The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-05-07
A SHINPLASTER.

I am % cent grecLback, and for all
l know may be one Of the nredeemed,
but l have had such varied experiences
and was able to do so much good the
day Richmond was evacuated l feel l
must tell about it, for was as much
subject Of dispute in my day as gold and
silver and bonds are now. was sent
forth fresh and crisp from Washington
to a paymaster in the Army of the Pc
tomac on the Virginia peninsula and
he delivered me, along with 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 a
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, l saw the muscles of
his mouth twitch and his brave blue
eyes moisten, and snuggled up within,
for | knew the bravest 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 Pennsylvanians, and l
knew that, live or die, he would be
game and do what was right.
The next morning we started off and
got along very well until about IL
miles beyond Williamsburg, and just at
the fork Of the roads we were attacked
by the advance guard of Shingler's
South Carolina cavalry. Wehad 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
ed q retreat, and the men threw their
guns over their shoulders and dashed
down the road, firing as they retreated.
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 l felt as if everything
sacred was being desecrated, and could
almost hear the British lion growl
While was made for circulation was
based on protection, and when charges
were made against me / feared l would
be ground into pulp before I was with
drawn.
Our enemies were REINFORCED, 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 a very short time
was exchanged for bag of tobacco and
became an ally and associate Of armed
rebellion. A shinplaster has no affec-
tions or attachments, you know.
was put in what was called pocket
by my rebel owner but it seemed to me
like rag bag. I was so frightened I
thought would die and was sure l
would never smile again, but that night
l laughed myself sick at the ludicrous
and hairbreadth escape of my new
friend
He was worn out with excitement of
the day, and as he passed house by the
college, just across from the president s
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 Confederate soldier could, for he
had not seen bed Of any kind for so
long. He was in high feather at his
good fortune. He was too tired to
dream. was awake, studying my new
surroundings. Suddenly a friendly
hand shook him up and said, "You are
caught. He crept to the window, pull.
ed the curtain aside, and there, sure
enough, were my friends of the Fifth
Pennsylvania cavalry.
If ever my Union soul longed for a
voice, it was then. He could have put
his hand ON them. He double quicked
into his clothes and buttoned me up
against his heart, which was going faster
than a weavers shuttle. 1t was bril-
liant moonlight night in April. He had
put his horse in an open shed and pushed
a cart i'll front of it to keep him from
getting away, He realized his danger
and the absolute necessity for quiet.
Just as he stealthily entered the shed
calf ran between his legs and beloved
as only calf can and threw him over on
the cart well, " thought l, II will now
be back with the Fifth Pennsylvania
cavalry" He clutched at the horse,
jumped on his back, dug his spurs in its
side and dashed down the road l had
been over twice before. The bit was out
Of the horses mouth, and he was going
like John Gilpin-and no possible way
for the rider to control his horse-right
to the Confederate pickets, who had Or
deTs to shoot any and all cavalry COM
ing down that road. After great yelling
he made himself known to the guards
and he never stopped till the horse go
to the camp.
1 was presented to his sister, and thel
I was taken to the parlor in Richmond
and put in something had never hearC
of before-a glory pitcher. l had grea
curiosity to know what a glory pitche
was. Day and night kept my ears opel
to try to find out, and ON the Fourth o
July did, for they took me out ant
filled the pitcher with punch and dranl
General George Washingtons health