The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-02-17
TO I,lvine.favor. lie.h ID the only
tavern in tnwH strongly guarded
il front,-hy North CaioIinians.

= AN d y - >
il front,-hy North CaioIinials.
There was wonderful charac
Ter in The Louisiana h~rigaae--a
Germm Ivy birth, son Of Lutheran
minister,sanl fac'y educated at
Jena-tbe ex chief of tie New o.
leans fire department. Sergeant
Fred Gruher. Undcr an ungainiy
exterior, lac possessed ,rareSmentsl
powers. His fine wit, exquisite
iihinor ansl keen observation. with
invention the most original add
srotesqne, were relished by kind
red spirits OF polite circles; while
his genial good nature, Loves and
sympathy for his fellow men, and
sDyt for their company, with his
conyislal habits, often led him inlo
lower circles. In the army, as in
New Oyleaus. he was at home with
al, from the highest ard most dis
iIagnis!led down to the humbiest
and lowest, Lively, yaluhle, SO
ciaE, he entertained all, charmed
al; rs ready To draw his ~iilustrl
ilons from the classics, heathen
NY ,holngy or Holy Writ us from
the stories, Slang aud scenes of The
slums and levee; now amusing a
knot of officers, how cracking
jokes With piiyatss and darky
camp followers. A universal ge
MUS aid a universal ~fayarise was
The lnag-iegged, Timber jointed,
aWkyard,l anking .New Orleans
Dntchman," dis lis WIS called III
the army. His was bright head,
soft lleartaml open ham!. l!elcvci
everybody, egerj body loved linn,
aid sought his cnmpany. He was
thelifu OF the i4oulsi ina hrigale-I
may say OF Eitis's division, for CIV.
cfybody knew him. \ sort OF pri-
yliesed character, to come and go,
aud do AS he pleased, mounted on
his hobtail roam Spanish pony, his
feet nearly touching the ground.
Where lie got his pony Fred aud
the lord only knuw. Ii WAS the
llnpressioa some Iirgialan was
short Of 4 horse. The general Of.
iiccrs would bespeak his company
iiicad Tor tie night marches.
ifsrc,' atost, urowsiness vanished
aid tsle weary march Was Uc1ot-
.en. He knew the citizens and
country along the lines Of march;
he kuew New Market ana Sirberl's
tayera. Ii WAS early in the morn
ing when the advance Of E.rl,'s
ulvlsinn reached New Market,
Gruber and his pony leading the
advance, followed closely by ii few
friends. lie rode up to the tavern
and was about amounting when
the North Carolina guard halted
nin: "We-uns belongs TO Giner-
eral Hills command, aud we.nns
be put here to keep you uns QUIT"
"AIl right" said Grubu; sobey
orders, and dou't let .weuns' inm
But lie knew the place too well
TO be foilea. SO riding on a little
way, he turned into an alley aud
was soon in the rear of, and in,
the tavern. His cid friend, Sic.
bert was glad to see him. Quick
his canteen and those of his friends
were. filled With the spirits of rye.
Remaining himself, he sent his
companions back to the command
to inform others how to reach him
and the rear of Siebert's. Parties
after parties came and went With
skins and c%as,teens well Oiled. This
vent Oh for some time, when final
~ Gruher rode away with two ex-
ira canteens, one for Harry Hays,
one for Jnbal Early. And such a
day that was! The troops were
crossing the Massamitten Noun.
tain, and the road was Incl with
drunken men WHO had fallen out
of ranks. Nearly everybody III
the Louisiana brigade, aud many
III Other brigades, had taken d
drink too many; aud CID Jnbal
was merry and IA ginning. In an
advance against ths enemy, Gen.
Jackson was always in The %front;
on a retreat, he was always III the
rear. This day, he rode some dis.
lance in the rear Of Early's divis-
ion, and was bortiiied to see so
many drunken soldiers on the road