The National tribune., 1901-04-11
AN ADOPTED SON.
The Fate of a Brave, Genial 1rishman-Ths
Work of Mosbys Men.

l
the truth. He arrived in the great city
OF New York in January, 1864.
| Awaiting his exit from Castle Garder
was bounty broker shark, who wei
coined and invited him to partake Of q
drop of the 'cratut," and while indulg
ing in the social glass he pictured to Johr
in glowing words the pleasures and op
tune by enlisting as one of Uncle Sam,
| soldiers.
John became so highly elated over meet.
| ing such kind friend so deeply interest.
ed in his welfare that he Mt once accom-.
panied his new-found friend tc recruit
ing office, was passed. uniformed. and
with a number of others sent to the Army
Brandy Station, Va. He was assigned
to Co. G, equipped, drilled, and instruct,
ed in the use of the musket.
He was surprised at having a gun, and
his large brown eyes rolled as he gave
vent to words that only u true son of
Ireland could use. The men gathered
around to listen. by the powers, byes,
in me country ther constabulary would
artist ye and convict We aud hang We for
havin' a gun. I've never had gun in
me hand in me life" This he proved
to be a fact by his movements in drill
ing.
1t was necessary to assign him to what
was known as the awkward squad with
several others. A Sergeant was detailed
to drill them who was u near relative Of
Job. His patience was severely tested
in endeavoring to convert this squad into
good soldiers. Johns memory became
confused, and he could not distinguish
his right foot from his left. The drill
master inquired of him if he knew hay
from straw. Johns face broadened into
Il smile, and he replied:
"Begorra. thot OF do" So they OBJ
tanned bundles of hay and straw, bound
the hay on the right leg and straw on the
left. Then he commanded HAY foot,
straw foot" and after expendiDg q great
deal of patience upon John he finally
was able to keep step. The instructions
in the use of the musket followed. This
required five hours, six days a week, IN
ill the time that the army broke camp
for the march on to Richmond. John
then passed muster as n fair soldier.
This was just the commencement of
time under fire he was so excited that
he loaded his musket without putting a
cap on, placed it to his shoulder and
pulled. As the roar was so great around
him he supposed his gun went off. He
repeated loading, and presumed shooting
until no had rammed home FIVE or six
cartridges. By this time he had some
"Hdt TecONeTeQ IrOIH DIS eXcltSnent, ana
putting a cap on the gun he pulled the
trigger. The recoil caused him to turn
half dozen hasty somersaults. John
picked himself up. The blood was run
ming freely from his nose and mouth
The gun barrel was still in his hands with
shattered stock. He dropped it and
started for the rear. on a run. A file
closer stopped him and inquired where he
was wounded. n 70
r
ers above, Oi got a diyil of a thump In
me mouth" To prove this he was wip-
Ing the blood from his. chin with his
sleeve. The fle-closer had observed
Johns hasty backward lsomersaults, and
concluded what had caused them. He
picked up musket, placed It in Johns
hands, and ordered him back to the ranks
John was afterwards commended for
dislodging the rebs with a whole broad
side. He would roll his eyes and say:
THAT was sore welt, byes"
Much could be related of Johns BRAY
cry in battle, his experiences and quaint
sayings, that helped pass away many a
weary hour In camp and on the march
His last experience came in the Fall of
'64, when we were marching up the Shen-
andoah Valley. He had become a lover
of foraging. This trip was a rare op-
portunity, as our regiment was on the
u
hen-roost, or anything in the eating line
that the farmers of the valley had His
reward was a good, fat hen. He pro-
ceeded to the cover of the woods and
prepared her by rolling her in soft clay,
feathers and all, scooping out a hole in
the ground, laying the mud ball in ii.
Then he gathered together a bunch of
faggots on top Of the mud-bal and light
ed thu fire. He sat down to wait for his
bird 10 be baked. He witnessed the rear
guard passing, driving before them the
hordes of stragglers, and he was congrat-
ulatIng himself on not being disturbed,
and that he would dine on chicken In
peace. Just as the rear-guard had passed
out of view troop OF horsemen hove in
sight, which John to his sorrow found
to be some of Mosby's men.
They surrounded him and proceeded to
investigate the fire, brought out of the
ashes the baked mud, found the chicken
baked to turn. Each of Mosby's men
took part, and soon had the bones pol
ished.
John sat, mute observer, and Us he
put it, with the wather pouring out be-
{ Ween me teeth, lOokin' at me fowl goin'
down thin divils' throats, and they niver
as much as asking me IL OF had mouth"
When they had finished the bird John
was put on horse in front of a man,
and all headed for the mountains. 1t
was after dark when they arrived at their
camp, IN ravine surrounded by large
rocks. John was bound hand and foot.
and it was impossible for him to move.
The rebels prepared supper and par
took of 1t, not giving the prisoner any
thing to eat; and what troubled Jobn
more was that out OF the canteen that
"eye-water" they all had a pull
and did not ask him to have a drop.
The rebels held council to decide
what disposition should be made of the
captive. John could hear their delibera-
tons and their final decision that the
Yank should die before sunrise.
John said afterwards: "Oi tould thin
Oi was no Yank." They pointed to his
uniform and shook their heads. John lay
on tho bare stones all night with not so
much as leaf to cover him. He did not
sleep wink, but prayed to get out Of |
that with his life. He thought of the |
'ould oman" and what she would say
about his hanging. AT dawn his captors !
were active and proceeded to have some |
Iun with him, one taking rope from his |
'addle-bag, and placing it over a branch |
1t tree. He was unbound, a slip-noose |
put around his neck; hes was asked what |
ne had to say for himself John said:
Spare me for the ould 'omans sake |
md me childers."
They pulled the rope and took him off |
ais feet. All the bad things he ever did |
Ir thought of came before him. He said |
Sood-by to the world. Just then he was |
anded on his feet and asked would he |
AXE up arms against them.
Il tould them by the powers above Oh |
~ud not do it for all tho riches in the