ for l knew the bravcst were the tender
est, and he was wishing that he could
go with that letter.
But there were no Drawer men in the
war than the Pennsylyanians, and l
knew that, live OF die, he would be
game and do what was right
The next morning we started off and
got along very well until about ] y
miles beyond williamsburg, and just at
the fork Of the roads we were attacked
by the advance guard of Shinglcr's
South Carolina cavalry. We had only 40
men in our party, and the rebels were
numerous. The captain saw he had bet
ter retire, so he turned his horse, order
cd a retreat, and the men threw their
guns over their shoulders and dashed
down tho road, firing as they rctreated
We went into a new position, behind
the college walls-the college had been
burned-and as the hot lead spattered
against the old English bricks l shud-
dered, and every time the statue Of Lord
Botetourt was hit I felt as if everything
sacred was being desecrated, and could
almost hear the British lion growl.
While 1 was made for circulation / was
DdeIAl OIl lLNlilAAAlAf tAilNA MAANAA AAAttA SO
were made against me feared l would
be ground into pulp before was with
drawn.
Our enemies were re-enforced and
my captain, seeing discretion was the
better part of valor, again retired and
dashed down the main street Before
he had gone two squares a bayonet was
thrust through his thigh and he was
made prisoner. In very short time
was exchanged for a bag of tobacco and
became IN ally and associate Of armed
rebellion A shinplaster has no affec-
tions or attachments, you know
/ was put in what was called a pocket
bv my rebel owner, but it seemed 10 me
like rag bag. was so frightened
thought l would die and was sure
would never smile again, but that night
/ laughed myself sick at the ludicrOus
and hairbreadth escape Of my new
fried
He was worn out with excitement Of
the day, and as hopassed house by the
collcgc, just across from the president
house. one of his friends asked him in,
pointed to feather bed on the floor,
and he sank down in it and slept as
only a Confederate soldier could for he
had not seen a bed Of any kind for sC
long. He was in high feather at his
good fortune. He was too tired e
dream. was awake, studying my new
surroundings. Suddenly a friendly
hand shook him up and said, you ar'
caught. He crept to thewindow, pull
4 Il. ~.
enough, were my friends of the Fiftl
Pennsylvania cavalry.
If ever my Union soul longed for ;
voice, il was then. He could have pu
his hand ON them. He double quickeC
into his clothes and buttoned me al
: against his heart, which was going taste
, than a weaver's shuttle. Il was a bril-
, liant moonlight night in April He ha'
out his horse in an open shed and pushe,
4 cart in front of it TO keep him from
getting away he realized his DANCE
and the absolute necessity for quiet.
4 just as he stealthily entered the she'
4 a calf ran between his legs and bellowe'
, as only a calf can and threw him over ol
r the cart. well +" thought /, Il viii nov
: be back with the Fifth Pennsylvania
!. cavalry He clutched at the horse
jumped ON his back, dug his spurs in it
side and dashed down the road I ha'
Z been over twice before. The bit was on
II of the horso's mouth, and he was goin
like John Gilpin-and no possible wa
4 for the rider to control his horse-righ
III TO the Confederate pickets, who had OF
II ders TO shoot any and all cavalry com