The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-08
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
IN THE NATURAL
CAVE AT HARPER'S FERRY.
Written for the "Cecil Whig" by J. K.
Polk Racine.

Written for the "Cecil Whig" by J. K.
Polk Racine.
1t was in the winter of 3d. the scene
was old Harpers Ferry. The bitter cold
winds were sweeping from Maryland
heights, passing far above the vale below,
when it would strike the Virginia soil at
the very summit of Bolivar Heights. Now,
if my recollections are not at fault, none
but very few commands the Fifth and
Sixth Maryland Regiments-had, as yet,
crossed the pontoon bridge which then
SPAWNED the renowned Potomac river at
Harper's Ferry, Va, the most historic
hamlet in the world. Now, as this article
concerns none but the Fifth and Sixth
Maryland Regiments at this writing, we
don't care where the rest OF the Army Of
the Potomac was at that time.
Company B of the Sixth and A and I of
the Fifth were all Cecil county boys, and
very many from Elkton, and how happy /
was made on this bitter cold morning of
which / write when, in passing up the
main street, some one called across:
''Hello, Elkton! What are you doing
here?"
All! 1 knew the dear old boy in his
suit Of blue, but at the time l did not
know that he had gone SO far front. l
liked the boy away back then, and l love
the old man to-day. Such friendship as
ours is not easily broken asunder. The
playmate Of my childhood, and meeting
him as l did beyond the troubled waters
of the Potomac, when I thought him
safely meandering near some of our old
Fairgrounds at Elkton.
l called back: "Hello, Josh! When did
you enlist2"
He was twisting silky mustache, which
appendage had crept to his upper lip
unknown to me, but he doesn't wear it
now. l meet the old comrade every day
and told him yesterday that intended to
write up some OF his tricky capers while
in the army, and he said if did that he
would make me prove it, and as 1 would
like to attend court martial called for the
purpose, with all the old boys present to
give the evidence which would surely con.
Wet, | shall herein make the charges.
He had just received his first pay from
our Uncle Sam and was very joyful in
Consequence. l think that his pay had
accumulated for six months and | found
him with considerable wealth on his hands
But when he said, where can we get some
thing to take and have some fun, my Joy
knew no bounds, and quickly said, come
on back this way.
| hadn't single shin plaster, for my pay
had been accommodating for eight months in
Uncle Sans COED hands, and | told Josh
the fact, but he said | have enough for
both.
After We had gotten outside il two swigs
of contraband the Major-but l did not
call him Major Ash then. but simply Josh.
Well, Josh proposed that we explore the
wonderful Natural Cave one mile above the
village. This cave leads for miles in the
bowels of the great mountain Bolivar
Heights.
Wait, boys, said the old Major, till gel
the ammunition of war, and Josh went
across the way to bay candles, and as
thuoght, matches, too. But no, the greeny
just got two matches and came, back saying
all ready for the cave, After we hac
climbed in Josh struck a match and lit thu
candle, saying at the same time we can g
to the farthest end, boys; see, | am wei
supplied with light So we were at the
time, for we could have lighted the hal
pound then but we didn't, as the seque
will snow. There were leads and avenue,
in every direction, chambers at every turn
as if made by the hands of art. After W,
had explored for about half mile of thi:
wonderful mystery of God-but Josh says
till this day that we were four miles from
the light of day-but at this point oui
Captain stopped and pulled his bottle O
apple Jack and we each took q swig after
which Josh very rarefully placed the hal
filed bottle in the inside pocket of hi,
overcoat, saying at the time, boys, this i.
the best part of our munitions of war, and
if we run out of this the enemy will re,
us, sure
Looking up we noticed an aperture in
the wall of rocks to our right: the opening
would just about admit one man at a time
and no more. 1t was about fifteen feet
above our heads, and how strange, there
was q natural stairs by which we could
reach the hole in the wall.
Josh mounted and feeling good from the
effects of apple-iacll, hs took of his cap