The National tribune., 1898-12-01
HUNTING FOR FOOD.

At little past in the afternoon, when
there was a lull in the terrible storm of
grape and canister l ventured to go to a
house which stood about halfway be-
tween our line-o battle and that of the
enemy. | found large quantity of flour,
bacon smoked ham, etc. The appear
ance of everything in the house indicated
that the family had left suddenly, with
| out disturbing anything. The dishes were
on the table, as If the family had risen
from dinner; the beds and bedding, too,
remained undisturbed; the late inhabit-
ants seemed to have thought of nothing
but of saving their lives and escaping
from the Yankees.
| was not long in searching cupboard,
pantry, and stOre-rOom, and appropriate
ing tea, baking soda, cream -of-tartar, etc.
But in order to reach the house unobserv-
ed by the rebels / had been obliged to
crawl there on my hands and feet, and
now the question arose how was | to
carry anything back with me?
Taking a bedquilt / spread it on the
floor and commenced selecting the most
important articles, such as small bag of
-four, ham, an iron spider, a large coffee
pot, and some other things; after tying
these up in the quilt | attached long
BEDFORD to the bundle, intending to drag
il along the ground.
Just as / was completing my arrange
ments a shell came crashing through the
side OF the house, and passing through
the window on the opposite side. it made
the house tremble as if shaken by an
earthquake. Then another and another
came in quick succession, until l was
| obliged to seek refuge in the cellar. The
rebels evidently thought that the house
contained a band of our sharpshooters
and were determined to dislOdge them if
possible, for they bought three pieces to
bear upon it for about 20 minutes, until
they succeeded in setting il on fire.
Dafo. Al f,,.I L.
died away heard the cracking of the fire
above my head, and thought it prudent to
make an attempt to escape. / did not
find it very difficult to do so, as the fire
was principally confined to the upper part
of the house.
visions, which still lay unframed on the
floor, | began my retreat in the same
manner in which l had advanced, draw
ing my pack after me by means of the
cord. | could not make much progress,
however, for / found it very difficult to
drag that immense weight over the rough
ground.
RELIEF OF THE FAMISHING.
l at length succeeded in reaching the
lines and was hailed by hearty cheers
from those who were anxiously awaiting
the result of my hazardous mission. Sew
eral of the boys caught up the spoil and
carried ii to the rear, where we built a fire
and commenced cooking Immediately. An
hour later we had nice lot of hot bread
fried ham, and tea ready for disposal.
o. | shall never forget the thrill of pleas
ure which ! experienced when / carried
this food and set it before those famish-
ing men, and saw them eat it with a sort
of awe and reverence as If il had fallen
from heaven. One OF the men looked up
with moistened eyes and said:
Bob, do you know that this food has
been sent us by our Heavenly Father,
Just as much as the mamma was sent To
the Children of Israel? That boy risked
his life in procuring it for us, but he never
would have returned from that burning
building if God had not shielded him
from the bursting shell. | believe it has
ing the fate of poor Trowhridge."
The battle of Malvern Hill presented by
far the most sublime spectacle ever wit
messed. All the battles had seen before
and those which have seen since, were