The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-13
A SHTNPLASTER.

am 25 cent greenback, and for all I
know may be one of the unredeemed; but
I have had such varied experiences, and
was able to do SO much good the day Rich
mond was evacuated, feel must tell
about it, for I was as much a subject OF
dispute in my day as gold and silver and
bonds are now. I was sent forth fresh and
crisp from Washington to a paymaster in
the Army of the Potomac on the Virginia
peninsula, and he delivered me, along
with lot of larger notes, to a captain of
the Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry. The cap
tain placed the big notes in a letter which
he wrote 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 keep up brave
heart, and that he would be home soon.
When he sealed this letter, saw the mus
cles of his mouth twitch and his brave
blue eyes moisten, and snuggled up
within, for knew the bravest were the
tenderest, and he was wishing he could go
with that letter. But there were no braveI
men in the war than the Pennsylvanians,
and I 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 1 y miles beyond Viii
Hamsburg and just at the fork of the
roads, we were attacked by the advance
guard of Shingler's South Carolina cav
airy. We had only 40 men in our party
and the rebels were numerous. The cap
tain saw he had better retire. So he turned
his horse, ordered a retreat, and the men
dashed down the road, firing as they re-
treated. We went into a new position be-
hind the college walls-the college had
been burned-and as the hot lead spattered
against the old English bricks I shud-
dered, and every time the statue of Lord
Botetourt was hit I felt as if everything
sacred was being desecrated, and I could
almost hear the British lion growl. While
I was made for circulation was based on
protection, and when charges were made
against me I feared would be ground in
to pulp before was withdrawn
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 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 as
sociate of armed rebellion. A shinplaster
has no affections or attachments, you know.
I was put in what was called pocket by
my rebel owner, but it seemed to me like
a rag bag.
was presented to his sister, and then
was taken to the parlor in Richmond and
put in something had never heard of be-
fOre-a glory pitcher. 1 had great curiosity
to know what a glory pitcher was. Day
and night I kept my ears open to try to
find out, and on the Fourth of July did,
for they took me out and filed the pitcher
with punch and drank General George
Washington s health, and I heard them say
that when General Washington died these
pitchers were made of china, with pic
ture of General Washington being taken
up to glory on their sides. Every 22d of
February and Fourth of July they were
ey, l would have known that sister of the
poet Longfellow, Mrs. Pearce of Portland,
Me, had one of these pitchers, but was
of mushroom growth-knew nothing of
traditions and really very little about my
self. Well, I remained prisoner in soil
tary confinement in Richmond until evacu-
alton day came. 1t was Sunday, and heav-
en- seemed to give one grand, glorious smile
to the last day of the COnfederacy-a smile
like martyr wears on his dying face, and
nature, every tree and flower, was bursting
with green leaf and blossom, stru ggIing to
be free, and thought the fearful eyes OF
my dear ladies should take comfort and re-
member that they, too, had been prison
bound and now were freeing themselves.
had grown to love the lady in whose
care had been, she was so pure and brave,
and became unhappy lest some evil
should befall her and her little children.
I saw her kiss her husband goodby, and
saw her hand her jewels and valuabIes to
an old slave, who promised to do his best
to protect her. In short time the city
was in flames, and water cut off, the gas
house destroyed and darkness reigned. The
streets were full of Union soldiers and
army followers, and the desolation of that
house was beyond anything can describe.
Suddenly I heard my friends coming
down stairs, and I felt my dear lady's soft
white hand pick NE up from the glory jar,
GTn0Ofb mt and calling TTnela EsT.
a faithful old slave, she said: "Uncle Har-
~, this shinplaster came from a fight Al
Williamsburg. Richard gave it to me, aid
I have kept it all this while. I see they
have established a suffers store across the
way. If you are not afraid, go and see if
it will buy me some candles, for If it will
we will not be quite so forlorn.'
Uncle Harry grabbed me with his big,
old, black hand and said: 'God knows,
Miss Mary, you always was good, and
God gwine to take care of you and yourn
and we and US. Afeerd? 1 amt gwine to
come back 'dout dem candles-'scusin
dey amt got none" And he brought back
three and the light they shed was like the
glory of Coda light in a dark place.
She lit one and made a patrol of the
house from garnet to cellar, under the
beds and in the closets-would blow it
out and in few hours reconnoiter again,
for, when they were gone, where would
any more come from? But she knew that
unto the upright there ariseth light in
the darkness, - and her beautiful faith sus-
tanned her. I was in the suffers shop
back in the Union lines, and I missed my
glory pitcher and all the exciting news
used to hear from the doctor and the gen
erals and my gay young lady. Although
fair exchange is no robbery, felt jealous
and injured.
Shortly after this I retired from bust