Gilpin observer., 1899-08-17
The Old Soldiers Story.

The Old Soldiers Story.
81 do not get a pension" said the
veteran, who had trotted his first heat
at Bull Run, breaking into wild gal
lop before he passed under the wire at
Washington, and finally stopped to re-
tire from the turf at Appomattox, nor
do l want one, though l suppose II
were not in comfortable circumstances
! might try for it; and still had about
as much of the scrap as anybody l
know of, for l began early and quit
late. Luck is with some people,
though, for 1 cxne out without a
scratch, and l didn't lose a day on ac-
count of sickness. But I am flying the
track. l think you said you wanted
that story about the man who killed
himself trying to kill me.
at was one of those innumerable
small fights that were happening in
Virginia all the year round, and w2s so
little that it did not even get name.
/ was in an infantry regiment, and a
detachment of $50 of us had been sent
to the front of the skirmish line to feel
around and see what we might find
that we did not want to find, namely,
some part of the enemy's advance. In
a clump of trees we found it in the
shape of a hundred or SO cavalrymen,
wearing the gray uniform we had seen
a good deal of in that neighborhood.
1t meant business, of course, and in
very few minutes there was a mixing
of contending forces which was, to say
the least of it, extremely democratic.
The troop of cavalry was composed of
hot-headed young Southerners who
had no idea of anything but rushing
right into the midst of us, yelling and
swinging their sabres around their
heads as if they were riding in tour
nament at one of their county fairs.
They seemed to be utterly regardless
of our feelings, too, and before we
could say scat they had slashed the
scalps off Of half a dozen of our boys
anc were cutting up the rest of us like
a lot of young butchers out for pic
mic. At the same time we were not
entirely idle or neglectful of such op-
portunities as might be presented, and
! may say that the general result of
the meeting. to the eye of the casual
observer, was real hot stuff if l may
use bit of modern language.
Il had had very little experience in
military affairs of any kind. and up to
that time Bull Run had been the only
real battle in which / had taken an ac-
tive part. the activity on that occasion
not having been of the kind, you may
remember, which gives soldier wide
experience in fighting, Notwithstanding
there was enough experience in con-
Quoting retreat to last lifetime. Gee
how we did run that day! 1t makes
me warm to think about it even now"
and the veteran smiled at the thought
and puffed mildly in reminiscence of
his run.
AS / was saying, being inexpe-
rienced in fighting, l didn't know just
what to do, as is the way with most
new soldiers, so l kind of ducked down
my head and went into it on the blind
luck style, trusting in providence and
keeping my powder dry. In such a
scramble nobody ever knows what is
going on or how best to do the things
he has to do. 1t is slap. bang, shout,
shoot, slash, jab-a rush and roar a
throatful OF nasty sulphur smoke, pos
sibly bee sting in body or limb, fall
in the leaves or dust or mud, sense
OF something one scarcely knows what,
and the end has come, either to the
fight or to the fighter. had
reached the slap and the bang period
and was feeling pretty good, seeing
that had knocked man or two over
and hadn't been knocked over myself.
and was getting into the spirit OF it In
fine fettle when | found myself hand to
hand. or musket to sabre. with young
Lieutenant about my own age and build.
He came straight at me. cutting with
intent to kill and tried to shoot him
off of his horse. for had somehow got
a load in my musket and was ready
for that kind of business, but he was
so close that shooting was out Of the
question, and could only use my gun
as a guard to keep Off the fierce on
slaught Of his slashes. made several
efforts to swing around SO could
shoot, but he saw what | was after and
kept 1t so hot for me that did not dare
to take away my guard long enough
to use II on him instead OF on myself
/ prt up the best defense | could try
ing 20 punch him with my bayonet. bu.
the young fellow evidently had some
'aIltary training, in swor} exerc!as at