The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-01-26

if it was possible 1 could give him drawing
of coffee. / told him to wait until my
return from camp, and / would give him
some. Wit h tears in his words he thanked
me.
l fastened to the picket-post / had left
about three hours before, and asked Capt.
Book and the other boys for some coffee. All
gave me what they had; of course, the
Captain swearing and asking If desired to
feed the rebel army. Laughingly l told him
did not, but that this man was Gods
creature and an American. / did not get
very much, and hastily ran to the camp and
woke up the boys, and by the time l got
through l had quite good lot Of coffee,
enough for two of three weeks for a man.
/ filled my haversack with bareback and
hastily returned. OF course, all my conversa-
ton with Quinn was profound secret.
reached Quinn where / lett him, only to find
that he too had been in camp, not TO get food,
for he hal none, but his big hat full of cut
and dried tobacco with three navy plugs of
the weed - on top He accepted my gift with
a profound grasp of the hand l shall never
forget l did not ut that time use tobacco of
any kind, but / knew l could and would
find someone to take it, for it was oitentimes
s. as scarce as hens-teeth."
On Sunday evening I was awaiting my
chance to go out on the pcket-iine, of course
never saying a word why. | found Aft"
Young quite sick with a headache aud a sore
toe. / told him to 20 to his tent; / would
take his place. He doubted my worl sat
first thinking / was joking, for surely
was getting enough of hard service. But
got my cartridge-box, gun and haversack,
and out went, careful to fall in the line so
as to get at the same post.
landed all right, with a Captain Of one
of the companies OF the 57th Mass. In short
time gave the signal; the response came-a
sharp whistle, q sign of officers in the way
and an intimation that Quinn was on the
line. gave the second whistle, but again
the same response The third followed
almost an hour later, and loud whoop came
/ requested to be placed ON the outpost,
relieving Gilbert Taylor, member of my
company. The request was granted. In a
moment later heard quick footsteps.
gave the command to halt, with my gun at
an aim. "A deserter," came as a reply to
the challenge / commanded Hands up, :"
and in came two Johnnies.
/ examined their clothes for concealed
weapons. VIM. Quinn was not either OF
them. One, however, asked me if was
John Smith, and l was told that Quinn would
| Dc over III dDOUb du Houfj tlit ne Htu gotten
them to come, and that they were told they
would meet me.
| The officer and men of course could not
understand how we knew each other by
name, or how we understood the actions OF
each other. / was, by request, detailed to
take them-the prisoners-to Brigade Head
quarters, possibly three quarters OF q mile.
When reaching my destination, l reported
myself, and promised to bring few more.
| Col Robinson, So Md, in command of the
| brigade, ordered a bottle an. glass to be
brought, to the contents of which / did just
ice. Alter saluting the officer / quickly
returned.
After resting little while, again heard
noise, and resumed my place outside.
| took deliberate aim with my gun, and my
bayonet was fixed. heard tramping among
the brush around the swamp | was again
| assured it was deserters. With uplited
hands they came rushing in. An introduce
| ton by Quinn followed to the other three,
| for there were four.
Astonished at ali this, the Captain again
detailed me. l again took the Johnnies to
Headquarters. With laugh Col Robinson
again ordered little more ''quinine" for
NE.
insisted on my friends writing me when
settled down, which they did for more than
two years after / was discharged.
/ would rejoice to learn that any of the
readers of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE North
or South, know where is William Quinn
r. A. SMITH, Co. X, Tooth Pa. Round
heads), Rochester. Pa.