The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-07-26
H RAW

A writer in a recent issue of Harper's
Weekly gives an interesting account
of a day he spent with the volunteers
from the Blue Grass region. 1t will
doubtless remind some Of an exaggara-
ted account of the acts of our own Tar
Heel recruits for soldiers are pretty
much alike the world over. We clip
the following anecdotes from the
article referred to-:
These mo%untaineers created a good
deal of interest. Twenty five per cent.
of them we're re elected, l was told, be-
cause of their extraordinary height.
One big fellow went to town, turned
into a saloon, and called for whiskey.
II haven't had a drink for ten
years, " he said. Il came down here
to fight for the United States and to
free Cuba, and they won't let me fight,
so I'm going back home and tell them
that they say down here that I am too
big to fight. / haven't had a drink for
ten years, but 1 am going to get on a
big drunk now" And he did.
The rest of the rejected cavaIrymen
went home weeping and cursing by
turns.
1t was a contrast to the camp of the
regulars, this camp of volunteers. 1t
was like q picnic ground. ALI the sol
diers who were not on duty seemed to
go where they pleased and do what
they pleased. One sentinel walked his
beat with a girl on his arm, and l my.
self saw a typical scene. A Lieutenant
was escorting the Colonel's daughter
through one OF the camps, and a senti
mel stopped and presented arms.
why, is that George9" said the girl.
Dear me, 1 didn't know you'll Can't
you shake hands with me9" she added
TO the serious solder, who stood at
rigid attention.
George grinned helplessly, and with
a comlca compromise between his
dignity at a soldier and his personal
relations with his superior, said, Yes,
[ can, II Jim there will let me-"
Lieutenant Jim at once let him.
May l see your guns" said the Colo,
nel's daughter.
Sure" said George; with pleas
ure."
Lieutenant Jim smiled uneasily and
looked conscientious.
You 90 to the guard house for that,
4 Hnn~nn - h0 Gid IN 10 --. -
you mstn't give up your gun to any
BODY but your commanding ChcerH"
II am the commanding officer here"
said the ColoDel's daugUer, and the gal.
liant Lieutenant took IF his hat. I do
noG think George went TO the guard
house.
At first the volunteers almost starv-
ed, 81 enc morning a company lined
up before the Colonel's tent, Gang him
a song, and told him how hungry they
were. Then they said they had a re
quest to make which they feared he
might lot grant. The Colonel told
them to make the request tearlesslg.
Please, SIR, have you a caIenC 81 2"
asked deep voice, respectfully, at one
end of the line.
IA calendars" said the Colonel.
why, certainly. Orderly-but what
do you want with a calendar e. be
asked, a bit mystified.
PLEASE, sir" said a squeak from the
little man, at the other end of the
line, I'VE should like to a the dates. u
And thereupon the soldiers ran.
Now this dearth of food got abroad
and proved a blessing. 1t touched
the hearts Of the mothers in bear grass
add blue grass, and now these boys
have the tat Of the land in plenGy.
That afternoon there was a regimen
tai drill in n Of the pasture lands OF
ashland, through knee deep blue
grass, and with the singing of meadow.
Iarks overhead.
Atdusk the crowd melted away. and
the star and crescent rose over the
monument Of the Great Commoner and
sank among the hills of the capital
where lived that gallant Crittenden.
who, with $50 other Kentuckians. went
to Cuba in 1851 to fight the fight we are
| fighting to day. Crittenden and fifty
Kentuckians were captured, and shot
In platoons Of six. It Was when he Wat