Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-09-22

Late in the fall of '63 there might
have been seen one evening a small
company of Union soldiers, footsore
and hungry, YEARLY pressing on
through a forest in Tennessee. intent
upon escaping from pursuing force
Of Confederates.
Three days previous they had become
detached from the main body Of troops,
and they were now seeking TO join
the Union forces. camped some forty
miles away. A scout had overtaken
them the previous night and acquaint-
ed the commanding officer with the
fact that a considerable force of the
enemy was hot on their trail.
Half-famished and nearly worn out.
the brave boys in blue had made a
heroic effort to quicken their steps.
but the ranks were soon broken. many
of the men falling farther and farther
to the rear.
Suddenly, upon the night, the clear
notes of a fife fioated from trapper's
cabin. The first few bars told the men
that the musician was loyal. and the
lively air of Yankee Doodle" awoke
the men to new life. as their feet I'M
consciously kept step to the music.
At the first sound happy thought
occurred to the lieutenant. He called
a halt, permitting the stragglers to
come up, while he himself, with a
handful of men, FASTENED along a we'll
worn footpath in the direction of the
music. Presently they came upon a
rude cabin, half-concealed by the thick
foliage of the surrounding trees. A
lad was making merry before the open
fireplace. and intent upon mis- playing,
did not note the arrival of the soldiers
till the officer raped smartly upon
the bolted door with the hilt OF his
sword.
Throwing open the door the boy and
his father stood In establishment facing
the armed strangers, knowing not
whether they were friends or foes.
In less than three minutes the lieu
tenant had explained the situation. and
the boy had offered his services, the
father consenting, glad OF heart that
he too might thus assist his country.
Down the winding path the men hur-
ried, the old trapper whispering few
last words to his son. the while striv-
Ing to keep back the great lump in his
throat that threatened to choke him.
1t was nearly ten o'clock when the
little column of men. headed by the
young hfer, moved away, marching to
the tune they had first heard. Little
BY little the time was quickened till the
mon we're following at a double-quick
march. The lieutenant suggested
that the men ask from time to time for
familiar songs. and from one to an
other the musician gIided, ever playing
1t the lively tempo Of the first.
Toward morning the men noticed
that the dfer made an occasional slip.
The notes were not SO clear, though
the time never Jagged. Later the mu-
sician made bad break. and some OF
the soldiers laughed. The nfer said
nothing; he kept on. but the mistakes
grew more frequent and noticeable.
Morning had begun to break, and
presently the soldiers saw in the dis
lance the white tents OF the Union
army. The young musician was
plAying-no, trying to play-"America"
Tor the tenth time, as they marched
INTO camp. Far In the rear body of
loot eoldierv had wheeled and retraced
their steps. teo distant to be success
FULLY pursued. The exhausted men had
narrowly escaped.
Two OF the men carried the little